Barrios vs. Pacquiao: Remembering Some of the Best Welterweights in History

This Saturday, Filipino Manny Pacquiao will aim to capture the WBC welterweight title from champion Mario “Azteca” Barrios at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Manny’s goal is to achieve one last great feat to cap off his illustrious career.

At 46, Pacquiao needs no introduction. His record of 62-8-2 with 39 knockouts includes world titles in eight different divisions, an accomplishment unmatched by any other boxer. Barrios, 16 years his junior, comes in with a record of 29-2-1 with 18 KOs and world titles in two divisions.

The welterweight division, at 147 pounds, is one of boxing’s most illustrious. Throughout history, welterweights were considered the most complete fighters, possessing the mobility of a lightweight and the punching power of a middleweight.

Today, we remember some of the greatest welterweights in history:

Ray Robinson (173-19-6 with 108 KOs)

He was a boxing icon, a dazzling figure whose supreme throne among welterweights. He debuted in 1940 at age 19, and eleven years later, had built  a record of 128 wins with only one loss. He was the first boxer in history to win a world middleweight championship for the fifth time and held the welterweight title for five years (1946 to 1951).

Emile Griffith (85-24-2 with 23 KOs) 

The first world champion born in the Virgin Islands. Griffith belonged to the golden age of welterweight, which began in the early 80s. He was a welterweight as well as a middleweight monarch.

Félix “Tito” Trinidad (42-3 with 35 KOs)

Considered one of best Puerto Rican boxers in history, his prime occurred at welterweight. He was a three-time champion, defeated the best opponents of his generation, defended his crown fifteen times, and holds the record for time as welterweight champion: six years, eight months, and fourteen days.

Henry Armstrong (151-21-9 with 101 KOs)

He was the only one to achieve the feat of being a simultaneous champion in three different categories (featherweight, lightweight, and welterweight). He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1954. Those who followed his career consistently mentioned his overwhelming offense as the highlight of his boxing arsenal. He was known as “Homicide Hank.”

Thomas Hearns (61-5 with 48 KOs)

He was the first boxer in history to win five world titles in five different divisions. He started, at welterweight on August 2, 1980, when he defeated Pipino Cuevas by TKO.

“Sugar” Ray Leonard (36-3 with 25 KOs)

Leonard was the figure who popularized this category. Transformed into a celebrity after his success at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, his peak was in the 80s. He starred in memorable fights against the era’s best exponents.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. (49-0 with 26 KOs)

A five-time world champion in five different divisions, he ended his career undefeated and unanimously ranked first among the best pound-for-pound fighters. Floyd’s greatest recognition, repeatedly, has been his brilliant technical performance and especially his superlative defensive attributes that no opponent managed to overcome.

Roberto “Manos de Piedra” Duran (103-16 with 70 KOs)

While the Panamanian Superstar earned his greatest accolades in his lightweight career, he also made history at welterweight. This was due to his two memorable battles (one victory and one loss) against the best of his time: Sugar Ray Leonard.

Wilfred Benitez (53-8-1 with 31 KOs)

He is the unforgettable youngest champion in history. At just 17, he won the world title in 1976 against Colombian Antonio Cervantes. In 1979, he moved up to welterweight, and in another historic fight, he wrested the belt from Mexican Carlos Palomino. In 1981, he became the fifth fighter to win world crowns in three different categories, and his opponents included the best exponents of his generation.

Oscar De La Hoya (36-6 with 30 KOs)

He was an Olympic champion in 1992 and built a great career that allowed him to win ten titles in six different divisions. His value as a figure among welterweights is magnificent. De La Hoya has been the most influential Latin American champion in history. His career has inspired several generations of new boxers, and his venture into boxing promotion forever changed the business around the sport.