BoxRec

There has been many great asian fighters, who would you guys pick as the greatest asian fighters of all time, feel free to add any fighters i left out.

Pancho Villa- from what iv'e heard many experts concider him the greatest asian fighter.

Khaosai galaxy- one of my favorites of all time, defended title a division record 19, times a true great.

Jiro watanabe

Sot chitalada

Jung Koo chang- some consider him the greatest korean fighter.

Saman soraturong-Ko'ed the great chiquita Gonzalez

fighting Harada- defeated Eder Jofre.

Gabriel flash Elorde

manyy Pacquiao- i know it's too soon to consider him as a great but it looks like he's headed that way.

What do you guys think?

Japan and Thailand have a great history of boxing.
Muay Thai in Thailand was bare-knuckle kickboxing. Shaolin boxing in China. All Asian countries have better history of organised fighting arts than most other countries.

But what about India? I don't remember any good champions from India.

India had a history of muki-boxing and vajra-musti, two bare-knuckle fighting styles. I don't see why there are no champions from there.

What was that about Viagra being musty?

TonyJ wrote: Jiro watanabe

Every time I hear that name I tell everyone about a story that might be meaningless for everyone else but it tells a little bit of what it was like to grow up as a boxing fan in South America.

As I've mentioned before I became a fan when living in Peru in the 80s. So when Luis Ibañez, a peruvian superflyweight, got a shot at Watanabe's WBA title in February 1983, it was sort of a landmark in my then 13 year old life. You see, Ibañez was the first Peruvian ever to fight for a world title. Before him, not even the great Mauro Mina (the best thing ever to come out of Peru) had gotten a chance.

The fight was to be televised, via satellite, but because of the time difference with Japan, the broadcast had been set for 6 AM local time. I set the alarm clock for 5:30 and went to bed anxiously awaiting the next day.

So I woke up at 5:30 and when I turned on the set, two unpleasant surprises awaited.

One, that the fight had already started and it was already round 3 of the scheduled 15.
Two, due to technical problems, Peruvian TV could not broadcast live images and instead had chosen to show a TAPE of a previous Ibañez fight together with radio commentary from Japan.

I think it was the first time that I followed a fight on the radio. And let me tell you that can be a rather frustrating experience, specially if you are 13 years old. Every punch seems like a knockout on the radio.
According to the guy in Japan the fight wasnt going very well for Ibañez, his face was swollen and he was taking a lot of punishment form the slick japanese southpaw. But then around round 5 he yells:

"WATANABE IS DOWN!!!!

I jumped up in joy and I was just imagining the parade that would welcome the first peruvian world champion when the radio guy continued:

"THE REFEREE HAS RULED IT A SLIP. IT IS AN OUTRAGE. THIS FIGHT IS FIXED!!!"

Ibañez was knocked out in round 8 and Watanabe went on to defend his title for 3 more years. Given that he lost, Peruvian TV never bothered to show even highlights of the fight.

But I had never forgotten and a few months ago, 20 years later, I finally found the fight from a video seller in Australia. I've described the experience of finally seeing a fight you've heard about for a long time as one of the most intriguing experiences. This one was no different. I could finally see the one sided beating the fight really was and how far Peruvians actually were from getting their first champion. Watanabe was a class fighter and Ibañez was average at best.

I could also see that the alleged knockdown that had me jumping up and down in that distant South American morning had really been a slip. In a way I was glad I didnt see it back then, because it would've broken my heart.

And that's my meaningless boxing story.

Nice story, whats your take on Watanabe?

TonyJ wrote:whats your take on Watanabe?

He was a smart and versatile southpaw, great skills and didn't lack a punch. Also a very fast counterpuncher, for every punch Ibañez landed he connected 3 or 4 shots, on combinations with a nice double left hook to the body and head.

Thats the only Watanabe fight Ive seen and he just outclassed the challenger. He was only caught once by Ibañez's right hand, the only thing the Peruvian had going for him, and he took it flat on his feet so that showed his chin wasn't doubtful. He was never kayoed in his career but I don't know if he ever tasted the canvas. I wouldn't be surprised if he never did.

It is my understanding that he started boxing late in his life (something like 25 years old), and that prior to that, like many asian fighters, he had been involved in martial arts.

