Great 118 pounders

[1SILVA]

Let's talk about some of the great bantamweights of all time. My personal favorite was Joltin Jeff Chandler, one of the most underrated fighters of all time. He was a great boxer-puncher who was silky smooth inside the ring and a class act outside the ring. His reign from 1980-1984 was a dominant one. the only thing missing from that reign was a never to be unification bout with Lupe Pintor.
Some other great 118 pounders:
Lupe Pintor
Rafael marquez
Panama Al Brown
Carlos Zarate
Ruben Olivares

Your thoughts on the names I mentioned and those who you feel were among the best 118 pounders of all time!!!!!!!

[Marcov]

I was a big fan of Chandler and Pintor too, as well as Zarate and Olivares. here's a couple mentionable champs

Manuel Ortiz: made 13 sucessful defences in the 40's and after he lost title, rewon it twice

Eder Jofre: made 6 defences retires with a record of 72-2

Fighting Harada: Two time bantam champ. Was the one that beat Jofre twice

Ruben Olivares: Great puncher, two time bantam king

Of course there are many more but these are the first to come to mind

[BennyST]

In my opinion, one of the greatest BW's of all time was Veeraphol Sahaprom. Had an incredible 13 defenses I think, was a two or three time champion, can't remember which but he was an amazing, natural fighter. He had everything at his best. Speed, combinations, footwork, great defense and power.

He was a true to pleasure to watch.

[mhager91490]

In my opinion, one of the greatest BW's of all time was Veeraphol Sahaprom. Had an incredible 13 defenses I think, was a two or three time champion, can't remember which but he was an amazing, natural fighter. He had everything at his best. Speed, combinations, footwork, great defense and power.

He was a true to pleasure to watch.

I really liked Sahaprom, he was in some really exciting wars, he won the title very early in his career, in his fourth or fifth fight if my memory serves me correctly. He was really thrown to the wolves early, he fought a high quality fighter in Nana Konadu in like his sixth pro fight and did very well in the short time he was in there with him. He was very composed, was moving and boxing, drops Konadu, hurts him later in the round and when he goes in for the kill gets caught by a right hand. That was one of the best rounds I have ever seen.

I think his best performance was when he put a number on Joe Tatsuyoshi, a quote I remember used describing that bout was that he Mayweather'd the Japanese Gatti which is pretty fitting.


One of my favorite bantamweights to watch and one that I think is somewhat underrated is Khaokor Galaxy. I have seen a lot of people say that Khaosai was so much better and make it seem like there was such a big gap of talent between them but from watching and comparing the two of them I don't see it. Khaokor just looks like the more talented fighter, he was a skilled boxer with good footwork, fast hands and was a pretty good puncher himself. His skills also translated to world class competition, shown in his wins over Wilfredo Vasquez and Sung-Kil Moon where he outboxed both of them. I can only speculate the reason for his odd loss to Espinosa (the theory that makes the most sense to me is brain damage) but I think if he continued after that bout he could of been remembered as greater then Khaosai, he was definetly the more talented physically and skill wise, at least IMO.

[JFB629]

Nice to hear Jeff Chandler mentioned. One of the most underrated fighters of all time. He even once made a the cover of the Ring Magazine, with the title saying ''Jeff Chandler the best fighter nobody knows''

Chandler didn't actually take up the sport of boxing until the age of 19, and had just two amature bouts. He claims that he fought a real good amature and lost a close decision, and then decied to turn Pro.

He was a pinpoint counter puncher, and was a very good techical fighter with a good punch and at his peak a anvil chin. He had a long sharp jab, a powerfull uppercut, a high work rate and tight defence.

He stopped Julian Solis in 14 for the WBA Bantamweight Title and defended it nine times over the next 3 and a half years, wins included former title holder Jorge Lujan and future titlist Gaby Canizales.

Mega fights with then WBC Bantamweight champion Lupe Pintor and Super Bantamweight King Wilfredo Gomez failed to happened. Chandler once said "Sometimes I feel like I'm the only bantamweight in the world,"

But he is one of the greatest Bantamweights of all time. In his last fight Chandler was stopped against Richie Sandoval, the only time he was ever stopped. He had retire due to cataracts, at just age 27.

He thought of comeing back...saying ''He watched Sugar Ray Leonard return to boxing after eye surgery and learned the lesson. “I just didn’t see myself at peace with that scenario,” he said and wisely called it quits''.

“I thought about coming back,” added Chandler, who was satisfied that he fought the best challengers and didn’t duck anyone. He is very proud of remaining undefeated for seven-and-a-half years and happy with the hard-earned money he was able to save''.

After his retirement, Chandler worked a couple of construction jobs and trained boxers at the Lonnie Young Gym in his hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

[1SILVA]

Nice to hear Jeff Chandler mentioned. One of the most underrated fighters of all time. He even once made a the cover of the Ring Magazine, with the title saying ''Jeff Chandler the best fighter nobody knows''

Chandler didn't actually take up the sport of boxing until the age of 19, and had just two amature bouts. He claims that he fought a real good amature and lost a close decision, and then decied to turn Pro.

