Top 5 Greatest Fighters from the Caribbean Islands?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by The Funny Man 7, Feb 20, 2019.


  1. The Funny Man 7

    The Funny Man 7 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Hey guys, here's a challenge for you. Who are the top 5 Caribbean Islanders ever? We've done best Mexican/Puerto Rican boxers, best Latin American boxers etc. Obviously with Cuba & Puerto Rico the Caribbean's boxing heritage es muy rico, no?

    It's a hard one to sort out because there's such a logjam at the top. I feel like one guy's #1 could be #4 or #5 on someone else's list. But here's my stab at it:

    1.) Kid Gavilan
    2.) Jose Napoles
    3.) Carlos Ortiz
    4.) Emile Griffith
    5.) Luis Rodriguez

    Top Honorable Mention: Mike McCallum

    Some tough choices. Emile Griffith was a two division champ and was later far more successful against Carlos Monzon than was Napoles, yet Napoles beat Emile head to head. Carlos Ortiz was a multiple time two division champ, and a strong contender to rate higher.
     
    The Funny Man 7, Feb 20, 2019
    The Funny Man 7, Feb 20, 2019
    #1
  2. The Morlocks

    The Morlocks Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    1Wilfredo

    2. Napoles
    3Gavilan
    4.Rodriguez
    5.Lennox Lewis if he is from Jamaica
     
    The Morlocks, Feb 20, 2019
    The Morlocks, Feb 20, 2019
    #2
  3. BitPlayerVesti

    BitPlayerVesti Boxing Drunkie Full Member

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    Joe Walcott deserves a mention
     
    BitPlayerVesti, Feb 20, 2019
    BitPlayerVesti, Feb 20, 2019
    #3
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  4. roughdiamond

    roughdiamond Ridin' the rails... Full Member

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    Joe Walcott is probably number 1 IMO.
     
    roughdiamond, Feb 20, 2019
    roughdiamond, Feb 20, 2019
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  5. ChrisJS

    ChrisJS Boxing Addict Full Member

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    It’s really difficult. There’s a lot to choose from. I think Napoles was a better fighter than Ortiz but I feel Ortiz had an even better career for example. I feel Rodriguez beat Griffith 4/4 but Griffith had title reigns at middleweight though Rodriguez had a great resume at middle too.

    1. Carlos Ortiz
    2. Kid Gavilan
    3. Jose Napoles
    4. Joe Walcott
    5. Emile Griffith

    6. Luis Rodriguez
    7. Wilfredo Gomez
    8. Kid Chocolate
    9. Felix Trinidad
    10. Wilfred Benitez

    Mike McCallum could easily be in there too. Great fighter.
     
    ChrisJS, Feb 20, 2019
    ChrisJS, Feb 20, 2019
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  6. JackSilver

    JackSilver Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Nah, I don’t think he is. Trevor Berbick and Razor Ruddock were both born in Jamaica and later became Canadians but Lewis was born in England before also later becoming a Canadian.
     
    JackSilver, Feb 20, 2019
    JackSilver, Feb 20, 2019
    #6