Top 5 Asian Fighters Of All Time

[SaadOffTheDeck]

*cough*Choinoi *cough* DD

You should get that looked at.

[dempseyfire]

I can't believe I overlooked Elorde on my initial top 5. I'd actually put him in and take Galaxy out of the top 5 altogether.

Revised Top 5:

1) Pacquao

2) Villa

3) Harada

4) Garcia

5) Elorde

[MEISINGER]

I can't believe I overlooked Elorde on my initial top 5. I'd actually put him in and take Galaxy out of the top 5 altogether.

Revised Top 5:

1) Pacquao

2) Villa

3) Harada

4) Garcia

5) Elorde

i agree very good list

[Rover]

You know that Sun Kil Moon song?

There was a band named after him, I think.

[Rover]

*cough*Choinoi *cough* DD

You should get that looked at.

[Rover]

I can't believe I overlooked Elorde on my initial top 5. I'd actually put him in and take Galaxy out of the top 5 altogether.

Revised Top 5:

1) Pacquao

2) Villa

3) Harada

4) Garcia

5) Elorde

Glad you took Galaxy out.

[meade95]

Some good lists - I would have to think about it hard to come up with a top-5 - Might be too hard to break it down into only a top-5 -

I would say, regarding Galaxy.....

The notion that Khaosai Galaxy's competition wasn't of quality just isn't accurate - He fought quality competition throughout his entire title reign...and the reality is the other champions avoided him....hell the WBA king back then (J. Wantabe) simply vacated his belt instead of fighting him ...when Galaxy was ranked #1 -

Furthermore Galaxy did fight and beat the other long reigning IBF JBW champion during his regin....that was E. Pical - And he beat him on the road in Pical's home country and hometown to boot (KO 14th).

K. Galaxy Resume is very impressive by all measures.... There is also an odd notion that Galaxy only fought in Thailand, and that is incorrect as well.... He defended his world title in a number of places outside of Thailand...

He traveld and beat a highly thought of IBF JBW Champion Ellyas Pical, in Jakarta, Indonesia.....so this was in all effect a "unification" title fight...yet the IBF wouldn't put Pical's title on the line....Galaxy still took the fight and was the only one risking his title belt......yet he took it...travled and Ko'd him....

He traveld and beat the undefeated / big punching Israel Contreras (24-0-1) in Willemstad, Curacao -

He traveld and beat Chang Ho Choi in Seoul, Korea -

He traveld and beat Kenji Matsumura, in Japan (Twice) -

Outside of the quality competition listed above....Galaxy also fought and beat...the following...

Rafael Orono 32-2-1 (WBC JBW World Champion....had an accomplished reign as champion)

Edgar Omar Monserrat 13-1-0 (Highly rated challenger....fought for sevearl world titles)

Israel Contreras 24-0-1 (Went on to win WBO & WBA BW World Titles)

Ellyas Pical 16-1-0 (Long reigning IBF JBW Champion...8 defenses...when he lost to K. Galaxy his IBF belt wasn't on the line....Galaxy's WBA belt was)

Tae-Il Chang 26-2-1 (Won IBF World Title)

Alberto Castro 21-2-1 (solid challenger)

Cobra Ari Blanca 30-5-3 (challenged for several world titles)

Shunichi Nakajima 23-4-0 (Japanese super fyweight Champion)

Yong Kang Kim 21-2-0 (Went on to win 2 world titles)

Ernesto Ford 21-1-0 (ranked in the top 10 of all three world titles at the time)

Jae-Sok Park 14-1-0 (ranked #3 at the time)

David Griman 13-0-0 (Went on to win WBA Fly Title)

Chang Ho Choi 18-2-0 (IBF Fly World Champion)

Dong Chun Lee 20-5-1 (former OPBF Super Flyweight Title)


So the reality is not only did K. Galaxy travel and beat opponents....but he faced a very healthy resume during his long and impressive reign while being actively avoided by several of the other champions - And not only did he win......he did so mostly in brutal KO'ing fashion.

He took on all commers...boxers, sluggers, runner's, you name it.....broke them down and defeated them....Was one of the best lower-weight body-punchers ever (which is often overlooked). He went to the body like that of JCC in his prime days....

