Nicaragua has a rich boxing history and is home to some of the world’s finest boxers. From world champions and Olympians to rising stars, Nicaragua has produced a number of accomplished fighters.
With its long tradition of producing world-class boxers, Nicaragua boasts some of the best in the sport. We’ll look at five of the best boxers from Nicaragua and their impressive accomplishments.
From multiple world titles to Olympic success, these boxers have made their mark on the sport and will continue to do so for years to come.
1. Román González
Román Alberto González Luna, better known by his nickname “Chocolatito”, is a celebrated Nicaraguan professional boxer. He is the first boxer from Nicaragua to achieve remarkable success in the world of boxing by winning world titles in four different weight classes.
This feat is especially impressive because he was able to surpass the accomplishments of his mentor, idol, and former three-weight world champion, the beloved Alexis Argüello. Chocolatito has earned a great deal of respect from both the boxing world and his home country of Nicaragua.
He first began boxing when he was only seven years old and has consistently worked hard to improve his skills over the years.
The determination and dedication that Chocolatito has shown throughout his career has been an inspiration to many aspiring boxers. In recognition of his accomplishments, Chocolatito was awarded the prestigious WBC Diamond Belt in 2013, becoming the first Nicaraguan ever to receive the honor.
His success has also earned him the admiration of many in Nicaragua, who have honored him with a street and a whole school named after him. Chocolatito’s legacy as a boxing great will undoubtedly live on for many years to come.
He has paved the way for future Nicaraguan boxers to reach their own success in the sport and is an example of what can be achieved with hard work and dedication. His remarkable achievements will forever be remembered.
2. Alexis Argüello
Alexis Argüello was an incredibly accomplished boxer and politician. He was born in Nicaragua and began his professional boxing career in 1968, continuing to compete until 1995. Argüello was a three-weight world champion, a testament to his boxing talent and skill.
In 1974, he won the WBA featherweight title and held it until 1976. In 1978, he won the WBC super featherweight title and held it until 1980.
Finally, in 1981, he won the WBC lightweight title and kept it until 1982. After his boxing career, Argüello went on to become a politician. He had a successful career in politics and was known for his ability to bridge divides between different political factions.
He was an influential figure in Nicaragua and was highly respected by his peers. His legacy as both a boxer and politician will be remembered for many years to come.
3. Ricardo Mayorga
Ricardo Antonio Mayorga Perez is a Nicaraguan professional boxer and former mixed martial artist. His success in the world of combat sports has been significant, with him becoming a two-weight world champion in boxing.
In 2003, Mayorga unified the WBA, WBC, Ring magazine, and lineal welterweight titles, a feat that had never been achieved before. In addition, he held the WBC super welterweight title from 2005 to 2006.
Mayorga has been an immensely successful boxer, and his success has made him one of the most respected figures in the sport.
4. Rosendo Álvarez
Rosendo José Álvarez Hernández is a retired professional boxer from Nicaragua who made a name for himself in the boxing world. He is a former two-division champion and is renowned for giving Mexican legend Ricardo López a tough fight.
Their two matches were very close, with the first fight ending in a draw and the second fight ending in a majority decision. This makes Rosendo José Álvarez Hernández the only person to have ever held the undefeated strawweight champion to a draw.
He is widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers to come out of Nicaragua, and his two fights against Ricardo Lopez will remain a part of boxing history.
5. José Alfaro
José Alberto Alfaro Gazo, commonly known as José Alfaro, is a Nicaraguan professional boxer. On December 29, 2007, Alfaro fought against Thai fighter Prawet Singwancha in Bielefeld, Germany and won the vacant WBA lightweight title in a split decision.
However, his reign as champion was short-lived as he was knocked out by Yusuke Kobori on May 19, 2008, in only 3 rounds. This loss resulted in Alfaro losing the WBA lightweight title he had held for a few months.
Despite the setback, Alfaro has gone on to have a successful boxing career, having won several championships and awards in his native Nicaragua.
6. Felix Alvarado
Felix Pedro Alvarado Sanchez is a professional boxer from Nicaragua who has had an impressive career thus far. He is currently the IBF light flyweight champion, having held the title from 2018 to 2022.
In addition to this, Felix has challenged for other titles throughout his career. In 2022 he challenged for the IBF flyweight championship, while in 2013 he challenged for the WBA light flyweight title, and in 2014 he challenged for the WBA flyweight title.
