Best Bantamweights in Boxing History
The bantamweight division in boxing has historically been one of the most exciting weight classes in the sport. Various fighting legends have held the bantamweight crown and are considered all-time greats.
Here are five of the best bantamweights in boxing history. Read about these iconic boxers below and get the top boxing and UFC betting odds at Bovada.
Eder Jofre
On the short list of the best bantamweights in boxing history, nearly every respected historian includes the legendary Eder Jofre. Eder Jofre is a Brazilian boxing icon and is the best boxer to ever come out of the country.
During the early 1960s, there was nobody on the planet better than Jofre. The Brazilian champ went 47-0-3 in his first fifty bouts and became the undisputed bantamweight champion.
Then after dominating the bantamweight division, Eder won the featherweight title before retiring. He was a once-in-a-generation fighter, who was only defeated twice in his illustrious career.
Ruben Olivares
Mexican boxing icon Ruben Olivares is easily one of the best bantamweights in boxing history, if not the best. During his impeccable boxing career, the former bantamweight champion set numerous boxing records.
Ruben still holds the bantamweight record for most wins in unified title bouts and won world titles on multiple occasions. He won 61 fights before suffering his first loss and also moved up to win multiple featherweight boxing titles.
Olivares is a true legend of the sport and is a unanimous choice for any all-time great boxers list.
Manuel Ortiz
Manuel Ortiz was one of the best bantamweights in boxing history, who was the bantamweight king of the 1940s. Just four years after turning pro, Ortiz won the bantamweight title and held it for almost six years.
During Ortiz’s reign, he set the bantamweight record with fifteen successful title defenses against 11 opponents. After regaining the title in a rematch against Harold Dade, Manuel boosted his title defenses to 19 in total.
Along with winning multiple world titles and holding the record for defenses, Ortiz retired with 100 career wins. He was a true legend of the sport and is widely considered an all-time great.
Fighting Harada
No list of the best bantamweights in boxing history would be complete without the Japanese icon Fighting Harada. Masahiko “Fighting” Harada helped put Japanese boxing on the map during the 1960s.
After winning the undisputed flyweight title, Harada then moved up to bantamweight to further add to his legacy. He’s the only fighter to ever defeat icon Eder Jofre(twice) en route to becoming undisputed bantamweight champion.
Carlos Zarate
Carlos Zarate is considered by many as one of the best bantamweights in boxing history. He was one of the best boxers of the late 1970s and known for his ferocious power.
During Zarate’s 3-year reign as WBC bantamweight champion, he defended his title an impressive 9 times. He also nearly won the super bantamweight title after a 7-year hiatus from the sport.
Out of Zarate’s 66 professional wins, he astonishingly won 63 by knockout.
