Zepeda has previously held the WBC Continental Americas lightweight title, which he defended twice. He defeated Jaime Arboleda by knockout. Zepeda knocked down Arboleda 3 times in the 2nd round all by body shots.
David Benavidez may be the youngest fighter on this list at 24-years-old, but he is already a two-time super middleweight world champion with both title reigns ending in unfortunate circumstances. He first won the WBC Super Middleweight championship in September 2017 when he beat Ronald Gavril by split decision to claim the vacant title. After a successful title defense in a rematch against Gavril, he would have the belt stripped from him by the WBC in September 2018 after testing positive for cocaine and was given a four-month suspension.
Decades later, a southpaw from Cebu province named Gabriel “Flash” Elorde became a national hero with his seven-year reign as world junior lightweight champion in the 1960s. The sport became a center piece of the nation’s image during the Martial Law era under the dictator Ferdinand Marcos. The Thrilla in Manila, the third meeting between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier considered by many to be the greatest boxing match ever, was hosted by the Philippines as a distraction from objections at home and abroad to Marcos’ rule.
Arguably the best pure boxer since Mayweather has a similarly perfect record if nowhere near the fame of Floyd. Still, ‘Bud’ is a three-weight world champion, earned undisputed status at 140lb, and has never really looked like losing any contest.
In December 2005, Pacquiao took his first lead role in Violett Films’ Lisensyadong Kamao (Licensed Fist). The film is titled so because (according to director Tony Bernal), being a boxer, Pacquiao is licensed to use his hands.
Gans is the first professional boxer on our list with over 100 KOs, and he might’ve been the first to break that record in history, considering he fought before boxers like Archie Moore and Sugar Ray Robinson. He paved the way for KO leaders with consecutive fights and made it through many challenges in his career.
Lomachenko has won world titles in three different world classes, and at lightweight, he held the unified WBA (Super), WBO, WBC, and The Ring lightweight titles. He lost the title to Teofimo Lopez, however, since then, he has won his next three fights in a row.
Big names like Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson predictions, Ali, and Fury don’t even rank on this list. That is primarily because they didn’t participate in many professional fights. One thing these record-holders have in common is hundreds of professional fights.
In regards to the controversial scorecards, ESPN’s Dan Rafael scored the fight 117–111 and ESPN analyst Teddy Atlas scored it 116–111, both for Pacquiao. The Guardian and the IBT also scored the fight in favor of Pacquiao as well, 117–111. BoxingScene had it 116–112 for Pacquiao, while CBS Sports scored the fight 114–114 even. BoxNation’s Steve Bunce scored the fight 115–113 for Horn. In total, 12 of 15 media outlets scored the bout for Pacquiao, 2 of 15 outlets ruled in favor of Horn and 1 scored a draw. Pacquiao claimed Horn got away with numerous dirty tactics in the fight, using illegal blows including elbows and headbutts, causing him to be cut on three different occasions during the fight.
Julio César Chávez, born in 1962, stands as a monumental figure in the world of boxing, revered for his extraordinary accomplishments and lasting influence on the sport. His career is characterized by an astonishing 87-fight unbeaten streak, a feat that attests to his remarkable skill, enduring stamina, and unwavering determination. Chávez’s ability to consistently conquer a diverse array of opponents underscores his adaptability and mastery of the sweet science. What truly sets Chávez apart is his remarkable versatility, evident through his multiple world titles across different weight classes. This impressive feat solidifies his status as one of the most multifaceted and accomplished boxers in the annals of the sport. His signature style incorporated impeccable defensive skills, pinpoint counterpunching, and an unrelenting focus on body shots. These attributes not only rendered him a formidable adversary but also made him a captivating and thrilling fighter to watch.
During a professional career spanning nearly three decades, Larry Holmes (“The Easton Assassin”) reigned as world heavyweight champion for a record-breaking seven and a half years and was Muhammad Ali’s former sparring partner. Writing for ESPN, Don Steinberg called Holmes’ left jab “one of the great weapons in sports history” and Bill Caplan included him in his list of all-time heavyweights. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2008.
Pacquiao stated of his early years, “Many of you know me as a legendary boxer, and I’m proud of that. However, that journey was not always easy. When I was younger, I became a fighter because I had to survive. I had nothing. I had no one to depend on except myself. I realized that boxing was something I was good at, and I trained hard so that I could keep myself and my family alive.”