Felix has consistently pushed himself to reach higher heights in his boxing career, and it has paid off with multiple title opportunities.
Despite not winning all of his championship bids, Felix has shown tremendous tenacity and skill throughout his career and has established himself as one of Nicaragua’s leading boxing stars.
7. Cristofer Rosales
Cristofer Jordan Rosales González is a Nicaraguan professional boxer who achieved greatness in 2018. His remarkable accomplishments in the ring earned him the WBC flyweight title, making him the first Nicaraguan boxer in history to hold that title.
He is an inspiration to many boxers in Nicaragua and around the world. Rosales González is a true champion in every sense of the word, having worked hard to achieve his success in the sport.
He has an impressive record of 18 wins, 6 losses, and 1 draw in his professional boxing career. His determination, drive, and dedication to the sport have made him a force to be reckoned with in the ring.
His accomplishments are a reminder to all aspiring boxers that anything is possible with hard work and dedication. Rosales González is a living example of what it takes to be a champion in the boxing world.
8. Adonis Rivas
Adonis Antonio Rivas Ordóñez is a retired professional boxer who had a long and successful career spanning from 1995 until 2014. During this time, he achieved a remarkable level of success by becoming a world champion in two different weight classes.
In 1999, he captured the WBO super flyweight title and held it until 2001. In 2002, he took the WBO flyweight title and added it to his list of accolades.
This was a remarkable accomplishment, as very few professional boxers have had the opportunity to win multiple world titles in different weight classes.
Rivas Ordóñez is a testament to the dedication and hard work that it takes to succeed in the world of professional boxing, and his accomplishments will not be forgotten.
9. Eddie Gazo
Eddie Jose Gazo Roa was an accomplished Nicaraguan professional boxer from 1969 to 1984. During this time, he achieved remarkable success, becoming the Lineal and WBA Light Middleweight Title holder from 1977 to 1978.
This was a prestigious title and one that was not easily attained. Gazo Roa’s boxing career was long and storied, and he was able to maintain a high level of success throughout his time in the ring.
His commitment to training and dedication to the sport helped him to become one of the most respected boxers of his era. He will always be remembered for his impressive accomplishments in the sport of boxing, and his legacy will live on for generations to come.
10. Luis Alberto Pérez
Luís Alberto Pérez is a Nicaraguan former professional boxer who enjoyed a long and successful career in the ring from 1996 to 2014. He was a two-weight world champion, having held the IBF super flyweight title from 2003 to 2006, and the IBF bantamweight title in 2007.
Pérez was also a contender for the WBA super bantamweight interim title in 2008, though he ultimately fell short of claiming the coveted belt.
Throughout his boxing career, Pérez was known for his aggressive and powerful style, and he faced off against some of the most respected fighters in the sport. His powerful punches, along with his speed and agility, earned him the respect of his opponents and fans alike.
After retiring from professional boxing, Pérez continued to stay involved in the sport, acting as a coach for amateur boxers and helping to promote the sport in his home country of Nicaragua.
11. René Alvarado
René Antonio Alvarado Sánchez is a professional boxer from Nicaragua who achieved a great deal of success in his career.
He held the WBA Super Featherweight title from 2019 to January 2021 and was ranked as the world’s eighth-best active super featherweight by the respected boxing ratings system BoxRec as of May 2020.
This is a testament to his skill and dedication and shows that he is one of the most accomplished fighters in his weight class. Alvarado Sánchez has achieved a remarkable amount of success in his career and is a respected figure in the boxing world.
12. Byron Rojas
Byron Hasael Rojas Hernandez is a Nicaraguan professional boxer who has made a name for himself in the boxing world. He is a WBA minimumweight champion, having won the title in 2016.
He has a long and successful career under his belt, having won several titles and defended them successfully against many challengers. He is known for his aggressive style of boxing, often taking the fight to his opponents and not backing down.
He is also known for his strong punches, which have enabled him to become one of the most successful Nicaraguan boxers of all time.
Rojas Hernandez is the epitome of a successful Nicaraguan professional boxer, and his success is an inspiration to many aspiring boxers in the country.
13. Juan Palacios
Juan Palacios is a professional boxer from Managua, Nicaragua. He has had a successful career, with a professional record of 29 wins and 9 losses. Palacios is most notable for being the former WBC Interim Minimumweight Champion.
