Argentina’s 10 best world champions

Carlos Monzon Argentina

1. CARLOS MONZON (87-3-9)
A legendary middleweight with a sinister side, Monzon reigned as undisputed champion from 1970 to 1974, before being stripped of one of his belts. He regained his undisputed status in 1976 and ruled for a further year before retiring.

2. NICOLINO LOCCHE (117-4-14)
An elusive artist in the ring, Locche won the WBA super-lightweight title in 1968 and successfully defended it five times, including against fellow Hall of Famer Antonio Cervantes.

3. PASCUAL PEREZ (84-7-1)
After winning a gold medal at the 1948 Olympics, this diminutive power-puncher went on to become his nation’s first-ever world title-holder. He held the flyweight crown from 1954 to 1960.

4. VICTOR GALINDEZ (55-9-4)
The aggressive Galindez twice occupied the WBA light-heavyweight throne in the 1970s. Of his 14 world title fights, only one was staged in his home country, with the others taking place in South Africa, the USA, Norway and Italy.

5. SERGIO MARTINEZ (51-3-2)
Between 2009 and 2014, the smooth-boxing Martinez garnered the following honours: WBC super-welterweight, unified WBC/WBO middleweight and WBC middleweight again.

6. HORACIO ACCAVALLO (75-2-6)
Though there is some confusion as to who actually owned the WBC flyweight title at the time, the versatile Accavallo is listed as a dual WBA/WBC champ of the mid-‘60s.

7. SANTOS LACIAR (79-10-11)
Another top-class little man, Laciar claimed the WBA flyweight belt on two occasions in the early ‘80s, before securing the WBC super-flyweight strap later on in the decade.

8. JULIO CESAR VASQUEZ (68-13-1)
A two-time WBA super-welterweight king of the ‘90s, Vasquez wrecked Winky Wright’s unbeaten record and registered five knockdowns during the bout.

9. JUAN MARTIN COGGI (75-5-2)
This decorated super-lightweight of the 1980s and ‘90s had three separate spells as a WBA titlist.

10. HUGO CORRO (50-7-2)
Like Monzon, Corro fought his way to the undisputed middleweight title in the ‘70s. Also like his famed countryman, he beat Rodrigo Valdes twice in championship contests.

Read our exploration of Carlos Monzon’s legacy here

Share Page