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Cellini’s Top Ten Greatest Southpaw Fighters Of All Time!

Jeff Bio PicBy Jeffrey “Italian Medallion” Cellini

Next month on November 5th, Manny Pacquiao, one of the greatest fighters of all-time, will be fighting Jessie Vargas for the WBO World Welterweight title at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Pacquiao’s, whose career accomplishments are unprecedented, looks to add to his legacy. The “Pac Man” arguably one of the best fighters of his generation, but where does he rank among some of the other legends in the sport. Pacquiao undoubtedly is one of the best southpaws in boxing history, but is he the best ever?

10) Sergio Martinez, 51-3-2, 28 KO’s was the former unified WBC, WBO, Ring Magazine champion. Defeated Kelly Pavlik in 2010 to lay claim to the middleweight titles and made six successful defenses of his belts. Martinez had wins over Paul Williams and Julio Cesar Chavez, JR.

9) Gabriel “Flash” Elorde,89-27-2, 33 KO’s held the World Junior Lightweight Championship from 1960 to 1967 and successfully defended it ten times. Outpointed the World Featherweight champion Sandy Sandler in a ten-round non-title fight, but lost rematch a year later in the 13th round for the title. Elorde was ahead on all three judge’s scorecards when fight was stopped because of a cut.

8) Young Corbett III,121-12-22, 32 KO’s was the World Welterweight champion in 1933 and the Middleweight champion in 1938. Not known for his punching power, this fast punching boxer had wins over Jack Thompson, Ceferino Garcia, Mickey Walker, Gus Lesnevich and Fred Apostoli.

7) Hector “Macho” Camacho, 79-6-3, 38 KO’s was a former three-division world champion, holding the belt at the Super Featherweight, Lightweight and Super Lightweight divisions. Camacho, who was never stopped in his career, had wins over Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Ray Mancini, Edwin Rosario and Jose Luis Ramirez.

6) Tiger “Georgia Deacon” Flowers, 118-15-8, 54 KO’s was the first African-American middleweight boxing champion, defeating Harry Greb to claim the title in 1926. He retained title in rematch with Greb six months later, but lost belt to Mickey Walker near the end of the year.

5) Vicente Saldivar, 37-3, 26 KO’s was former WBC and a two-time WBA Featherweight Champion. “Zurdo de Oro” had a career record of 9-2 in world title bouts, with impressive wins over Sugar Ramos, Raul Rojas, and Howard Winstone (three times).

4) Joe Calzaghe, 46-0, 32 KO’s was the former WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, Ring Magazine champion, and is the longest-reigning super-middleweight world champion in history. Calzaghe held the WBO title for over 10 years and making 21 successful title defenses. He had a career record of 22-0 in world title fights, including 10-0 against current or former world champions. Calzaghe had impressive wins over Chris Eubank,SR., Robin Reid, Richie Woodhall, Charles Brewer, Byron Mitchell, Jeff Lacy, Sakio Bika, Mikkel Kessler, Bernard Hopkins, and Roy Jones, JR.

3) “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler, 62-3-2, 52 KO’s reigned as the undisputed middleweight champion from 1980 to 1987, making twelve defenses of that title. Hagler had a record of 13-1-1 in world title bouts, including a record of 7-1-1 against former world champions. Hagler’s resume contains victories over other Hall-of-Famers such as Thomas “Hit Man” Hearns and Roberto Duran.

2) Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao, 58-6-2, 38 KO’s is the first and only eight-division world champion, in which he has won ten world titles, as well as being the first to win the lineal championship at five different weight classes. The “Pac Man” has a career record of 15-3-3 in world title fights, including a record of 21-5-2 against current or former world champions. Pacquiao’s incredible resume includes victories over Chatchai Sasakul, Lehlo Ledwaba, Jorge Eliecer Julio, Marco Antonio Barrera (twice), Erik Morales (twice), Oscar Larios, Juan Manuel Marquez (twice), David Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, Joshua Clottey, Antonio Margarito, Shane Mosley, Brandon Rios, Timothy Bradley (twice) and Chris Algieri.

1) Pernell “Sweat Pea” Whitaker, 40-4-1, 17 KO’s is a former four-weight world champion, having won titles at lightweight, junior welterweight, welterweight, and junior middleweight divisions. “Sweat Pea” had career record of 19-3-1 in world title fights, including a record of 14-3-1 against other former champions. Whitaker’s impressive list of victims include Roger Mayweather, Greg Haugen, Jose Luis Ramirez, Freddie Pendleton, Azumah Nelson, Juan Nazario, Jorge Paez, Rafael Pineda, James (Buddy) McGirt (twice), Julio Cesar Vasquez, Jake Rodriguez, and Diosbelys Hurtado. Forget the controversial draw verdict, most ringside observers and fans know that Pernell Whitaker outclassed Julio Cesar Chavez (who was 87-0 going into fight).

Honorable Mention: Ivan Calderon, Freddie Miller

Some will argue that Pacquiao accomplished more than Whitaker, but both legends cannot be denied their place among the top ten fighters of all-time.

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