He won the vacant title on August 2, 2008 in Ponce, Puerto Rico, against Omar Soto of Puerto Rico. His victory was a major accomplishment, as it solidified his place among some of the best boxers in the world.
Palacios has since defended his title multiple times, cementing his success as a world-class boxer.
14. Osmar Bravo Amador
Osmar Bravo Amador is an amateur boxer from Nicaragua who achieved a major accomplishment in 2012. He qualified for the Olympic Games at the light heavyweight weight division, which is one of the heavier weight divisions in boxing.
To earn his Olympic birth, Osmar competed in the 2012 American Boxing Olympic Qualification Tournament at the light heavyweight division. He made it all the way to the semi-finals, which was enough to secure him his place in the Olympics.
This was a great achievement for Osmar, as the Olympic Games are considered to be the highest level of competition in amateur boxing. Osmar’s hard work and dedication paid off, and he was rewarded with the opportunity to represent his country at the 2012 Olympic Games.
15. Carlos Buitrago
Carlos Alberto Buitrago Rojas is a Nicaraguan professional boxer. He has had a successful career in the ring, having challenged for world championship titles four times. In 2013, he challenged for the WBO mini flyweight title.
This was followed by a challenge for the IBF mini flyweight title in 2017. In 2018, he challenged for the WBO junior flyweight title and he repeated this in 2020.
He has thus challenged for four world championship titles in total, covering both mini flyweight and junior flyweight divisions.
This impressive record of achievements demonstrates Buitrago Rojas’ commitment to his sport and his dedication to reaching the highest levels of competition.
16. Yader Cardoza
Yader Cardoza is a Nicaraguan professional boxer who has had a successful career thus far. He first started boxing in 2006, and in 2013, he made his biggest challenge yet: the WBC Light Flyweight title.
This is a prestigious title and Cardoza was the first Nicaraguan to challenge for it. He was one of the most successful Nicaraguan boxers at the time, and he was determined to win the title. Unfortunately, he lost the fight, but it was still a great accomplishment for him.
He was also the first Nicaraguan to get a shot at the title. Cardoza is still active in boxing, and he is continuing to make a name for himself in the world of professional boxing.
17. Dixon Flores
Dixon Flores is a professional boxer from Nicaragua. He is most well known for challenging for the WBC Super Flyweight title in 2015. Flores has a long history in the sport of boxing, having started training at the young age of 15.
He quickly rose to prominence in the Nicaraguan boxing scene, becoming a well-respected fighter and mentor in the country. His success in the sport eventually led to him competing in the world stage, with his biggest fight being for the WBC Super Flyweight title in 2015.
Though he wasn’t successful in his attempt to capture the title, his performance in the fight showed that he was capable of competing against some of the best boxers in the world.
Even though he didn’t become a champion, Dixon Flores will always be remembered for his courage and tenacity in the ring.
18. Arnulfo Obando
Arnulfo Obando was a boxing coach from Nicaragua who was highly respected in the boxing world.
He coached the Nicaraguan boxer Román González from 2010 to his death in 2016, and in recognition of his work with González, Obando was nominated for Trainer of the Year by The Ring magazine in 2015.
Unfortunately, he did not win the award, as it was given to Joe Gallagher instead. Throughout his career, Obando had a great impact on the boxing world, specifically on the development and success of González.
In his six years of training, González rose to become one of the most successful boxers in Nicaragua, achieving a world title in 2015. Obando’s devotion to his craft and the development of his boxers is an admirable quality that will always be remembered in the boxing world.
19. Alfonso Molina
Alfonso Molina is a Nicaraguan boxer who competed in the men’s lightweight event at the 1968 Summer Olympics. He was one of the many athletes from around the world to compete in this event. In his opening fight, he was up against Mongi Landhili of Tunisia.
Unfortunately, Molina was not able to overcome his opponent and he lost the match. Despite this, Molina’s participation in the 1968 Summer Olympics is a testament to his dedication and passion for the sport of boxing.
He continues to be a source of inspiration for many aspiring boxers in Nicaragua and around the world.
Conclusion
It is clear that Nicaragua has produced some of the best boxing players in the world. From the legendary Alexis Argüello to the current world champions such as Roman Gonzalez and Roman Martinez, the country has a rich history of producing excellent boxers.
With the continued success of these great fighters, it is likely that Nicaragua will continue to produce world champions for many years to come.
