Who is Your Favorite Minimumweight Champions?

Has to be Lightning Boy.

 

'Lightning Kid' Takayama, since most of the others just leave after a pit stop. This guy is a warrior and stayed in the division for nearly all of his career with tons of title fights.

 

Here's another vote for the lightning kid. I like Yaegashi's overall career more but if we're only talking about minimumweight then it's gotta be Takayama.

 

Gonzalez
Nietes
Lopez
Ioka
Calderon

In that order, roughly.

 

For his longevity and exciting style i have to go with Takayama but my favorite was Kosei Tanaka even though his stay at the weight was very brief. His title winning fight with Yedras is another one you can add to the list of great Japan vs Mexico fights.

 

I'd like to say Hideyuki Ohashi as well but his best performances were his wars against Chang, who really beat it out of him in the end. An exciting fighter and 105 champ who deserves a shout out.

 

Although I don’t exactly like minimumweight for their titles and whatnot the fights their are amazing especially the ones in the 1990s, imho.

 

My favorite fighter amongst the group is Chocolatito but I did not follow him as a minimumweight fighter, so he is not the answer to this question. My favorite is Ricardo Lopez. I also remember really hoping Finito would move up three pounds for a fight with either Michael Carbajal or Humberto Gonzalez. They would have been great fights.

 

I'll never forget round 3 of his rematch against Chang. One of the most underrated displays of heart in the history of the sport.

 

It’s Ricardo Lopez.

 

Chana Porpaoin. Ratanapol and Sahkeerin... it was these Thais that got me interested in boxing....all three very different fighters...

 

Ratanapol Sor Vorapin is so exciting to watch ! He always attack and make the pressure on his opponent from the begginning to the end.

If I have to make a top 10 with your list I will say :

1- Eagle Den Junlaphan so charismatic and so fast

2- Hiroki Ioka very charismatic too, one of the best of the category in all times

3- Napa Kiatwanchai the Thai brawler was amazing to watch

4- Ratanapol Sor Vorapin he have a legendary stamina all of this fights was very good, for sure a underrated fighter if someone want to beggin to watch the fights at Minimumweight I will recommend him without a problem.


5- Ricardo Lopez amazing defense and amazing style one of the best boxers in all history


6- Pornsawan Porpramook not on your list but the Thai Tanks is definetely underrated too


7- Wanheng Meenayothin not on your list but the guys is underrated for his perfect defense, undefeated and a WBC World champion during 10 years...

8- Ivan Calderon for his amazing footwork and defense probably one of the only one who have his chance against Ricardo Lopez if he meet him on this weight classes.


9- Katsunari Takayama for his longevity still pretty good at 41 years old and he had all 5 federations belts : IBO, WBC, WBO, WBA, IBF. I will add in this place Phai Pharob amazing puncher at his prime for to be honest nobody of his era can beat him at Minimumweight. But unfortunately he was only a interim champion, he have some problems with a trafic of drugs ( He went on an errand to buy pharmaceutical things for someone who paid a lot , but it was actually methamphetamine he was sent to the monks for that) and his career was not well because of the problem of his promoter in the past Kokiet Panichyarom accused of corruption and stealing money. Now he is still active at 41 years old in the Saithong Boxing Gym and he is still dangerous specially at Light Flyweight / Flyweight. Recently he knocked down Kantaro Juri a prospect from Japan in Super flyweight. He was inactive during 7 years 2016-2023.


10- Danai Ngiabphukhiaw he had only one fight in Minimumweight but it was for the WBC World belt and he was very young but it's one of the fight of the year 2021 against Panya Pradabsri. And of course it's one of my friends please watch his fight in Minimumweight you will not be disappointed.


In 10 I can also add Roman Gonzalez but I remember more him in Flyweight and Super Flyweight.

Of course Rosendo Alvarez, Chana Porpaoin, Keitaro Hoshino, Kosei Tanaka, Songkram Porpaoin can be #10 too.

 

Ricardo Lopez
Roman Gonzalez
Kazuto Ioka
Ratanapol Sor Vorapin
Alex Sanchez
Zolani Petelo