You conveniently left out one little detail about Watanabe and Galaxy. The WBA stripped Watanabe when Watanabe signed to unify the division with Poonturat. He thus became the lineal super fly champ, and Galaxy won the vacant belt from Espanol.
Also, regarding Pical, no, he wasn't that good at all. He lost to the mediocre Polanco, as just one example. The IBF title in lower weights in those days (the early days of the IBF) was a joke. It's like citing early WBO champs in those weights. Orono was also past it by the time he fought Galaxy, and this was already after he'd lost his belt to Poonturat, who then lost it to Watanabe.
Galaxy's best win was probably Contreras. That's not even comparable to Jofre and Kingpetch, nor is it comparable to MAB, Morales, JMM, DLH, Hatton and Cotto. The Contreras win is probably slightly below the equivalent of the Ledwaba win on Pac's resume. I'd also take Villa's win over Wilde over Galaxy's resume, which also does consist of a very close call against Payakaroon, who had been dominated by Roman.
Galaxy's chin also wasn't rock-like; he was hurt by Blanca, and I think Moon would've stopped him.

Galaxy was #1 rated contender Vs Watanabe for well over a year! prior toWatanabe ducking out and looking to take on Poonturat (who was 10-1-0) at the time. A much easier fight with the WBC title on the line instead of facing the brutal WBA #1 rated Galaxy...... There was no secret back 84 that Camp Watanabe didn't relish the idea of fighting Galaxy.

The idea that Galaxy didn't have a great chin is silly. He was never stopped. Never badly hurt and he took shots from everyone he faced looking to make each fight a brawl if possible. He was droped a few times but those were mostly balance type shots and he got right back up and stopped everyone but 1 person who scored a knockdown on him. His fight Vs Pakakaroon was not that close. I've watched that fight several times. Hell one judge had it 118-110. (as for your notion that Roman dominated Pakakaroon 2 judges in that fight had it closer at 112-116 and 111-117).

Galaxy was brining in bigger money than most (Ligher weight guys) by the mid / late 80s / early 90s. He was there if other Title Holders wanted to make more money by facing him. They didn't.

As for Orono, solid champion. He had 1 loss in 5 years when he faced Galaxy. ANd Galaxy brutalized him and stopped him wihtin 5 rounds. That he got decisioned (Split Decision mind you) as his only loss in 5 years to Pakakaroon doesn't mean he was past his best days. Nevertheless, Galaxy destoryed him where as no one else had.

Galaxy is the best 115 pounder since 1980 until today IMO, hands down.

[giacomino]

Mine:
1. Harada
2. Pac
3. Villa
4. Elorde
5. Chang

Solid list. . Galaxy vs Chang is tough for me.

1. M. Pacquiao
2. F. Harada
3. F. Elorde
4. P. Villa
5. K. Galaxy

--

6. J. Chang
7. C. Garcia
8. H. Ebihara
9. C. John
10. M. Yuh

Also solid, except for John, who is very talented but has spent six years padding his record against nobodies while living off another fighter's rise to greatness (Marquez) since their fight. When John fights and beats another champion or two, or even a few top 5 contenders, I might revise my opinion.

Until then, I wouldn't put him in a top 20. I'd say Chionoi, Yoshio Shirai, Masao Oba or Pone Kingpetch - who beat Pascual Perez, Harada and Ebihara - are more deserving.

[Rover]

Some good lists - I would have to think about it hard to come up with a top-5 - Might be too hard to break it down into only a top-5 -

I would say, regarding Galaxy.....

The notion that Khaosai Galaxy's competition wasn't of quality just isn't accurate - He fought quality competition throughout his entire title reign...and the reality is the other champions avoided him....hell the WBA king back then (J. Wantabe) simply vacated his belt instead of fighting him ...when Galaxy was ranked #1 -

Furthermore Galaxy did fight and beat the other long reigning IBF JBW champion during his regin....that was E. Pical - And he beat him on the road in Pical's home country and hometown to boot (KO 14th).

K. Galaxy Resume is very impressive by all measures.... There is also an odd notion that Galaxy only fought in Thailand, and that is incorrect as well.... He defended his world title in a number of places outside of Thailand...

He traveld and beat a highly thought of IBF JBW Champion Ellyas Pical, in Jakarta, Indonesia.....so this was in all effect a "unification" title fight...yet the IBF wouldn't put Pical's title on the line....Galaxy still took the fight and was the only one risking his title belt......yet he took it...travled and Ko'd him....

