Asia has produced numerous Boxing talents who have made a great name in the sport. Boxing culture in the Philippines is especially rich, just like in the USA and UK. Some of the most distinguished and longest-reigning world champions have come from Asia. The Lighter weight division is the class where Asian fighters dominate the most. So let’s have a look at the 10 Best Asian Boxers of all time.
10. Nonito Donaire
Nonito Donaire made his professional Boxing debut in 2001 and turned out to be an amazing fighter. He is a four-weight world champion, capturing titles at Flyweight, Bantamweight, Super-Bantamweight and Featherweight. Donaire won world titles in three different decades and became only the sixth boxer to achieve the feat after Evander Holyfield, Erik Morales, Bernard Hopkins, Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. “The Filipino Flash” went on a 30-fight winning streak that continued for 12 years before Guillermo Rigondeaux ended it.
9. Khaosai Galaxy
Thai professional Khaosai Galaxy is one of the greatest fighters from Thailand and Asia. He became a WBA World Champion on November 21, 1984, after defeating Eusebio Espinal. “Sai Thaluang-Si” defended his title 19 times and retired as a champion after his final fight on December 22, 1991. Galaxy lost only one boxing bout in his entire career that was against his twin brother Kaokor Galaxy. Khaosai was selected for the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1999 and is listed in the top 20 list of the 100 greatest punchers of all time.
8. Pongsaklek Wonjongkam
Wonjongkam made his professional boxing debut in 1994 and within four years, he won the light-heavyweight title. Soon, he became the first WBC World Champion in March 2001 when he defeated Malcolm Tunacao. Pongsaklek defended his title 17 times in the span of six years. He lost his title to Daisuke Naito in July 2007 and fell short in the rematch in March 2008 by drawing. He became a two-time champion with a victory over Suriyan Kaikanha in 2010 and defended the title three times. Wonjongkam finished his career in 2018 with four consecutive wins.
7. Gabriel Elorde
Elorde was a fantastic fighter in the super-featherweight division and won the first lineal championship in 1960. He also captured the inaugural WBA and WBC titles in 1963. “Flash” lost his titles in February 1964 to Carlos Ortiz, but five months later he became a three-time world champion. He is the third Filipino to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame and has been recognized by the WBC as the greatest super-featherweight of all time.
6. Pancho Villa
Pancho is considered one of the greatest fighters from the Philippines in history. He was the first boxer from Asia to win the flyweight world title and the first Filipino to become a world champion at any weight. He captured the title after defeating Jimmy Wilde in June 1923. Villa made many successful defenses until moving up to bantamweight. He returned to flyweight in July 1925, but that proved to be the final fight of his career, which was against Jimmy McClarin. Earlier the same day, Villa had an ulcerated tooth removed and died a few days later from an infection spreading to his throat. He was only 23 years old at the time of his death. Villa might have gone down as one of the greatest boxers had this tragedy not happened.
5. Masahiko Harada
Masahiko started his professional boxing career in 1960 and went on to become a two-weight world champion at Flyweight and Bantamweight. He won his first world title in October 1962 by defeating Pone Kingpetch, but lost the rematch three months later. However, “Fighting Harada” once again became the king of the ring three years later and won the Bantamweight WBA and WBC titles. Harada defended his title four times and lost it to Lionel Rose in 1968. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1995.
4. Ceferino Garcia
Garcia began his boxing career in 1933 and continued to fight until 1945. In the span of 12 years, he won 120 matches, which is the most wins by any Filipino boxer in history. Ceferino is also the only Filipino fighter to win a world title at Middleweight. He is especially known for inventing “Bolo-Punch,” a shot he created that combines the hook and uppercut. Garcia is also the first Filipino fighter to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
3. Chris John
Chris John was a dominant fighter from Indonesia who held the featherweight WBA title for nine years and defended it 16 times. He is the second-longest reigning champion in featherweight history. John became world champion for the first time in June 2004 with a decisive victory over Osamu Sato. The most notable victory during his long reign came against Juan Manuel Marquez. John’s long run was ended by Simpiwe Vetyeka on December 6, 2013. This was the only loss in his professional career. After this match, John announced his retirement.
2. Naoya Inoue
Naoya made his professional boxing debut in 2012 and he hasn’t lost a single bout since then. He is one of the most incredible pound-for-pound fighters of today’s era. “The Monster” became the World Champion in his sixth professional bout when he defeated Adrián Hernández for the WBC light-flyweight title. The Japanese star has already become one of the biggest fighters in the boxing world.
1. Manny Pacquiao
Manny Pacquiao is arguably the greatest boxer from Asia. His records and accomplishments are long and abundant. “PacMan” is the only fighter in boxing history to have won 12 major world titles. In 2019, he also became the oldest Welterweight world champion in history. Pacquiao has several noteworthy wins over fighters like Juan Manuel Marquez, Erik Morales, Timothy Bradley Jr., and Marco Antonio Barrera.
Also Read: 10 Iconic Boxing Records That Will Never Be Broken
