Image via Complex Original
From high-flying Lucha Libre to futbol to golf, Mexicans have left their mark on just about every sport. Look at a guy like Oscar De La Hoya who not only won a gold medal in the Lightweight division at the 1992 Summer Olympics but also obtained a slew of other titles throughout his career and founded Golden Boy Promotions which is still going strong till this very day. Or, what about Fernando Valenzuela aka the only baseball player to be named Rookie of the Year, win the Cy Young Award, and help lead his team to a World Series victory in his first two seasons. And to think, some prefer would rather hate on cultures that have given our country so much (don't think we forgot, Arizona). Instead, we'd rather use holidays such as Cinco de Mayo to recognize what our brothers from across the border have contributed to American society.
In honor of Mexico's victory over the French in the Battle of Puebla, here are The Greatest Mexican Athletes of All Time.
10. Ricardo Lopez
Hometown: Cuernavaca
Sport: Boxing
Years: 1985-2001
Numbers don't lie. So what's a list of the best Mexican athletes without the third boxer in the sport's history to retire without a single loss to his name? At 51-0-1, Ricardo Lopez retained the Minimumweight Championship for 21 consecutive bouts and for good measure, Lopez also held the WBA and WBO titles in that weight class as well.
9. Eduardo Najera
Hometown: Chihuahua
Sport: Basketball
Years: 2000-2012
Other than being the first Mexican-born NBA draft pick and an all-around good dude, there aren't many highlights in Najera's career. But anyone that puts that flop artist Manu Ginobili in his place is cool in our book.
8. Lee Trevino
Hometown: Dallas, Tex.
Sport: Golf
Years: 1960-Present
Born in Dallas, Tex., Lee Trevino, the son of Mexican immigrants, made a name for himself with quite the unique swing, but that approach helped him win six Majors, including the The U.S. Open, The Open and the PGA Championship. Trevino also garnered respect from his peers when he was named the 14th best golfer of all time by Golf Digest Magazine in 2000.
7. Rey Mysterio
Hometown: Chula Vista, Calif.
Sport: Wrestling
Years: 1989-Present
OK, so the WWE may not be a real sports league, but shit was (and still is) entertaining as hell. Especially when Mysterio brought that Lucha Libra (high flying wrestling on 'roids) aspect to the game. Just peep the above video to see homie's work in action.
6. Cuauhtemoc Blanco
Hometown: Mexico City
Sport: Soccer
Years: 1992-Present
The 41-year-old Mexican living legend has been beasting on the pitch for more than two decades (currently with the Mexican club BUAP), tormenting opponents with his ill footwork and classic "archer" celebration.
5. Hugo Sanchez
Hometown: Mexico City
Sport: Soccer
Years: 1976-1997
When talking about Mexico and soccer, Hugo Sanchez cannot be too far from the conversation. Arguably, one of, if not, the greatest soccer player to come from the country, Sanchez helped lead the Real Madrid to not one, not two, not three, not four, but five consecutive La Liga titles while also showing his skills as a member of the Mexican national team, scoring 46 goals in his career.
4. Oscar De La Hoya
Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif.
Sport: Boxing
Years: 1992-2008
Throughout his career the Golden Boy has won 10 titles in six different weight classes and accumulated the largest PPV draw ever, generating $696 million over the course of his career. Life is still sweet for Oscar, the founder of Golden Boy Promotions...uh, maybe too sweet. We'll pretend those pics never happened, Golden Boy.
3. Lorena Ochoa
Hometown: Guadalajara
Sport: Golf
Years: 2002-2010
The first and only Mexican golfer to be ranked number one in the world bowed out on top of the game in 2010 because she only wanted to compete for "around 10 years." Someone should've shown a guy like Brett Favre this blueprint to life as an athlete.
2. Fernando Valenzuela
Hometown: Navojoa
Sport: Baseball
Years: 1980-1997
What other player do you know who has won a Rookie of the Year, Cy Young Award, and World Series ring in his first two seasons? None. Valenzuela (and his trademark eyes-to-the-heavens delivery) officially set off "Fernandomania" in the early '80s.
1. Julio Cesar Chavez
Hometown: Sonora
Sport: Boxing
Years: 1981-2005
The welterweight was a six-time world champion during his career and still has the record for the longest undefeated streak in boxing history with 87 straight victories. With 86 knockouts in his career, they didn't call him Mr. KO for nothing. Too bad he retired before he could shut Floyd up.