5 professional boxers put Texas on global boxing map
Texas has a great history of professional boxing, both in terms of athletes and fights which have taken place across the state. Fighters like brothers Gaby and Orlando Canizales, Jesse James Leija, Donald Curry, Juan Diaz, Rocky Juarez and Jack Johnson are from Texas.
So many great champions, such as Julio Cesar Chavez, Oscar De La Hoya, Pernell Whitaker, Leija, Canelo Alvarez, Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Floyd Mayweather and Salvador Sanchez, have fought in Texas.
Currently, Texas has some talented professionals; here is a look at some of the top pro boxers, several of whom have significant fights scheduled in the coming months, including Jermall Charlo, who is in line to fight Mexico's Canelo Alvarez in September.
Jermall Charlo
Houston's Charlo has not lost in 32 pro fights and it's been reported by numerous media outlets that he is likely the next opponent for Mexico's Saul Alvarez on Mexican Independence Day, which is Sept. 16. The fight will be for Alvarez's 168-pound title.
Charlo owns impressive wins against Julian Williams and Las Cruces' Austin Trout, a former junior middleweight champion.
Jermell Charlo
Jermell Charlo is Jermall's brother, owns a 35-1-1 record and is a 154-pound champion. He defeated Trout and won quality wins against Tony Harrison and Erickson Lubin. His next fight is to be determined, possibly against rising star at 154, Tim Tsyzu.
Errol Spence Jr.
Spence is from DeSoto and owns a perfect 28-0 record. Spence is one of the best fighters in the world and on July 29 in Las Vegas, Nevada, he'll fight fellow unbeaten fighter Terence Crawford to see who is the best welterweight in the world. The fight has been talked about for some time and has caught the attention of fans who routinely follow the sport and those who are just casual fans.
Jesse Rodriguez
The native of San Antonio is an emerging star in the boxing world. The 23-year-old flyweight is 18-0 and will fight England's Sunny Edwards (20-0) in a unification fight later this year in a venue to be determined.
Vergil Ortiz Jr.
The 147-pounder from Grand Prairie has established himself as a solid prospect at 147 pounds with a 19-0 record and 199 knockouts.
He will fight July 8 in San Antonio against Eimantas Stanionis. Two of Ortiz's best wins have come against Brad Solomon and Maurice Hooker, fighters with just one loss at the time.
More: El Paso boxers win medals El Paso boxers Ivy Enriquez, Caleb Arroyos win Gold at Junior Olympic Tournament
Felix F. Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on Twitter
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Texas has 5 of the best professional boxers in the world
