Who was the best bantamweight ever?

[My2Sense]

For me, bantamweight is the hardest of any of the major divisions to pick an all time #1.

It seems to me that all the other major divisions seem to have one, maybe two standout fighters that are widely considered to be the best there - ie: Charles at LHW, Robinson at WW, Duran at lightweight, Pep & Saddler at featherweight, Jimmy Wilde at flyweight, etc. etc. ...but bantamweight seems to me to be the only of the major divisions that lacks that one standout star. Maybe that's just me... but I'm very curious to know what others here think about that.


Anyway, who is your pick as the best? I listed a few that are considered among the best, but it's hard for me personally to pick a definite #1. It seems like most of the names here all have some kind of strike against their legacies. For example, Ruben Olivares looked awesome for a few brief years, but then he suddenly lost twice to Rafael Herrera (once by KO), who was the first fighter to really take the fight to him and match him at his own game, and he never really was the same after that, despite a "second career" up at featherweight. Similarly, Jofre failed twice to beat Harada, who was the first of only two HOFers that Jofre ever fought in his career (and the only one that was still in his prime). Yes, I know Jofre was having trouble making weight then, I know he looked sluggish in at least one (if not both) of those fights, I know both fights were very close, I know those are his only losses, and I know he had an impressive comeback up at featherweight... but still, something just irks me about his record goes down as being 0-2 against the only HOF bantam he ever fought. Zarate has the distinction of having won the all-important "Battle of the Z Boys" and never losing as a bantam except on that very questionable decision vs. Pintor (a very good bantam in himself). But in between, Zarate heavily padded his record, fighting unknowns whose records were reported as 50-2 yet are only known to have a few fights (and more than just the couple losses that were reported). After getting crushed by Gomez, it seemed to me that he lost his fire. I did think he beat Pintor, but it was still a close-ish fight and a very tentative and un-Zarate like performance, and after that he retired while still considered smack dab in his prime. I know he claimed to be retiring because he was disgusted by the decision, but I oftern suspected myself that he may have retired because he lost a bit of his will to fight after the Gomez fight.


On a side note, what do people think of the prospect of rating Manny Ortiz as the best? I asked that question on another site a while back, and it was greeted with a bit of derision. What do people think of Ortiz, and is there a collective reason why people might not think so highly of him as compared to the others on this list?

[theone]

No one dominated the weight longer and in '43 and '44 he seems to have totally cleaned out the division. The only knock against his is that he doesn't have any really big name opponents on his resume (not counting Pep, who he lost to) like the other fighters you mentioned. I don't think that should be held against him so much. Maybe there weren't any bigger names around because he was so dominant?

[Seamus]

Eder Jofre.

[kikibalt]

With the exception of Panama Al Brown, I saw all of the above fighters fight live,
and I go with Manuel Ortiz.

[giacomino]

Loved the raw power and strength of Zarate and Olivares and Ortiz dominated the division longer than anyone else, but Jofre was truly an amazing talent and I'd narrowly pick him as the best.
By the way, re: flyweights. I'd pick Pascual Perez over Wilde as the division's best, but you're right, most divisions have a solid two or three to pick from.

[Martin Sosa Cameron]

Eder Jofre

[elmersalsa]

Eder Jofre for me, hands down...A very complete fighter that was overshadow by the great Muhammad Ali's highlights. He should have fought more in the US.

[elmersalsa]

The great Panama Al Brown should be also considered as #1. The bantamweight division is the hardest to rate as who was the best. But the main 5, Eder Jofre, Panama Al Brown, Carlos Zarate, Ruben Olivares and Manuel Ortiz always come to mind as the very best. But I pick Jofre as the greatest of that weight class.

[enrique]

I think it probably was Eder Joffre, but a special mention and consideration should go to my old mentor, Johnny Coulon -the only bantam champion who defedended his title twice in a two week period in 20 rounders,

[Ezzard]

With the exception of Panama Al Brown, I saw all of the above fighters fight live,
and I go with Manuel Ortiz.

hard to argue with that, kikibalt...

[Ambling Alp]

Tough call. As mentioned, there are several guys that are close. Harada has to be considered as well.

[Martin Sosa Cameron]

Tough call. As mentioned, there are several guys that are close. Harada has to be considered as well.

Yes, and may be, too:


Sixto Escobar