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By Elliot Worsell
WHEN Julio Gonzalez was introduced with the unenviable activity of attempting to dethrone Roy Jones Jnr in 2001, one of many struggle’s promoting factors – maybe its solely one – centred on the thought of Gonzalez turning into the primary Mexican in historical past to win a world light-heavyweight title. For Mexico, a nation steeped in boxing historical past however largely within the decrease weight lessons, this was deemed an enormous factor and Gonzalez, if he might have pulled it off, would have been thought-about fairly the trailblazer.
Others had tried, after all, although hardly of their droves. Yaqui Lopez, for instance, was a fantastic light-heavyweight from Zacateca who unsuccessfully challenged for the WBC (towards John Conteh and Matthew Saad Muhammed) and WBA titles (towards Victor Galindez, twice) and is at this time thought-about probably the greatest light-heavyweights by no means to grow to be a world champion. (Even at a cruiserweight, the place he ended up, Lopez challenged Carlos de Leon for the WBC belt solely to search out himself stopped in 4 rounds.) Then there was Saul Montana, often known as “La Cobra”, who ended his profession as a reliable heavyweight journeyman, however earlier than that, in 1993, challenged Virgil Hill for the WBA light-heavyweight title. Some years later, in 2000, Montana then additionally challenged Vasilly Jirov for the IBF cruiserweight belt and wound up getting stopped in 9 rounds.
Given this historical past, in addition to the standard of his opponent, Gonzalez falling brief towards Jones in 2001 hardly got here as a shock. Certainly, when the Baja California native lastly did achieve his authentic mission, beating Dariusz Michalczewski two years later, it was a win celebrated again in Mexico with no small quantity of fanfare.
This, you see, was no unusual accomplishment. Toppling Michalczewski in Germany was one factor – one thing no one else had thus far managed – however to make it much more particular Gonzalez would, by being one thing of an anomaly, now stand out among the many big pantheon of Mexican boxers. That’s, he would not be competing with the achievements of the numerous nice Mexicans within the decrease weight lessons, however would now be remembered fondly as considered one of The Massive Ones. One of many oddities. One of many outliers. Not solely that, he can be remembered as somebody who confirmed that Mexico can produce heavier boxers and good ones at that.
Julio Gonzalez (Jeff Gross/Getty Pictures)
Since then there have been others. Gilberto Ramirez, a former WBO super-middleweight champion from Sinaloa, ventured to light-heavyweight to problem Dmitry Bivol in 2022, although he was quickly put in his place, and now, like Lopez earlier than him, competes as a cruiserweight. There may be additionally Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, a one-time welterweight who selected to dabble at light-heavyweight to dethrone Sergey Kovalev, the WBO champion, in 2019. That, once more, was an enormous victory for Mexico within the greater weight lessons, even when the velocity with which Alvarez then dropped again all the way down to super-middleweight was quite telling by way of determining the place he naturally belongs.
In truth, one might argue it’s there, at super-middleweight, each Alvarez and Mexico have discovered their candy spot in latest instances. In any case, go searching. It’s not simply Alvarez thriving at 168 kilos, but in addition Jaime Munguia, who received on Saturday night time towards John Ryder, and David Benavidez, who was final seen stopping Demetrius Andrade in quite spectacular trend. Collectively, Alvarez, Munguia and Benavidez now signify maybe one, two and three at super-middleweight, with solely the order to be determined within the coming months and years.
Already, to this finish, there’s discuss of Alvarez, the large star, quickly preventing each Munguia and Benavidez in showcase Las Vegas fights; possibly one in Might and one in September. That, as a plan, would make quite a lot of sense and supply multiple compelling storyline. The Mexican angle will after all should be pushed exhausting, and act as its essential promoting level, however you even have the thought of the passing of the torch in addition to the novelty of getting Mexican rivalries at a weight usually so alien to fighters from Mexico. That alone will guarantee these fights, ought to they occur, distinguish themselves from the myriad nice all-Mexican fights of the previous. That alone ought to give the promoters cause to strike whereas the iron’s scorching and whereas the super-middleweight division, a division as soon as dominated by Europeans, is all of a sudden headed up by three good Mexicans.
