5 Legendary southpaw fighters in boxing history

• Southpaw fighters are rarely dominated in the ring
• Their unorthodox fighting style makes them formidable opponents
• Manny Pacquiao is undoubtedly one of the best southpaws the world has ever seen in combat sports

From Marvin Hagler and Manny Pacquiao to Vicente Saldivar, the best southpaw fighters in boxing have made a significant impact on the sport.

According to studies, about 10% of the population is left-handed. Well, this represents a few problem to the remaining population, but not in boxing. It’s not everyday you see a southpaw being dominated in the ring, thanks to their unorthodox style which makes them formidable opponents. As a matter of fact, even the elites do avoid fighting southpaws.

Here, we did go along history to bring you a list of some of the greatest southpaw fighters in boxing history. The list is arranged in no particular order.

1. Manny Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao is one of the greatest boxers of all time. Photo/ Marca.

Manny Pacquiao is not only one of the best southpaw fighters in boxing history but also one of the greatest to ever step in a boxing ring. Nicknamed “PacMan”, the Filipino fighter became a fan-favourite due to his unafraid fighting style. He recorded several knockouts on his way to the top and his fighting career could be summed by his match against Antonio Margarito, where he used his speed to beat the big guy.

Pacquiao held world championships in a record eight divisions and also the lineal title in five different weight categories. He ventured into politics after retirement and served as a senator of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022.

2. Marvin Hagler 

Marvin Hagler reigned as undisputed champion of the Middleweight division between 1980 and 1987. That’s seven years of dominance in the ring.

Hagler also takes praise for having a shocking 78% knockout rate. The American was a menace in the ring and those who challenged him regretted the decision at some point. His achievements as a boxer include being named Fighter of the Year twice and Fighter of the Decade for the 1980s.

The American, who is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame, was famously knocked down once by Juan Roldan in a fight which boxing fans still remember up to date. Hagler’s record at the time of retirement was 62-3-2 (52 KOs).

Marvin Hagler. Photo/ Sports Illustrated.

3. Pernell Whitaker

It’s been 23 years since Pernell Whitaker last stepped in the ring and five years since he passed away but the boxing world can’t forget about him because he was one of the best southpaw fighters in boxing. Whitaker considered himself an artist when he entered the ring and he impressed fans with his punches and fighting skills in general.

Sweet Pea won an Olympic gold medal in 1984 at the Los Angeles Summer Olympics and would continue to stun boxing fans two years after turning pro. The American won world titles in four divisions and suffered just four defeats in a total of 46 fights.

4. Vicente Saldivar

Vicente Saldivar, Mexico’s most renowned southpaw, had a short career that was filled with greatness. The Mexican competed between 1961 and 1973, recording wins against notable fighters such as Sugar Ramos, Howard Winstone and Jose Legra. His boxing record is 37-3 (26 KOs).

Saldivar passed away on July 18, 1985, at the age of 42 after battling cancer. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1999.

5. Hector Camacho

Hector Camacho. Photo/ YouTube.

You can’t miss the name Hector Camacho in any article talking about the best southpaw fighters in boxing. To start with, Hector was born in Puerto Rico but grew up in New York City under his mother after his parents divorced.

As a teen, he got into problems several times and was often involved in street fights. It was at this time that he developed a passion in boxing and started practicing the sport. His amateur career highlights include winning the New York Golden Gloves Championships and Intercity Golden Gloves.

Camacho would then turn pro and rose quickly through the ranks to become a title contender. The Puerto Rican was a menace in the ring and fought like a wild animal. After an impressive run of victories in the ring, Camacho became the first boxer to win titles in seven divisions. Some of the opponents he faced over the years include Julio Cesar Chavez, Sugar Ray and Oscar De La Hoya. He retired with a record of 78-6-3.