WBC list their top 5 Mexico vs England fights in history

Ahead of the Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn clash, WBC share their greatest Mexico vs England rivalries

Despite being born in the United States, Ryan Garcia carries a deep Mexican heritage, coursing through his veins which defines his identity both inside and outside the ring.

From the very beginning, the WBC monarch has proudly embraced the traditions and fighting school of Mexican boxing, characterised by an aggressive style, unwavering bravery, and those traditional body attacks that immediately resonate with Mexican fans.

For Ryan, representing his roots is a badge of honour, making this showdown against Britain’s Conor Benn a compelling new chapter in the storied history of battles between Mexico and Great Britain.

Ahead of the Garcia-Benn September 12th clash at the iconic T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, the WBC paid tribute to the historic rivalry between Mexico and England through some of its most iconic chapters.

The Historic Mexico vs England Rivalry

The boxing rivalry between Mexican and British fighters has stood as a classic clash of styles: the ferocity, relentless pressure, and devastating body attack of the Mexican tradition versus the refined technique, outside boxing, and tenacity of the British Isles. Throughout history, battles between these two distinct schools have delivered memorable moments for World Boxing Council titles.

José Nápoles vs John H. Stracey (1975)

On a historic night at the Plaza de Toros México, legendary champion José “Mantequilla” Nápoles defended his welterweight crown against British challenger John Henry Stracey. Despite being dropped in the opening round, Stracey fought back to impose a grueling pace and stop Nápoles in the sixth round, securing a monumental victory for British boxing and marking the very first world title fight supervised by José Sulaimán as WBC President.

Julio César Chávez vs Andy Holligan (1993)

During his historic reign at super lightweight, the greatest legend in Mexican boxing history, Julio César Chávez, locked horns with Scouser Andy Holligan in December 1993 in Puebla. Chávez put on a masterclass of leverage and devastating body punching then slamming the nose to bloody and  halt the English contender in five searing rounds, successfully defending his WBC super lightweight title and reaffirming Mexican supremacy.

Erik Morales vs Wayne McCullough (1999)

In a thrilling war for the WBC super bantamweight world championship, Tijuana icon Erik “El Terrible” Morales faced tough British-Irish warrior Wayne McCullough in Detroit. Morales had to dig deep across 12 rounds of non-stop action and physical attrition to earn a unanimous decision victory, in a bout that showcased the true grit and endurance of both traditions.

Canelo vs Amir Khan, Callum Smith, Billy Joe Saunders

In the modern era, Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez has been the dominant force in this rivalry, securing decisive victories over several of Britain’s top fighters for WBC titles. In 2016, “Canelo” scored a explosive knockout over Amir Khan in Las Vegas. Later, during his campaign at 168 pounds, he convincingly outpointed the undefeated Callum Smith via unanimous decision in 2020 and stopped Billy Joe Saunders via TKO in 2021 before more than 70,000 fans at AT&T Stadium.

Ryan Garcia vs Luke Campbell (2021)

In a marquee generational clash in the lightweight division, Ryan Garcia took on Olympic gold medalist and British contender Luke Campbell for the WBC Interim lightweight title. Campbell shocked the crowd by sending Garcia to the canvas in round two; however, displaying the trademark courage of his heritage, Ryan rallied back to land a devastating left hook to the body in the seventh round that brought the contest to a sudden end.