Boxing’s finest southpaws have enthralled viewers for as long as the sport has existed.
However, as a competitor, a superb southpaw is almost enough to make you want to put up your gloves and start playing chess. At best, they are an annoyance. But at worst, they may demolish almost any concept you have about yourself in a matter of minutes.
Today, we’ll take a look at the best southpaw boxers of all time. This is not one to be missed.
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Manny Pacquiao
Manny Pacquiao nicknamed “Pac-Man,” the only boxer to win ten titles in eight different weight classes. Although he couldn’t defeat Floyd Maywether Jr. he is still one of the best boxers of all time. However, while numerous contenders in that category may be ahead of Pacquiao, there is no reason why the Filipino should not rank extremely high when it comes to lefties.
Pacquiao in his own right captured the attention of the larger fight world in 2001 with his triumph over IBF champion Lehlohonolo Ledwaba. This was at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. With only two weeks to train, the legend startled his opponent by knocking him out in the sixth round.
Even though he is from the Philippines he wasn’t known for using the bolo punch which came from Filipino martial arts.
Joe Calzaghe
J Calzaghe is the longest-reigning super-middleweight boxing champion in history. He has held the WBO title for nearly a decade, defending it 21 times. The Pride of Wales was the first boxer in history to get all four major titles at super middleweight, as well as the first Ring champion in that weight class. He retired undefeated in 46 fights. With 32 knockouts and seven world titles in two weight divisions. Calzaghe had victories over all-time greats like Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr.
Marvin Hagler
Mr. Marvin Hagler is not just the greatest southpaw boxer of all time; he is also one of the finest boxers of all time in any stance. Hagler has a 63-3-2 record with 52 knockouts. Yes, he had three losses, but one was a majority decision loss to Bobby Watts. The other was a split decision loss to Sugar Ray Leonard, both of which could have gone either way. Hagler had an outstanding 13-1-1 with 12 KOs in world title fights. He also successfully defended his middleweight world title 12 times.
Pernell Whitaker
He is regarded as one of the finest southpaws in boxing history, as well as one of the best defensive fighters.
“Sweet Pea” baffled his opponents with an astonishing armory of weaponry. Whittaker quickly distinguished himself from the pack, thanks to his superhuman evasion and insane counterpunching ability. But when he won gold in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, the little firecracker was dubbed a future great. And, let’s be honest, he didn’t let us down.
Whittaker retired in 2001 after failing to win any of his previous four contests. Sadly, the renowned southpaw died eighteen years later when he was hit by a vehicle in July 2019.
Tiger Flowers
‘The Georgia Deacon’ must be mentioned in any discussion of boxing’s finest southpaws.
In a storied career, Flowers boxed his way into the history books with a left hand from the gods. Flowers’ most notable accomplishment was defeating the renowned Harry Greb in 1926 to become the world’s first African-American middleweight champion. That victory was followed by another the following year, avenging a setback to Greb in 1925.
Tiger Flowers earned a 119-15-7 record while competing in an age when society often prohibited black boxers from receiving a fair shake in the ring.
Flowers battled some of the best boxers of all time, including Sam Langford and Mickey Walker. This was before succumbing to surgical complications in 1927. Flowers, who died at the age of 32, will be remembered as more than simply one of the finest southpaws.
Hector Camacho
The Macho Man was one of boxing’s most flamboyant characters. Hector Camacho came before Prince Naseem Hamed. He was a wild man inside the ring, and he lived his life just as crazy outside of it. The Puerto Rican was a three-time world champion who wowed audiences with his all-action fighting style and outlandish outfits inside the ring. He beat Roberto Duran twice and retired Sugar Ray Leonard. In 2012, the flashy fighter was shot and critically injured outside a pub. He was declared brain-dead and died four days later.
Young Corbett III
Corbett III was a two-division world champion during a time when being a world champion meant you were truly regarded as the best boxer in the world at that weight.
He defeated Jackie Fields for the welterweight title in 1933. He gained the middleweight title from Fred Apostoli in February 1938, only to lose it to him later that year.
Corbett has a record of 122-12-22. He defeated future middleweight champion Cerefino Garcia and future light heavyweight champion Billie Conn, who notably came near two rounds of defeating the great Joe Louis.
Sergio Martinez
During his peak, Sergio Martinez dominated the 160-pound weight class. Sergio was the finest 160-pound boxer on the earth, from his amazing knockout of Paul Williams in their rematch in 2010 through his dramatic triumph against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in 2012. Martinez spent the bulk of his career as one of the world’s most dreaded fighters. After Paul Williams earned a disputed majority decision win against him in 2009, he stepped into the spotlight and became the division’s biggest celebrity.
Freddie Miller
Mr. Miller had a professional record of 210-32-8 during the Great Depression. He is regarded as one of the best featherweights of all time.
Miller only stopped 45 of his opponents, giving him a KO rate of slightly under 18 percent. He was a cunning technologist who depended on deception.
Miller’s world featherweight title fight against Battling Battalino in January 1932 was one of the most contentious of the era, ending in a no contest.
Gabriel Elorde
Southpaw boxer Elorde came way before Manny Pacquiao. Elorde was nicknamed “the Flash” due to his rapid speed in the ring. He is widely recognized as the best Filipino boxer of all time. When Elorde won the super featherweight title in 1960, he broke the Philippines’ 20-year title drought by knocking out Harold Gomes in seven rounds. Elorde held the belt as a lineal championship for seven years. He was the first WBC and WBA super featherweight champion. Elorde has a non-title victory over the renowned Sandy Saddler.
