Photo by Esther Lin
Mexico has given the sport of boxing some of its greatest fighters. From Carlos Zarate and Salvador Sanchez, to Julio Cesar Chavez, Mexico is famous for having produced a ridiculous number of legendary warriors who transcend the sport and are cut from a different cloth.
While the accomplishments of the aforementioned greats–and many others–has already been written, current fighters still in the game are continuing to write their legacy and strive towards legendary Mexican status.
On this Cinco de Mayo, RBRBoxing gives you the three best active Mexican fighters in the sport today.
Let us know who you consider to be the best Mexican boxer in the sport today.
[tps_header]Honorable Mention[/tps_header]
Leo Santa Cruz
Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images
It’s hard to believe just how far Leo Santa Cruz has fallen in terms of popularity. That’s what happens when you fight mechanics, auto insurance agents and Don Francisco backup dancers in consecutive fights.
Santa Cruz still is young enough to get the public back on his side, but he’s going to have to start fighting actual fighters to do so.
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. has the talent, but the interest in making weight and actually capitalizing on that talent just doesn’t seem to be there.
Being the son of a legend can’t help make things any easier because people expect so much, but if Jr. isn’t 100 percent into boxing, he should probably just hang ’em up.
Gennady Golovkin
Photo by Jonathan Moore/Getty Images
What would a “best Mexican” list be without Gennady Golovkin?
Yes, we know the Kazakh born “Good Boy” isn’t actually from Mexico, but he’s adopted the “Mexican Style” and is adorned by everyone south of the border.
Give him his citizenship already.
Orlando Salido
Orlando Salido has been written off more than once, but he keeps on coming back with a vengeance.
He recently lost his WBO title to Rocky Martinez, but something tells me we haven’t seen the last of Salido.
Abner Mares
Abner Mares could make his way onto this list with a big win in 2015. He may end of facing Leo Santa Cruz, so if that happens and Mares pulls out a victory, he’ll strengthen his claim to being a top three Mexican fighter.
[tps_header]3. Juan Francisco Estrada (32-2-0, 23 KOs)[/tps_header]
Photo by Zanfer Promotions
At 25 years old, Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, Mexico native, Juan Francisco Estrada, has largely flown under the radar of general boxing fans throughout his professional career.
On April 6, 2013, Estrada fought Brian Viloria for the Hawaiian’s WBA and WBO Flyweight titles. Estrada put on a crowd-pleasing performance and won the titles in the process.
With big wins over the Giovani Segura, Milan Melindo and the aforementioned Viloria under his belt, the biggest fight out there for “El Gallo” is a rematch against Nicaraguan bad ass, Roman Gonzalez.
With Gonzalez making his HBO debut in a couple of weeks on the undercard of the Gennady Golovkin vs. Willie Monroe bout, fans can only hope that we get one step closer to a title unification bout at Flyweight.
A win over Gonzalez would catapult Estrada into a top-10 pound-for-pound name and possibly ahead of the next man on this list.
[tps_header]2. Canelo Alvarez (44-1-1, 31 KOs)[/tps_header]
Photo by Tom Casino
It’s hard to believe that Canelo Alvarez is still only 24 years of age.
The Mexican youngster from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico is already a bonafide star in his native country and he continues to win people over with his willingness to take on the toughest challenges.
He holds victories over Shane Mosley, Austin Trout, Alfredo Angulo and most recently, Erislandy Lara. While the Lara fight was close, Canelo was still praised for even taking on a legitimate, tough opponent that nobody else was lining up to face.
Canelo suffered his only career loss at the hands of this generation’s best fighter, Floyd Mayweather Jr., back in September of 2013. While some may say that the Mayweather came too soon–Alvarez was barely 23–the Cinnamon man hasn’t suffered from any lack of confidence since.
On Saturday, May 9, 2015, Canelo will attempt to further stake his claim as one of boxing’s best when he takes on hard-hitting maniac and glutton for punishment, James Kirkland.
If Canelo is able to earn a victory against Kirkland, he’ll move one step closer to a mega bout with his adopted Mexican brethren, Gennady Golovkin.
[tps_header]1. Juan Manuel Marquez (56-7-1, 40 KOs)[/tps_header]
Photo by Reuters/Steve Marcus
As long as Juan Manuel Marquez is technically still active, you can’t rank any current Mexican boxer ahead of him.
The 41-year-old pugilist has found success from the Featherweight division all the way up to Jr. Welterweight. Marquez is one of only three Mexican born fighters to capture a championship in four divisions.
Marquez is best known for his legendary four-fight series with Manny Pacquiao which started in May of 2004.
The first bout between Marquez and Pacquiao produced some of the greatest drama in boxing history after Marquez hit the deck three times in the first round but came storming back to earn a draw.
It’s that same fire and determination that Marquez showed in the first Pacquiao fight which has defined him and helped solidify his legacy.
Marquez was largely overlooked in the earlier part of his career when Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales were at their peak. But, it can easily be argued that the best of the bunch ended up being Marquez.
In terms of where Marquez currently stands, he hasn’t been active in almost a year, but would still be a tough outing for most top-tier fighters. His most recent victory came against Mike Alvarado in an exciting clash at The Forum in Inglewood, CA back in May of 2014.
Whether Marquez decides to continue fighting or not, the other boxers on this list should certainly take a page from his book.
Marquez has fought the best of his era and although he was always known as a boxer and accurate counter puncher, he could put the foot on the gas pedal when he needed to and battle like a true Mexican warrior.