He traveld and beat the undefeated / big punching Israel Contreras (24-0-1) in Willemstad, Curacao -

He traveld and beat Chang Ho Choi in Seoul, Korea -

He traveld and beat Kenji Matsumura, in Japan (Twice) -

Outside of the quality competition listed above....Galaxy also fought and beat...the following...

Rafael Orono 32-2-1 (WBC JBW World Champion....had an accomplished reign as champion)

Edgar Omar Monserrat 13-1-0 (Highly rated challenger....fought for sevearl world titles)

Israel Contreras 24-0-1 (Went on to win WBO & WBA BW World Titles)

Ellyas Pical 16-1-0 (Long reigning IBF JBW Champion...8 defenses...when he lost to K. Galaxy his IBF belt wasn't on the line....Galaxy's WBA belt was)

Tae-Il Chang 26-2-1 (Won IBF World Title)

Alberto Castro 21-2-1 (solid challenger)

Cobra Ari Blanca 30-5-3 (challenged for several world titles)

Shunichi Nakajima 23-4-0 (Japanese super fyweight Champion)

Yong Kang Kim 21-2-0 (Went on to win 2 world titles)

Ernesto Ford 21-1-0 (ranked in the top 10 of all three world titles at the time)

Jae-Sok Park 14-1-0 (ranked #3 at the time)

David Griman 13-0-0 (Went on to win WBA Fly Title)

Chang Ho Choi 18-2-0 (IBF Fly World Champion)

Dong Chun Lee 20-5-1 (former OPBF Super Flyweight Title)


So the reality is not only did K. Galaxy travel and beat opponents....but he faced a very healthy resume during his long and impressive reign while being actively avoided by several of the other champions - And not only did he win......he did so mostly in brutal KO'ing fashion.

He took on all commers...boxers, sluggers, runner's, you name it.....broke them down and defeated them....Was one of the best lower-weight body-punchers ever (which is often overlooked). He went to the body like that of JCC in his prime days....

You conveniently left out one little detail about Watanabe and Galaxy. The WBA stripped Watanabe when Watanabe signed to unify the division with Poonturat. He thus became the lineal super fly champ, and Galaxy won the vacant belt from Espanol.
Also, regarding Pical, no, he wasn't that good at all. He lost to the mediocre Polanco, as just one example. The IBF title in lower weights in those days (the early days of the IBF) was a joke. It's like citing early WBO champs in those weights. Orono was also past it by the time he fought Galaxy, and this was already after he'd lost his belt to Poonturat, who then lost it to Watanabe.
Galaxy's best win was probably Contreras. That's not even comparable to Jofre and Kingpetch, nor is it comparable to MAB, Morales, JMM, DLH, Hatton and Cotto. The Contreras win is probably slightly below the equivalent of the Ledwaba win on Pac's resume. I'd also take Villa's win over Wilde over Galaxy's resume, which also does consist of a very close call against Payakaroon, who had been dominated by Roman.
Galaxy's chin also wasn't rock-like; he was hurt by Blanca, and I think Moon would've stopped him.

Galaxy was #1 rated contender Vs Watanabe for well over a year! prior toWatanabe ducking out and looking to take on Poonturat (who was 10-1-0) at the time. A much easier fight with the WBC title on the line instead of facing the brutal WBA #1 rated Galaxy...... There was no secret back 84 that Camp Watanabe didn't relish the idea of fighting Galaxy.

The idea that Galaxy didn't have a great chin is silly. He was never stopped. Never badly hurt and he took shots from everyone he faced looking to make each fight a brawl if possible. He was droped a few times but those were mostly balance type shots and he got right back up and stopped everyone but 1 person who scored a knockdown on him. His fight Vs Pakakaroon was not that close. I've watched that fight several times. Hell one judge had it 118-110. (as for your notion that Roman dominated Pakakaroon 2 judges in that fight had it closer at 112-116 and 111-117).

Galaxy was brining in bigger money than most (Ligher weight guys) by the mid / late 80s / early 90s. He was there if other Title Holders wanted to make more money by facing him. They didn't.

As for Orono, solid champion. He had 1 loss in 5 years when he faced Galaxy. ANd Galaxy brutalized him and stopped him wihtin 5 rounds. That he got decisioned (Split Decision mind you) as his only loss in 5 years to Pakakaroon doesn't mean he was past his best days. Nevertheless, Galaxy destoryed him where as no one else had.

