Mexico has produced more great fighters than almost anywhere, which makes a top 5 hard. Here is ours, and why. Tell us who we got wrong.
1
Julio César Chávez
Super featherweight to light welterweight · 1980–2005
107-6-2 (86 KO)
Unbeaten in his first 90 fights (89-0-1) and a world champion at three weights. The pressure and body punching that every Mexican fighter since has been measured against.
2
Salvador Sánchez
Featherweight · 1975–1982
44-1-1 (32 KO)
As WBC featherweight champion he stopped Wilfredo Gómez and beat a young Azumah Nelson, then died in a car crash in 1982, aged 23. On ability alone there is a case for him at number one.
3
Juan Manuel Márquez
Featherweight to light welterweight · 1993–2014
56-7-1 (40 KO)
A counter-puncher who won world titles at four weights and was never stopped. Four fights with Manny Pacquiao, ending with the sixth-round knockout in 2012.
4
Ricardo López
Minimumweight and light flyweight · 1985–2001
Retired unbeaten (one draw)
21 defences of the WBC minimumweight title, a record for the division, and never beaten as a professional. The lightest weights are easy to overlook. López is the reason not to.
Light middleweight to light heavyweight · 2005–present
Still active
A four-weight world champion and twice undisputed at super middleweight. The only one on this list still adding to his case.
Just missed out: Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales are the hardest to leave out: their trilogy is as good as rivalries get. Rubén Olivares and Carlos Zárate also have strong cases.
Who did we miss? Tell us your top 5 on Instagram @boxingp3p or by email: boxingp3p@gmail.com. Records are checked against two sources; tell us if you spot a mistake.