30 lBOXING NEWSlJANUARY 11, 2018 http://www.boxingnewsonline.netACCEPTED by most as the greatest Mexican fighter of all time. From turning
professional in 1980 until being held to a draw by Pernell Whitaker in 1993,
Chavez scored 87 consecutive victories, which remains a record. After that
draw he added two more wins to take his unbeaten run to 90 fights, before
a shocking loss to Frankie Randall in 1994. He won the WBC super-feather,
WBA and WBC lightweight, and IBF and WBC super-lightweight belts, and
was 26-0-1 in world title bouts before losing to Randall. He registered
successes over Mario Martinez, Ruben Castillo, Rocky Lockridge, Juan
Laporte, Edwin Rosario, Rafael Limon, Roger Mayweather (twice), Meldrick
Taylor, Hector Camacho and many other top fighters of his time.
4 JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ
89-0-1, Culiacan, MexicoWHEN he first turned pro in 1963 there was little sign of the greatness
to come as he trudged to 16-3 in his first 19 fights against modest
opposition. He went 5-0-5 in his next 10 fights, but they marked the start
of an unbeaten run that would end up totalling 80 bouts, during which
he collected the WBA and WBC middleweight belts. The Argentine went
14-0 in world title contests, before retiring in 1977. He secured triumphs
over such names as Jorge Fernandez, Nino Benvenuti (twice), Emile Griffith
(twice), Denny Moyer, Jean Claude Bouttier, Tom Bogs, Bennie Briscoe, Jose
Napoles, Tony Mundine, Tony Licata, Gratien Tonna and Rodrigo Valdez
(twice) to effectively sweep aside every top middleweight of his era.5 CARLOS MONZON
71-0-9, Santa Fe, ArgentinaFOR many the greatest fighter in the history of the sport. After turning
professional in 1940 he won his first 40 fights before losing to Jake LaMotta
in 1942. He was then unbeaten in his next 91 contests, winning both
the world welterweight and middleweight titles, before losing the latter
to Randy Turpin in 1951. Prior to that, he was 129-1-2, and it is often
overlooked that the Turpin fight was Robinson’s seventh outing in two
months of a ‘European Tour’. In his 91-bout unbeaten streak he took
wins over LaMotta (four times), Henry Armstrong, Tommy Bell, Sammy
Angott, Bernie Docusen, Kid Gavilan (twice), Robert Villemain and Bobo
Olson.3 SUGAR RAY ROBINSON
89-0-2, Harlem, New YorkMODERN DAY
Active world kings in the midst of unbeaten runs
1 WANHENG MENAYOTHIN, 49-0
The WBC strawweight boss has notched eight
defences. The Thai fighter has lived a largely
sheltered life as champion, but could go down
in history as one of the few who made it to the
end without defeat. Now 32, his peak is likely
behind him.2 DEONTAY WILDER, 39-0
America’s WBC heavyweight champion has
scored 38 inside-schedule victories but –
despite registering six successful defences of
his title – remains untested at the very top
level.3 GENNADY GOLOVKIN, 37-0-1
The WBC, WBA and IBF middleweight
supremo appears to be in a slow decline, yet
with an insatiable appetite for the sport it
would be a surprise to see Kazakh monster“GGG” walk away without a defeat on his
record.4 MIKEY GARCIA, 37-0
The three-weight belt-holder is challenging
IBF super-lightweight champ Sergey Lipinets
in February, aiming for a world title in a fourth
weight class. At 30, and approaching the most
dangerous divisions of his career, American
Garcia’s unbeaten run will get ever more
perilous.5 GILBERTO RAMIREZ, 36-0
The Mexican’s activity has slowed dramatically
since he reached world title level (WBO super-
middleweight), and while impressive so far,
his full potential remains a mystery. At this
stage, a long and formidable unbeaten streak
while clearing out divisions looks unlikely to
occur.CLOSING IN ON 50-0:
Menayothin [pictured] could emulate Mayweather