Top 5 Mexican Boxers

Mexico has produced some of the toughest boxers in the sport. Indeed, the No. 1 boxer, Julio Cesar Chavez, still holds the longest winning streak in the history of boxing. Another is considered the greatest bantamweight boxer of all time, and yet another won world titles in four different weight classes. Below are the five top Mexican boxers ranked from No. 1 to No. 5.

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Julio Cesar Chavez

Julio Caeser Chavez dances in the ring before the fight against Greg Haugen — Holly Stein/Staff/Getty Images

Julio Cesar Chavez, who fought professionally from 1985 to 2015, was tough, almost inhuman. He was pound-for-pound the best of his time and to this day holds the longest undefeated streak in boxing—going 89-0-1 before he finally lost a pro contest. He fought some of the all-time greats like Meldrick Taylor, Hector Camacho, Pernell Whitaker and Oscar De La Hoya. He was possibly the sport's best body puncher, and in his prime, he was an unstoppable force.

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Ruben Olivares

A hard-hitting bantamweight, Ruben Olivares—who fought more than 100 professional bouts between 1965 and 1988—posted 89 wins, including 79 by KO. Some consider Olivares to be the greatest bantamweight boxer of all time. Olivares eventually moved up two weight classes—passing by the super bantamweight class—and won the World Boxing Association featherweight title in 1973.

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Salvador Sanchez

Salvador Sanchez was perhaps the most talented Mexican fighter who ever lived and probably would have gone on to become the best ever had he not lost his life tragically in a car accident in 1982 when he was just 23. He did not exhibit the typical Mexican aggressive style; he was more of a defensive wizard in the ring, though he could certainly hit hard. A feared young featherweight who became champion at a young age, Sanchez recorded wins over legendary fighters like Azumah Nelson and Wilfredo Gomez.

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Juan Manuel Marquez

Juan Manuel Marquez, who fought professionally from 1993 to 2014, is one of three Mexican boxers to win world titles in four different weight classes; his list of opponents is a who's who of his era. He never ducked anyone and always took on the toughest fighters—including Manny Pacquiao—employing a counterpunching style through all of his bouts. Few fighters have been knocked down more times yet gotten up off the canvas to win than Marquez—the personification of a true fighter.

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Marco Antonio Barrera

"The Baby Faced Assassin," Marco Antonio Barrera, who fought from 1989 to 2011, was a world champion in three weight classes. His fights with bitter rival and fellow countryman Erik Morales are legendary. Barrera racked up 67 wins—including 44 KOs—in 75 professional fights. The night he dethroned British boxer Prince Naseem Hamed in Las Vegas in 2001 to win the vacant International Boxing Organization featherweight title as well as the lineal featherweight title is still remembered by boxing fans.