By Omar Torres: Last night I posted an article about boxing evolving over the years as an international sport, and boxers from all over the world have kept our sport thriving, and I made a top 3 list of boxers from 4 major countries that produce some of the current great boxers we see today. I couldn’t fit a lot of the other nations so last night I did 4, the U.S, U.K, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. Today I will be doing 4 more: The Philippines, Cuba, Ukraine, and Argentina. This list isn’t by any means an official list. Feel free to show some love to your country and comment your top 3 boxers from your nation below.
Philippines
1. Manny Pacquiao (54-5-2) – I know a lot of people would argue that Nonito is now number 1 in this list because of Pacquiao’s recent loss to Bradley & Marquez, but the truth is Manny has accomplished a lot in his career, he is boxing’s first 8 division champion and also has beaten very good fighters such as, Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, Ricky Hatton, Oscar de la Hoya, Juan Manuel Marquez, Antonio Margarito, Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosley etc. Manny Pacquiao has also been the fighter of the year numerous times and also won the fighter of the decade award. Pacquiao’s career is on going and has a chance to bounce back.
2. Nonito Donaire (31-1) – Born in Talibon, Bohol, Philippines, Donaire is ESPN’s 2012 fighter of the year which Nonito deserves because he has been dominant in the ring with practically every fighter he has fought. The “Filipino Flash,” is a four division champion and the reigning WBO, and WBC Diamond Super Bantamweight Champion. He is also the former IBF Super Bantamweight, WBC and WBO Bantamweight, also had a few fly weight belts. I see Nonito taking over Manny Pacquiao’s spot in the very near future as the Philippines 1# boxer.
3. Donnie Nietes (31-1-3) – Donnie “Snake” Nietes is not as popular and talented as say Pacquiao and Donaire but he is a premium fighter at the flyweight division. He is the current WBO Light Flyweight World Champion. He is also a former WBO minimumweight World Champion. he also won the Philippines Boxing Federation title early in his career. Nietes was undefeated before losing in his bout against Angky Angkota in a 10 round split decision.In June 2012 Nietes beat Ramón García Hirales for the Wbo Flyweight title. The Philippines has many great fighter so 3# can argued for sure.
Cuba
1. Yuriorkis Gamboa (22-0) – He is the 2004 Olympic gold medalist for featherweights and former WBA and IBF Featherweight Champion. All though he has had time off and his performance against Michael Farenas wasn’t impressive as Farenas almost pulled out an upset, “Pequeño Tyson” which means little Tyson in Spanish is still a force to be reckoned with. Gamoa is a brawler with knockout power and hopefully we will be seeing him in bigger fights in the near future.
2. Guillermo Rigondeaux(11-0) I know that his record shows that he might not have experience but its far from that.He is a two time Olympic gold medalist at bantamweight in 2000 and 2004. Rigondeaux is wasting no time ripping through the bantamweight divisions and is believed to have the skills to beat top boxer Nonito Donarie. I hope to see this fight because it will be a great match-up.
3. Erislandy Lara (17-1-2) – A lot of casual boxing fans wouldn’t know much about this Cuban light middleweight but he is among the best from Cuba. Winning gold medals in international competitions. Lara made his comeback to the ring about 8 to 9 months after he lost for the first time to Paul Williams to fight Ronald Hearns for the WBC light middleweight semi final eliminator. The 10 rounds round fight ended in 1 minute and 34 seconds into the first round as Lara blasted Hearns with a left hook getting a TKO win to advance.
Ukraine
1. Wladimir Klitschko (59-3) – This one is pretty much a no-brainer, Klitschko is the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, IBO & The Ring Heavyweight Champion and no one can beat this guy in the Heavyweight division.
Some people say that Klitschko has been fighting easy opponents lately but there is not a lot of competition out there anyways. But hopefully we will see Wladimir square off with Tyson Fury next, because he has the best shot in beating Klitschko in my opinion.
2. Vitali Klitschko (45-2) – “Dr.Iron Fist” is the reigning WBC heavyweight champion
And is Ranked #2 in the heavyweight division second only to his brother. The Klitschko brothers have dominated the heavyweight division for years with no one being able to stop them. They are undoubtedly the best coming out of the Ukraine and the best heavyweights in the world.
3. Sergiy Dzinzirvk (37-1-1) – Called by many as “little Klitschko”, Sergiy was the former WBO Super Welterweight. Sergiy was undefeated for most of his professional career until he ran into Sergio Martinez.
Martinez won by TKO in round 8 knocking down Sergiy about 4 or 5 times in the fight. Before fighting Martinez, Dzinziruk had never been knocked down in his professional and amateur careers. Sergiy was planning on fighting Austin Trout this past September but Trout took the fight with Miguel Cotto instead. We should be seeing Sergiy soon in the ring again.
Argentina
1. Sergio Martinez (50-2-2) – “La Maravilla” is king in Argentina and is one of the best fighters in Argentine history, winning titles and beating tough fighters such as, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams, Sergiy Dzinziruk, Mathew Macklin, & Julio César Chávez Jr. Martinez was once the 3rd P4P fighter in the world but was dropped to 7th for some reason. Sergio is still one of the best and is still feared by many boxers.
2. Marcos Maidana (33-3) – Marcos first fight in the U.S was against Victor Ortiz, beating him in a 6 round tko winning the WBA super lightweight Championship. Since then Maidana has had fights with premium fighters like Amir Khan, Devon Alexander, Erik Morales. Even though he lost to Khan and Alexander, he has proven to be tough to beat with his hard punching power and his tough chin. That’s why I think currently he is number 2 from Argentina.
3. Lucas Matthysse (32-2) – He is a pressure fighter that has a powerful left hook and right hand. He is the current WBO intercontinental light welterweight champion and has had close controversial fights with Devon Alexander and Zab Judah which a lot of boxing experts believe Lucas won. Lucas is definitely one of the best fighters coming out of Argentina.
Sergio Martinez predicts beating Martin Murray within 8 rounds
According to Yahoo Sports, Sergio Martinez has Predicted in beating Martin Murray within 8 rounds. Sergio Martinez made Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. look like a amateur when they met in a middleweight title fight on Sept. 15, 2012 at the Thomas & Mack Center. Martinez made Julio miss a bunch of his punches and selectively finding opening where he could hit Chavez Jr. with his combinations.I won’t be surprised if Martinez beats Murray before the 8th.Martin Murray is a young strong fighter but hasn’t got in the ring with a premium crafty fighter like Martinez. The fight will take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina on April 27 with the venue still to be named.
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