BOXERS from Argentina

Top 10

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary Argentinean Boxers of all time. This list of famous Argentinean Boxers is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography's online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of Argentinean Boxers.

1. Carlos Monzón (1942 - 1995)

With an HPI of 66.33, Carlos Monzón is the most famous Argentinean Boxer.  His biography has been translated into 23 different languages on wikipedia.

Carlos Roque Monzón (7 August 1942 – 8 January 1995), nicknamed Escopeta (Shotgun), was an Argentine professional boxer who held the undisputed world middleweight championship for seven years, and successfully defended his title 14 times against 11 different fighters. The Ring magazine and Boxing Writers Association of America named him Fighter of the Year in 1972. As of December 2024, Monzón is ranked by BoxRec as the third greatest boxer of all time, pound for pound. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. Known for his speed, punching power and relentless work rate, Monzón ended his career with a record of 87-3-9-1 with 59 knockouts; all of his losses were early in his career and were avenged. In 2002, Monzón was chosen by The Ring magazine as the 11th greatest fighter of the last 80 years, and voted him as the best middleweight title holder of the last 50 years in 2011. As of January 2018, Monzón holds the 2nd longest unified championship reign in middleweight history at 9 consecutive defenses. Argentinians adored Monzón throughout his career. His glamorous and violent life was avidly followed both by the media and Argentine people. He was, however, accused many times of domestic violence by his two wives and many mistresses and of beating paparazzi. Charged with killing his second wife Alicia Muñiz in 1988, the former champion was sentenced to 11 years in jail. He died in a January 1995 car crash while on his way back to jail after receiving a weekend furlough.

2. Oscar Bonavena (1942 - 1976)

With an HPI of 60.63, Oscar Bonavena is the 2nd most famous Argentinean Boxer.  His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.

Oscar Natalio "Ringo" Bonavena (September 25, 1942 – May 22, 1976) was an Argentine heavyweight professional boxer with a career record of 58 wins, 9 losses and 1 draw. A rugged, wild-swinging puncher, he was nicknamed "Ringo" because of his Beatles haircut, and enjoyed professional success in both Argentina and the United States. He is remembered for giving Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali hard-fought bouts.

3. Pascual Pérez (1926 - 1977)

With an HPI of 58.36, Pascual Pérez is the 3rd most famous Argentinean Boxer.  His biography has been translated into 22 different languages.

Pascual Nicolás Pérez (May 4, 1926 – January 22, 1977) was an Argentine flyweight boxer. Pérez was born in Tupungato in the Mendoza Province of Argentina, he went on to make history by becoming Argentina's first world boxing champion. Pérez usually did poor at the ticket gates in Argentina after he became world champion, forcing him to defend his world title on the road many times and to become known as a world-traveling champion. His first international success was a gold medal at the 1948 Summer Olympics in United Kingdom. He and Delfo Cabrera were the only two Argentines to be an Olympic gold medalists in the London Olympics of 1948. Perez reigned as World Champion from 1954 to 1960. As an amateur he fought 125 bouts. Turning professional in 1952, he fought 92 fights (84 wins, 7 losses and 1 draw), in which he won 57 fights by knockout, a record that places him in an elite group of boxers who have won more than 50 fights by knockouts. He defended his title against nine contenders in a span of six years. He is considered one of the three greatest flyweight boxers in history alongside Miguel Canto and Jimmy Wilde. Along with Carlos Monzon, he is considered one of the best fighters ever to box. He has been inducted in the International Boxing Hall of Fame. In 2004, the American Boxing Confederation posthumously declared him the South American champion.

4. Héctor Méndez (1897 - 1977)

With an HPI of 58.31, Héctor Méndez is the 4th most famous Argentinean Boxer.  His biography has been translated into 19 different languages.

Héctor Eugene Méndez (1 August 1897 – 13 December 1977) was an Argentine welterweight professional boxer who competed in the 1920s. He won a silver medal at the 1924 Summer Olympics, losing against Jean DeLarge in the final bout. Héctor was the flag bearer for his country at the opening ceremony of the 1928 Summer Olympics.

5. Oscar Casanovas (1914 - 1987)

With an HPI of 57.86, Oscar Casanovas is the 5th most famous Argentinean Boxer.  His biography has been translated into 20 different languages.

Oscar Casanovas (May 15, 1914 – 1987) was an Argentine boxer who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics.

6. Carmelo Robledo (1912 - 1982)

With an HPI of 57.65, Carmelo Robledo is the 6th most famous Argentinean Boxer.  His biography has been translated into 20 different languages.

Carmelo Ambrosio Robledo (July 13, 1912 – November 9, 1961) was an Argentine boxer who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics and in the 1932 Summer Olympics. In 1928 he was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the bantamweight competition. Four years later he won the gold medal in the featherweight class after winning the final against Josef Schleinkofer of Germany.

7. Rafael Iglesias (1924 - 1999)

With an HPI of 57.30, Rafael Iglesias is the 7th most famous Argentinean Boxer.  His biography has been translated into 19 different languages.

Argentino Rafael Iglesias (25 May 1924 – 1 January 1999) was an Argentine heavyweight boxer. He won a gold medal at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, England by knocking out Gunnar Nilsson in the final. Iglesias was knocked out himself in his only bout as a professional, in 1952.

8. Víctor Avendaño (1907 - 1984)

With an HPI of 57.27, Víctor Avendaño is the 8th most famous Argentinean Boxer.  His biography has been translated into 21 different languages.

Víctor Ángel Pedro Avendaño (June 5, 1907, in Buenos Aires – July 1, 1984) was an Argentine boxer who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics. In 1928 he won the gold medal in the light heavyweight class after winning the final against Ernst Pistulla.

9. Amado Azar (1913 - 1971)

With an HPI of 56.55, Amado Azar is the 9th most famous Argentinean Boxer.  His biography has been translated into 17 different languages.

Amado Azar (December 31, 1913 – April 11, 1971) was an Argentine boxer who competed in the 1932 Summer Olympics. In 1932 he won the silver medal in the middleweight class after losing the final against Carmen Barth of the United States. Azar was the brother of fellow boxer Jorje Azar.

10. Santiago Lovell (1912 - 1966)

With an HPI of 55.96, Santiago Lovell is the 10th most famous Argentinean Boxer.  His biography has been translated into 22 different languages.

Santiago Alberto Lovell Birnes (23 April 1912 – 17 March 1966), known as Alberto Lovell, was an Argentine heavyweight boxer, who won the gold medal in the Olympic Games in Los Angeles 1932. In his career as a professional boxer he had 88 fights winning 76 (55 by KO) losing 8 (2 by KO) with 3 draws, He won both the Argentine and South American championships.