David Benavidez (David Becker/Getty Pictures)
Make no mistake, this new development is uncommon. Certainly, go to any boxing fitness center in Mexico and you’ll wrestle to search out boxers competing in divisions above welterweight, not to mention middleweight. This was one thing I found firsthand in 2016, once I paid a visit to the fitness center of Raul Hirales in La Paz and noticed a gang of boxers no taller than the highest rope, all separated by roughly 14 kilos. Flyweights to featherweights, every of them checked out me – a mere super-middleweight – as if I have been a heavyweight (one in search of sparring) and had due to this fact come to the mistaken place. Hirales, 5’5 and 126 kilos, even stated that had I been a boxer there can be no room on the inn. “You’d wrestle for sparring,” he defined. “What’s nice about this fitness center is that we’re all the identical weight and may all spar at any time when we have to spar. You don’t even want to herald individuals from outdoors to spar. We are able to do it every day if we would like.”
Massive, in different phrases, shouldn’t be at all times higher, notably in Mexico, and notably if wanting an athletic profession as a boxer. In truth, if you happen to have a look at this checklist of 10 Mexican boxers who competed – and to totally different levels flourished – within the greater weight lessons, you will notice simply how uncommon the phenomenon of the Massive Mexican Boxer actually is.
1) Yaqui Lopez
As a light-heavyweight, the all-action Lopez unsuccessfully challenged for the WBC (towards John Conteh and Matthew Saad Muhammed) and WBA titles (towards Victor Galindez, twice) however at all times gave it his all. Lastly, as a cruiserweight, he challenged Carlos de Leon for the WBC belt.
2) Julio Cesar Gonzalez
Well-known for unsuccessfully difficult Roy Jones Jnr in 2001, Gonzalez was an thrilling, aggressive light-heavyweight contender who grew to become the primary man to beat Dariusz Michalczewski, doing so in Germany by way of split-decision. The win landed Gonzalez the WBO title.
3) Andy Ruiz Jnr
Although many have mocked his bodily form, Ruiz Jnr possesses quick arms and a very good boxing mind and has misplaced to solely Joseph Parker and Anthony Joshua in a 37-fight professional profession. His greatest second so far arrived in 2019 when he shocked Joshua to grow to be the heavyweight champion of the world.
4) Gilberto Ramirez
Generally known as “Zurdo”, the 32-year-old Ramirez is a 6’2 southpaw who held the WBO world super-middleweight belt from 2016 to 2018. He has since unsuccessfully challenged Dmitry Bivol for a model of the light-heavyweight crown and now finds himself at cruiserweight.
5) Manuel Ramos
Competing within the sixties and seventies, Ramos, from Hermosillo, Sonora, beat contenders Eddie Machen and Ernie Terrell and ultimately landed a shot towards NYSAC heavyweight champion Joe Frazier in ‘68. He wobbled Frazier within the first spherical however succumbed to a barrage of hooks within the second.
6) Chris Arreola
California-based Arreola received 27 fights in a row earlier than difficult Vitali Klitschko for the WBC world heavyweight title in 2009. He was stopped in 10 rounds after which misplaced two additional makes an attempt to win the identical belt, towards Bermane Stiverne and Deontay Wilder respectively.
7) Saul Montana
“La Cobra” ended his profession as a reliable heavyweight journeyman, however, in 1993, challenged Virgil Hill for the WBA light-heavyweight title after which, in 2000, challenged Vasilly Jirov for the IBF cruiserweight belt.
8) Joaquin Rocha
Rocha represented host nation Mexico as a heavyweight on the 1968 Mexico Metropolis Olympic video games and received his nation a bronze medal. He determined towards turning skilled.
9) Alex Garcia
“The San Fernando Hammer” took up boxing after spending 5 years in San Quentin for assault with a lethal weapon. Garcia made it to 32-1 and was on the verge of securing a struggle towards George Foreman, just for journeyman Mike Dixon, a supposed tune-up opponent, to place a spanner within the works with a second-round knockout win.
10) Humberto Soto
To not be confused with the world super-featherweight champion of the identical title, this Humberto Soto was a heavyweight prospect undefeated between the years 2006 and 2017 (even when he solely managed 10 fights in that point). His first and solely loss got here towards Jean Pierre Augustin. He hasn’t boxed since.
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