Other good Japanese fighters not mentioned so far would be:

Koichi Wajima
Kuniaki Shibata
Yoko Gushiken
Hiroshi Kobayashi

A few months after the Watanabe fight Luis Ibañez was flown again to the Far East and faced Khaosai Galaxy in Bangkok. This is when Galaxy had less than 20 fights and almost 2 years before he became champion.

All the same, he flattened Ibañez in 3. After that, the Peruvian retired.

Here's a pic from that fight:

More best asian fighters:

- the Galaxy twins (khaokor and khaosay)
- muangchai kitikasem
- park chong pal
- Dodi 'boy' Penalosa
- Elly Pical
- saman surjaturong
- myself -)

khaokor was good but was not as great as his brother.

Luisito Espinoza was a pretty good fighter in his day as well.

Agreed. Khaokor only retained his title once or twice. However, the Galaxyz were known as the only twins who ever hold the major boxing belts.

I also forgot "Luis Espinosa". He should be mentioned anyway.

Other names that can be mentioned, though far honored as "Great"

Chatchai Sasakul
Gerry Penalosa
Yodamrung Sithyodong
Sammuth Sithnareupol
Tae Ill Chang

Did anyine mention the name of Sammart Payakaroen?

Dodi Penalosa ws the one with polio on his leg.

Talking about polio, Syamsul Anwar Harahap, our amateur legend had polio on his right hand. But his uncle taught him boxing, and beating the legendary Thomas Hearns in his amateur career in 1976 in Jakarta, in President's Cup amateur invitation.

Just flashing in my brain, another names of Asian fighters:

Mon sun kil
Shinji Matmumura
Saensak Muangsurin

I think he still holds the record. Muangsurin defeated Saoul mamby on points before crushed by hearns. If you search Muangsurin in boxrec (try ? Muangsurin) there are many-many muangsurins. Seems Saensak Muangsurin became an idol at that time.

I almost forgot to mention Ponne Kingpetch as the Thai's legend (Flyweight king in 1950's).

Did anyone mention Gabriel "Flash" Elorde? I think he's the best Phillipines fighter of all time (Pancho Villa is the first Phillipines fighter (and Asia) who ever seized a world title - Vila died 10 days after his last fight because of tooth infection).

It's so fun talking asian fighters. About Moon sun kil here's his record, just follow the link: http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=003187

He hels super flyweight title from 1988 - 1993. Enough credits for "Asian greats"

Korean fighters also remind me to Duk ko kim, KO'd and finally died after fighting "Boom boom" Mancini.

Jeff

As great as Elorde was many experts still consider Villa the greatest fillipino and asian fighter of all time.

Veeraphol Sahaprom belongs among the greatest asian fighters of all time, and Pongsaklek Wongjongkam will probably achieve greatness if he hasn't already.

All I've seen of Chitalada and Chang is their rematch, and I was very underwhelmed. It reminded me of Forrest-Mosley II, and I mean that in the worst possible way.

I haven't seen Myung Woo Yuh yet, but his credentials speak for themselves.

Your right Sahaprom should be mentioned along the greatest asian fighters.

Broncano wrote:A few months after the Watanabe fight Luis Ibañez was flown again to the Far East and faced Khaosai Galaxy in Bangkok. This is when Galaxy had less than 20 fights and almost 2 years before he became champion.

Galaxy would have been the champion a lot sooner if the 115-pound champs of that time hadn't ducked him for two years. He didn't become champion until Watanabe decided to vacate the WBA title and fight for the WBC version, which allowed Galaxy to fight for and win the WBA crown himself.

Ellyas Pical, who was the IBF champ at 115 for most of Galaxy's reign, was the only reigning champ who ever had the balls to get in the ring with Galaxy. He went 14 rounds before Khaosai got him, then won the IBF title back eight months later and held it until 1990. I say anyone who could go 14 rounds with Khaosai Galaxy in 1987 must have been damn good himself.

Where there ever any decent heavies from Asia?(besides....Nicolai Valuev)

Dutch Windmill wrote:Where there ever any decent heavies from Asia?(besides....Nicolai Valuev)

I think Joe Bugner was the Pan Asian Heavyweight champion. But this was in the late nineties when he wasn't "decent" anymore. Besides that, he is as close to being Asian as I am to being Dutch.

African born-Japanese Peter Okello is now the PABA or OPBF heavyweight champion.

Samson Dutchboy-Gym is a pretty imressive fighter from what iv'e seen, but it's hard to realy tell since he hasn't fought any real opposition yet.