Not Canelo Alvarez or Julio Cesar Chavez: Mike Tyson stuns with pick for Mexico’s greatest of all time boxer

Mike Tyson leaves out both Canelo Alvarez and Julio Cesar Chavez in naming the greatest Mexican fighter ever. His surprising choice has sparked renewed debate in boxing circles.

© Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty ImagesMike Tyson shares his views on legendary fighters during his podcast “Hotboxin’.

In the world of boxing, few debates stir more passion than naming Mexico’s greatest fighter. Most fans lean toward the titanic legacies of Julio Cesar Chavez or the modern dominance of Canelo Alvarez. But Mike Tyson, speaking from his own vantage point as one of the sport’s most iconic champions, sees things differently.

On a recent episode of Hotboxin’ with Mike Tyson, the former heavyweight king made an unexpected selection that’s reigniting old conversations and introducing younger fans to a name they may not know well. Without hesitation, Tyson named Salvador Sanchez as the finest boxer Mexico has ever produced—citing not titles or fame, but something more profound: a mastery that scaled with the challenge.

“Salvador Sanchez. I just think Sanchez was hard to beat, this is what made him really special to me and everybody else that knows his style,” Tyson said. “If you’re a halfway fighter, decent fighter, you might last the distance, the greater you are the more he kicks your a–, but he fights right above the level of the game.”

A star who shined fast—and burned out too soon

Sanchez’s career was a case of brilliance in fast forward. Before turning 24, he had already conquered the featherweight division, holding the WBC title and defending it nine times. His performances weren’t defined by sheer force, but by rhythm, ring IQ, and uncanny adaptability—traits that drew Tyson’s praise decades later.

Mike Tyson sits in his corner between rounds against Jake Paul during LIVE On Netflix: Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson at AT&T Stadium on November 15, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images for Netflix)

One of his last fights, a win over future Hall of Famer Azumah Nelson, showcased everything that made him elite: control, patience, and late-round explosiveness. Tragically, just weeks later in 1982, Sanchez died in a car accident. His record at the time stood at 44-1-1, and his legacy—though frozen in youth—would later earn a place in the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1991.