Venezuela has pulled off a partial coup of the lower weight classes of professional boxing

Since 2006, Venezuela has pulled off a partial coup of the lower weight classes of professional boxing. As of this writing, Venezuela owns two reigning world champions at the130 and 126-pound weight divisions. A third surrendered his title just one week ago to one of the best fighters on the planet and a fourth Venezuelan fighter will be vying for his second world championship at a higher weight class. Prior to this recent success Venezuela has produced a lot of good, but few great fighters. Antonio Esparragoza probably leads the pack as a WBA featherweight champion with seven title defenses bewtween 1987 and 1990. Other capable fighters like Antonio Cermeno (122 and 126), Eloy Rojas (126), Leo Gamez (105,108, and 112), and Crisanto Espana (147) also claimed WBA world title belts in the noted divisions.