Boxing the Mexican way

Barrera fights Prince Naseem on 7 April

BBC Sport Online's Kevin Asseo looks back at the some of the greatest Mexican fighters of all time, as Marco Antonio Barrera attempts to create a legend of his own against Prince Naseem Hamed.

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Julio Cesar Chavez

When talking about great Mexican champions past and present, the discussion begins and ends with the one and only Chavez.

Chavez is Mexico's greatest sports hero, an idol revered by an entire nation for his years of mastery in the ring.

Although his record suffered from his refusal to quit boxing until long after his skills had diminished, there is no debating his brilliance during the first 15 years of his career.

Chavez celebrates victory over Meldrick Taylor in 1994

After turning pro in 1980, Chavez won his first 90 fights, claiming five world titles at three different weights - super featherweight, lightweight and light welterweight - along the way.

Although compiling a record of 90 straight wins makes up a large part of his legend, it is Chavez's style as much as his record that gained him the respect of his countrymen.

He fought in the classic Mexican manner.

A brilliant tactical fighter who would slug it out with the best of them, he could take punishment while giving out more, Chavez rarely backed up and never backed down.

Chavez still holds the distinction of fighting before the largest crowd in boxing history.

In 1993, over 130,000 fans came to watch him beat Greg Haugen in five rounds in Mexico City's Estadio Azteca.

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Carlos Zarate

Zarate was perhaps the most powerful puncher the bantamweight division has ever seen.

A devastating knockout artist, Zarate won 46 of his first 47 fights by KO.

With a crushing right hand that did not seem possible coming from his tall, skinny body, Zarate ruled the bantamweights for most of the 1970's.

His 1977 bout against undefeated and equally powerful Alfonso Zamora is the stuff of legends, with Zarate knocking down Zamora three times to win a fourth round stoppage.

When he retired in 1988, Zarate had totalled 61 wins, 58 of them by knockout.

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Vincente Saldivar

A tireless southpaw who stood only five foot three inches, Saldivar was a firm believer in the "kill the body and the head will die" theory.

Saldivar holds court with the press

Perhaps taking advantage of his height, or lack thereof, Saldivar wore down his opponents with a savage body attack.

Saldivar twice won the world featherweight title, once in 1964 and again in 1970.

He will forever be remembered for his three successful title defences against rugged Welshman Howard Winstone, epic battles that lasted 15, 15 and 12 rounds respectively.

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Salvador Sanchez

The most tragic story in the annals of Mexican boxing is that of Sanchez.

Sanchez was the WBC featherweight champion when a car crash claimed his life in 1982 at the age of 23.

He compiled a 44-1-1 record during his short life, with each of his victories more impressive than the previous one.

Sanchez, an exceptional counter-puncher, was with good reason considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world at the time of his death.

The list of his vanquished opponents reads like a who's who of the great featherweights of the era - Ruben Castillo, Wilfredo Gomez, Azumah Nelson, and Juan LaPorte among his victims.

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The tradition of great Mexican fighters continues today, with several boxers on top of the rankings.

Featherweight Erik Morales has been a terror to opponents with his awesome power and flyweight Ricardo Lopez has dominated his weight division for the past 10 years.

Barrera is on the list as well, and Prince Naseem would be wise to keep that in mind come 7 April.