By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com
Throughout my many years of research, I have developed a deep interest in ranking boxers on the greatness of their respective careers .
I rank the fighters, from different eras, at their height, peak, prime, and pinnacle of their careers, and not necessarily by who can beat whom or who fought whom, and regardless of their ring records .
Here’s my “pound for pound” top dozen (12) retired boxers from two of the most popular boxing parts of the world, with professional ring records listed .
MEXICO
1 – Julio Cesar Chavez (107-6-2 / 85 by KO)
2 – Ruben Olivares (89-13-3 / 79 by KO)
3 – Carlos Zarate (66-4 / 63 by KO)
4 – Vicente Saldivar (37-3 / 26 by KO)
5 – Salvador Sanchez (44-1-1 / 32 by KO)
6 – Ricardo Lopez (51-0-1 / 38 by KO)
7 – Miguel Canto (61-9-4 / 14 by KO)
8 – Marco Antonio Barrera (67-7 / 44 by KO)
9 – Juan Manuel Marquez (56-7-1 / 40 by KO)
10 – Rafael Herrera (47-9-4 / 20 by KO)
11- Erik Morales (52-9 / 36 by KO)
12 – Raton Macias (41-2 / 25 by KO)
Honorable Mention: Jose Becerra, Baby Arizmendi, Carlos Palomino
UNITED KINGDOM
1 – Jimmy Wilde (131-3-1 / 98 by KO)
2 – Bob Fitzsimmons (61-8-4 / 57 by KO)
3 – Jim Driscoll (56-4-7 / 37 by KO)
4 – Lennox Lewis (41-2-1 / 32 by KO)
5 – Kid Ted Lewis (189-32-14 / 77 by KO)
6 – Freddie Welsh (74-5-7 / 34 by KO )
7 – Benny Lynch (88-14-17 / 34 by KO)
8 – Joe Calzaghe (46-0 / 32 by KO)
9 – Ken Buchanan (61-8 / 27 by KO)
10 – Carl Froch (33-2 / 24 by KO)
11 – Jack Kid Berg 157-26-9 / 61 by KO)
12 – Owen Moran (59-16-7 / 26 by KO)
Honorable Mention: Randy Turpin, Ricky Hatton, Barry McGuigan