Galaxy is the best 115 pounder since 1980 until today IMO, hands down.

Ah, I see you immediately came back when your precious Galaxy got brought back up.

1. Poonturat had accomplished more than Galaxy.
2. What exactly is your point in bringing up two of three scorecards in Roman/Payakaroon? That two judges had that fight closer than ONE of three judges in Galaxy/Payakaroon?
3. No, Galaxy didn't have a great chin. Getting hurt by Blanca doesn't show a great chin. Good chin, perhaps, but down against Castro (Alberto) and Blanca.
4. Orono fought Payakaroon?

[meade95]

Rover - You have long past being a somewhat adult on these forums to becoming more of a child. You are constantly in weird back and forths with people on a shallow level.

Reality is, if you don't think Galaxy had a great chin, with being a face first fighter who took 3 shots to give one (on purpose) and was never stopped and never seriously hurt in over 19 Title Fights and 40 + total fights... You're an iditot.

I use to give you the benefit of the doubt.....but your childish face animations and constant bickering shows who you are. I'll let my years of posting on this forum speak for itself. I without question have seen more tapes of fighters out of the 80s and 90s than you wish you have seen. I have a library that Mr.Koizumi himself calls me on.

Galaxy was the best 115 pounder I've ever seen.

[Rover]

Rover - You have long past being a somewhat adult on these forums to becoming more of a child. You are constantly in weird back and forths with people on a shallow level.

Reality is, if you don't think Galaxy had a great chin, with being a face first fighter who took 3 shots to give one (on purpose) and was never stopped and never seriously hurt in over 19 Title Fights and 40 + total fights... You're an iditot.

I use to give you the benefit of the doubt.....but your childish face animations and constant bickering shows who you are. I'll let my years of posting on this forum speak for itself. I without question have seen more tapes of fighters out of the 80s and 90s than you wish you have seen. I have a library that Mr.Koizumi himself calls me on.

Galaxy was the best 115 pounder I've ever seen.

Prove you've seen more fights than I have.
Actually, the relevant question here is about Galaxy, Roman, Moon and Watanabe. (Throw Orono and Konadu in there, too.)
For someone who claims I'm childish, you display quite a bit of that yourself.
You have a library?
Wow!
So do I.
Yeah, Galaxy had "over" 19 title fights.
He had 20.

Talk about being an "iditot."
BTW, I do believe that all of Galaxy's title fights are available here:
http://www.dynamiteboxing.com
Just one source.
See, you don't even need to call Joe Koizumi to get them!
Koizumi and Jeff Comastro also trade a lot; I know that Mr. Comastro has quite a library also, as I've made many purchases from it.

I'll keep going for as long as you like, but I'm not exactly awed by your knowledge--nor your library.

[Tinnie]

Anyone have any thoughts on Yoshio Shirai? Dont know alot about him...

[meade95]

Rover - You have long past being a somewhat adult on these forums to becoming more of a child. You are constantly in weird back and forths with people on a shallow level.

Reality is, if you don't think Galaxy had a great chin, with being a face first fighter who took 3 shots to give one (on purpose) and was never stopped and never seriously hurt in over 19 Title Fights and 40 + total fights... You're an iditot.

I use to give you the benefit of the doubt.....but your childish face animations and constant bickering shows who you are. I'll let my years of posting on this forum speak for itself. I without question have seen more tapes of fighters out of the 80s and 90s than you wish you have seen. I have a library that Mr.Koizumi himself calls me on.

Galaxy was the best 115 pounder I've ever seen.

Prove you've seen more fights than I have.
Actually, the relevant question here is about Galaxy, Roman, Moon and Watanabe. (Throw Orono and Konadu in there, too.)
For someone who claims I'm childish, you display quite a bit of that yourself.
You have a library?
Wow!
So do I.
Yeah, Galaxy had "over" 19 title fights.
He had 20.

Talk about being an "iditot."
BTW, I do believe that all of Galaxy's title fights are available here:
http://www.dynamiteboxing.com
Just one source.
See, you don't even need to call Joe Koizumi to get them!
Koizumi and Jeff Comastro also trade a lot; I know that Mr. Comastro has quite a library also, as I've made many purchases from it.