He was a pinpoint counter puncher, and was a very good techical fighter with a good punch and at his peak a anvil chin. He had a long sharp jab, a powerfull uppercut, a high work rate and tight defence.

He stopped Julian Solis in 14 for the WBA Bantamweight Title and defended it nine times over the next 3 and a half years, wins included former title holder Jorge Lujan and future titlist Gaby Canizales.

Mega fights with then WBC Bantamweight champion Lupe Pintor and Super Bantamweight King Wilfredo Gomez failed to happened. Chandler once said "Sometimes I feel like I'm the only bantamweight in the world,"

But he is one of the greatest Bantamweights of all time. In his last fight Chandler was stopped against Richie Sandoval, the only time he was ever stopped. He had retire due to cataracts, at just age 27.

He thought of comeing back...saying ''He watched Sugar Ray Leonard return to boxing after eye surgery and learned the lesson. “I just didn’t see myself at peace with that scenario,” he said and wisely called it quits''.

“I thought about coming back,” added Chandler, who was satisfied that he fought the best challengers and didn’t duck anyone. He is very proud of remaining undefeated for seven-and-a-half years and happy with the hard-earned money he was able to save''.

After his retirement, Chandler worked a couple of construction jobs and trained boxers at the Lonnie Young Gym in his hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Nicely said. Chandler started his career as an arm puncher because of a lack of amateur experience. His natural ability got him through early in his career. Once he learned how to throw crosses and hooks correctly, he became an all-around great fighter. His loss to Sandoval was shocking and one-sided. I was glad he retired after that fight. It was as though he aged 15 years in that fight.

[oldgringo]

One of the underrated Bantamweights in my opinion, and one I'm very fascinated by, was Jose Medel. Medel was consistently ranked among the top Bantamweights for the better part of a decade and fought just about everyone he possibly could.

Eder Jofre
Fighting Harada
Chucho Castillo
Lionel Rose
Jesus Pimentel
Jose Becerra
Ruben Olivares
Sadao Yaoita

and every other notable fighter on the Mexican fight circuit.

Medel was as tough as they come and he could really punch. He was always overshadowed by his countryman Jose Becerra and by the great Bantamweight champion Eder Jofre. That didn't stop him from having a fantastic career however.



Highlights of his war with the great Eder Jofre in their first bout. Great fight between two great little pugilists.

[mhager91490]

One of the underrated Bantamweights in my opinion, and one I'm very fascinated by, was Jose Medel. Medel was consistently ranked among the top Bantamweights for the better part of a decade and fought just about everyone he possibly could.

Eder Jofre
Fighting Harada
Chucho Castillo
Lionel Rose
Jesus Pimentel
Jose Becerra
Ruben Olivares
Sadao Yaoita

and every other notable fighter on the Mexican fight circuit.

Medel was as tough as they come and he could really punch. He was always overshadowed by his countryman Jose Becerra and by the great Bantamweight champion Eder Jofre. That didn't stop him from having a fantastic career however.



Highlights of his war with the great Eder Jofre in their first bout. Great fight between two great little pugilists.

Medel is another one I like, he has a very deceptive record, a lot of losses but for the most part against great competition, fought a trilogy against Jose Beccera, fought Jofre twice giving him a lot of trouble in the first fight, KO'd a prime Fighting Harada and got off the floor twice to drop a 49-1 Jesus Pimentel and win a close decision. I would love to know who he would say is the best fighter he ever thought.

[BennyST]

One of the underrated Bantamweights in my opinion, and one I'm very fascinated by, was Jose Medel. Medel was consistently ranked among the top Bantamweights for the better part of a decade and fought just about everyone he possibly could.

Eder Jofre
Fighting Harada
Chucho Castillo
Lionel Rose
Jesus Pimentel
Jose Becerra
Ruben Olivares
Sadao Yaoita

and every other notable fighter on the Mexican fight circuit.

Medel was as tough as they come and he could really punch. He was always overshadowed by his countryman Jose Becerra and by the great Bantamweight champion Eder Jofre. That didn't stop him from having a fantastic career however.



Highlights of his war with the great Eder Jofre in their first bout. Great fight between two great little pugilists.

Ho Ho! Great pick man. Medel was fantastic and one of my favourite fighters too. Got to know him through Lionel Rose. That era of BW's was certainly one of, if not the, greatest period ever for them. The contenders of that era would be great champs in any other like Medel.

The brawl between him and Jofre was stunning. My favourite fight of his. It really was an absolute war and you could see him often stun Jofre in it.

[1SILVA]

Medel is another one I like, he has a very deceptive record, a lot of losses but for the most part against great competition, fought a trilogy against Jose Beccera, fought Jofre twice giving him a lot of trouble in the first fight, KO'd a prime Fighting Harada and got off the floor twice to drop a 49-1 Jesus Pimentel and win a close decision. I would love to know who he would say is the best fighter he ever thought.

Nice post about a long forgotten fighter