In this article, we will take a look at the 5 countries that produce the best boxers in the world. If you would like to read our discussion on the trends within the boxing industry, you can go to the 10 Countries That Produce The Best Boxers In The World.
5. Puerto Rico
Number of Boxing World Champions: 48
It is an incredible accomplishment for a tiny nation like Puerto Rico to produce so many world champions. The people of Puerto Rico take great pride in boxing, which reflects their love and devotion to the game. The government began paying boxers’ pensions in 1996. Felix Trinidad, better known as “Tito,” is one of the most famous names in the Puerto Rican boxing scene. Other successful fighters, Wilfredo Gomez, Wilfredo Benitez, and Carlos Ortiz, have also won several fights and titles. The country began producing world champions in the field of boxing in the 1930s. During this time, Sixto Escobar won the bantamweight division and successfully defended it five times. Since the 1930s, the nation has produced world-class boxers in every decade. The nation’s boxing champions at the moment are Oscar Collazo, Subriel Matias, Emmanuel Rodriguez, and Amanda Serrano.
4. Japan
Number of Boxing World Champions: 82
Japan is one of the world’s leading combat sports nations, producing top-notch boxers, MMA fighters, wrestlers, and jiu-jitsu practitioners. The Japanese fighters’ proficiency in Jiu-Jitsu and Martial Arts helps improve their agility and accuracy, leading to greater success in fighting. In the 1960s and 1970s, Fighting Harada and Hiroyuki Ebihara brought the sport back to Japan. Many boxing experts and magazines rank Naoya Inoue, the current Undisputed Bantamweight Champion, as the second-best fighter in the world based solely on weight.
3. United Kingdom
Number of Boxing World Champions: 101
The United Kingdom is at the third position on our list of the countries that produce the best boxers in the world. One of the first recorded boxing matches occurred at London’s Royal Albert Hall in 1867, and the Marquess of Queensberry regulations, drafted in the same year in London, became the standard for boxing worldwide. Former featherweight world champion Prince Naseem Hamed, former super middleweight world champion Joe Calzaghe, and former junior welterweight king Ricky Hatton are just a few of the world champions to have emerged from the United Kingdom. The current British superstars include Anthony Joshua, Callum Smith, and Tyson Fury.
2. Mexico
Number of Boxing World Champions: 153
The world’s second-largest boxing nation is Mexico. Many Mexican boxers battled through terrible conditions to succeed in the ring, using boxing as a means of escaping from great poverty. Julio Cesar Chavez is one of the most well-known and prosperous Mexican boxers of all time. During his time, Chavez was the best pound-for-pound boxer in Mexico. Carlos Zarate, Ruben Olivares, and Salvador Sanchez were Mexican boxing’s biggest stars in the 1970s and 1980s. The only boxer in the history of the sport to win the title of undisputed champion in the super middleweight division is the legendary Canelo Alvarez of Mexico. Currently, Juan Manuel Marquez, Erik Morales, and Marco Antonio Barrera are well-known Mexican fighters.
1. United States of America
Number of Boxing World Champions: 431
Numerous legendary boxers have left their mark on the history of American boxing. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the sport has garnered a significant following in the United States. Iconic venues such as Madison Square Garden in New York and the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas are renowned for hosting major fights. Sugar Ray Robinson is credited with popularizing boxing in the US, while Muhammad Ali introduced it to the general public. Among the notable American boxers are Floyd Mayweather Jr., Henry Armstrong, Joe Louis, George Foreman, Oscar de la Hoya, Evander Holyfield, Rocky Marciano, Joe Frazier, and Mike Tyson.
Insider Monkey focuses on uncovering the best investment ideas of hedge funds and insiders. Please subscribe to our free daily e-newsletter to get the latest investment ideas from hedge funds’ investor letters by entering your email address below. You can also check out the 15 German Speaking Countries in the World and the 30 Most Spoken Languages in the World in 2050.