I'll keep going for as long as you like, but I'm not exactly awed by your knowledge--nor your library.

Well done!

[meade95]

Sung Kil Moon is one of the most often overlooked smaller weight guys without a question.

[Seamus]

Asian boxing in general is overlooked, because it's best fighters are overwhelmingly below LW.

[Rover]

Asian boxing in general is overlooked, because it's best fighters are overwhelmingly below LW.

That's mostly true of Mexican boxing also, but MAB, Morales, Vazquez, etc got a lot of attention in the States due to the fanbase. I think it's a matter of geography in some respects.

[dempseyfire]

The big difference btw the Latin little men and Asian little men is the big fights featuring the latter are practically never shown on American television.

[Rover]

The big difference btw the Latin little men and Asian little men is the big fights featuring the latter are practically never shown on American television.

Bingo.

[orbtastic]

The big difference btw the Latin little men and Asian little men is the big fights featuring the latter are practically never shown on American television.

Is that largely down to the lack of [in general terms] American opponents that make televising fights worthwhile or even possible?

Asian men are typically smaller than Mexican men and dominate straw-flyweight with, off the top of my head, only two "little" men in Mexico in recent history being Ricardo Lopez & Humberto Gonzalez. Of course there have been other Mexican fighters below featherweight in recent years but they haven't fought for titles below super bantam.

[Rover]

The big difference btw the Latin little men and Asian little men is the big fights featuring the latter are practically never shown on American television.

Is that largely down to the lack of [in general terms] American opponents that make televising fights worthwhile or even possible?

Asian men are typically smaller than Mexican men and dominate straw-flyweight with, off the top of my head, only two "little" men in Mexico in recent history being Ricardo Lopez & Humberto Gonzalez. Of course there have been other Mexican fighters below featherweight in recent years but they haven't fought for titles below super bantam.

Rafa
Montiel
Mijares
Zarate and Pintor also had several network TV fights (against each other, Zarate/Davila, Zarate/Kpolongo, Pintor/Uziga, Pintor/Davila II, Pintor/Rengifo).

[Rover]

Sung Kil Moon is one of the most often overlooked smaller weight guys without a question.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

The big difference btw the Latin little men and Asian little men is the big fights featuring the latter are practically never shown on American television.

Is that largely down to the lack of [in general terms] American opponents that make televising fights worthwhile or even possible?

It's due to geography more than anything else. They make good money fighting in Japan and Thailand that they couldn't get here. The logistics of traveling with your crew and the time zone differences just don't make fiscal sense to televise fighters that the majority of your viewers have never heard of.

Americans seldom care about lower weight fighters, my Uncle was talking to me on Christmas about Boxing in the 40's and he didn't know any of the Flyweights I brought up. When I grew up in the 80's they drew the line at Bantamweight as far as televised bouts.

[Rover]

The big difference btw the Latin little men and Asian little men is the big fights featuring the latter are practically never shown on American television.

Is that largely down to the lack of [in general terms] American opponents that make televising fights worthwhile or even possible?

It's due to geography more than anything else. They make good money fighting in Japan and Thailand that they couldn't get here. The logistics of traveling with your crew and the time zone differences just don't make fiscal sense to televise fighters that the majority of your viewers have never heard of.

Americans seldom care about lower weight fighters, my Uncle was talking to me on Christmas about Boxing in the 40's and he didn't know any of the Flyweights I brought up. When I grew up in the 80's they drew the line at Bantamweight as far as televised bouts.

They televised Zapata.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Is that largely down to the lack of [in general terms] American opponents that make televising fights worthwhile or even possible?

It's due to geography more than anything else. They make good money fighting in Japan and Thailand that they couldn't get here. The logistics of traveling with your crew and the time zone differences just don't make fiscal sense to televise fighters that the majority of your viewers have never heard of.

Americans seldom care about lower weight fighters, my Uncle was talking to me on Christmas about Boxing in the 40's and he didn't know any of the Flyweights I brought up. When I grew up in the 80's they drew the line at Bantamweight as far as televised bouts.

They televised Zapata.

Not in America, he didn't have one fight on here.

[Rover]

They televised his bout with Olivo; I have the ABC broadcast with Keith Jackson. He also fought Crawford in San Fran, and I have the broadcast of that, though I think it was either only televised locally, or it was closed circuit or PPV.