Mexico is a true national powerhouse in boxing. It’s a country which not only boasts hoards of fans and would be pro fighters, but also an entirely distinct ethos and style of fighting. To be a Mexican fighter is something entirely different from simply being a fighter in and of itself, and when you’re a true Mexican fighter at the top levels of the sport, you’ll have a legion following behind you.
Let’s take a look to see how Mexico grades out in our Boxing World Cup.
Today’s Pro Fighters
Mexico’s prominence resides chiefly in the lighter weight classes. Yet, the country’s two biggest names are junior middleweight superstar and #2 contender Canelo Alvarez, and super middleweight Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
Moving south to welterweight is the current elder statesmen of Mexican boxing, Juan Manuel Marquez, still a top pound for pound fighter and threat to anybody lurking around 140-147 lbs.
At lightweight, Miguel Vazquez is one of the division’s top threats, and directly underneath him sits the upset-minded but peaking Raymundo Beltran. Orlando Salido is a handful for anybody in and around featherweight, where a wealth of Mexican talent plies their trade, including the comebacking Abner Mares, his conqueror Jhonny Gonzalez, and the guy who beat him, Daniel Ponce de Leon.
Juan Francisco Estrada is the underrated flyweight kingpin, and many of the fiercest contenders for his throne are also Mexican, such as Giovani Segura.
A loaded list of contenders, as well as current and former champions and titleholders, spread across a number of divisions.
Points: 5/5
Fans and Venues
Boxing in Mexico is a pastime, a passion and in some ways an entire culture and way of life. The sport is omnipresent in the country, with only soccer being able to outrank it.
Fighters like Canelo and Chavez Jr. were major stars and attractions before their talent even truly began to emerge (especially in the latter case, thanks to his family name).
It’s been a long time since 130,000 fans packed into Azteca Stadium to watch Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., but make no mistake about it, the top Mexican draws still pack them in, including when they travel stateside to San Antonio, Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
Small to medium sized fight venues are scattered across the country, from the bustling urban centers of Mexico City and Tijuana, to the more distant countrysides, and even tourist-heavy locales such as Cancun.
Points: 5/5
Amateur System
Mexico’s amateur system is hindered by its professional system, and the state of life of its young prospects. Most Mexican boxing prodigies turn pro in their teens, forgoing extensive amateur training, and applying for an intensive on the job apprenticeship in its place.
Still, Mexico regularly sends boxers to the Olympics and top international competitions. Medals are few and far between, with the last coming at the 2000 Sydney games, and prior to that, Seoul in 1988, both bronzes.
Points: 2/5
Professional System
As eluded to, the pro system indoctrinates fighters early. Even superstars such as Canelo and Chavez Jr. had their first pro fights at the tender ages of 15 and 17, respectively, and that’s certainly more the standard than the exception.
That also means that there’s a near constant stream of small and club level fights, with young prospects either working their way through the rankings or being sent plummeting back down them by the crop of more grizzled, battle-tested fighters ahead of them.
One of the sport’s preeminent minds and instructors, Nacho Beristain, continues to turn out wave after wave of technically refined ring warriors and there are quality gyms spread across the country. Boxing in Mexico though is as much about family heritage as gyms, which is why it’s so common to see fighting families with fathers, sons, siblings, uncles and cousins all having taken their turn in the ring.
Points: 4/5
History & Significance
Over 130,000 fans don’t show up to see Chavez Sr. by accident, do they? Boxing is as significant as it gets in Mexico. The television ratings for fights with its superstars are absurd by American standards, and the passion for both individuals and the sport as a whole may be matched in select other nations, but is certainly not exceeded.
Mexican boxing history offers a plethora of all-time greats, and epic battles. From the tragically cut short career of Salvador Sanchez, to the unbeaten Ricardo Lopez, rivals like Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera, and so many others in the decades before them, such as Carlos Zarate and Ruben Olivares.
Points: 5/5
Pound for Pound Top 20
Juan Manuel Marquez is slotted at #5 on our pound for pound list, earning his country 3 bonus points. Unfortunately, elsewhere Mexico is just missing out on a larger bonus share.
Abner Mares was formerly a top 10 guy, but was taken out and then sat on the shelf for a year. Canelo Alvarez is on the cusp of the top 20 should he defeat Erislandy Lara, but those results aren’t in just yet. Guys like Juan Francisco Estrada, Orlando Salido and Miguel Vazquez also just don’t quite make the cut.
Bonus Points: 3
Overall Boxing World Cup Score for Mexico: 24 points
