Teddy Atlas’ Top 10 Greatest Mexican fighters of all time

Interesting opinion.

 

I can't comment until I find out who Gene Tunney ranked as the greatest Mexican fighter ever 100 years ago.


But it was funny to hear him try to pronounce "Arizmendi."

 

I get earache listening to Atlas... every 5 minutes he'll go off on some shouty tangent like he's giving the microphone a pep talk.. i can't stick him personally..

 

The only real inexcusable omissions are Saldivar and Canto. They're locks for the top 5 imo. Macias is a cool mention, but I don't think he really belongs. Lopez, Barrera and Zarate are a little too high for my liking but far from being 'bad'. I love that he mentioned Arizmendi. He clearly has the best resume of any Mexican boxer imo.

My own list would be something like:

#01: Ruben Olivares
#02: Julio Cesar Chavez
#03: Vicente Saldivar
#04: Miguel Canto
#05: Salvador Sanchez
#06: Baby Arizmendi
#07: Canelo Alverez
#08: Erik Morales
#09: Chucho Castillo
#10: Juan Manuel Marquez

 

Honestly I expected worse. It's a little too recent biased. Saldivar at least should have been in there.

 

Hi George.
Excellent list, my only slight quibble would be Olivares over Chavez, I bow to no one on my admiration of Olivares, and have posted many times outlining that point, but I feel Chavez was the greater fighter, his resume is outstanding, for me he isn't lauded enough on the forum, agree its close, but it's Julio for me, like your posts, your knowledge, and your demeanour, till the next time.
stay safe buddy, chat soon.

 

Excluding active fighters (Canelo may get in somewhere in the bottom half of the top 10 when he's career has finished), for me it's something like:

1. JCC
2. Olivares
3. Canto
4. Saldivar
5. Zarate
6. Sanchez
7. JMM
8. Morales
9. Barrera
10. Arizmendi

 

The real interesting arguments here in terms of rankings imo:
Olivares vs Chavez for number 1
Morales vs Barrera vs Marquez for best Mexican fighter of the early 2000s

 

JCC is the Mex GOAT. And he's damn closer to the global GOAT than many US-centrics will admit.

Yeah, I said it.

 

I just want to mention Pintor and Chacon as shoe ins for the top 20.

 

Canto & Saldivar have to be top 10. Raton was a big star, he was significant but I struggle to put him top 20. Becerra was better.

I change around a lot (it’s all arguable and fine margins) right now I feel this is the right list IMO (for my criteria’s):

1. Ruben Olivares
2. Salvador Sanchez
3. Julio Cesar Chavez
4. Juan Manuel Marquez
5. Carlos Zárate
6. Vicente Saldivar
7. Ricardo Lopez
8. Marco Antonio Barrera
9. Miguel Canto
10. Erik Morales
11. Baby Arizmendi
12. Kid Azteca
13. Rodolfo Casanova
14. Rafael Herrera
15. Jose Medel
16. Chucho Castillo
17. Jose Becerra
18. Gilberto Roman
19. Lupe Pintor
20. Carlos Palomino