One of the most technical divisions across the board, featherweight fighters are some of the most beloved and historic combatants in boxing history.
A who’s who of talent have littered and run roughshod through the featherweight ranks during the history of boxing. Whether that be Cuban icons, to multi-weight world champion, Manny Pacquiao — or one of the most successful fighters to ever compete, featherweight has hosted them all.
So below, let’s rank the top 10 featherweight fighters to have ever competed in the squared circle.
10. Naseem Hamed (36-1)
One of the most recognizable boxers of all time, paired with one of the most polarizing, ‘Prince’ Naseem Hamed set the boxing world alight throughout the mid-90s.
Suffering just one professional loss, Hamed was a skillful and technical pugilist in the ring — scoring a host of high-profile victories.
Winning the WBO featherweight crown with a knockout win over Steve Robinson back in 1995, Sheffield native, Hamed would add IBO spoils to his mantel with another KO win over Tom Johnson.
And beyond a single career blemish to Marco Antonio Barrera, Hamed had other highlight wins over Kevin Kelley, as well as a WBC title win over César Soto.
9. Erik Morales (52-9)
Finally calling time on his splendid career at the turn of the last decade, Mexican striking ace, Erik Morales has been in the ring with some of the biggest names of this century.
A former super bantamweight champion, too, Morales first won WBC featherweight spoils back in 2001, besting Guty Espadas Jr. following an interim title knockout win over Kelley the year prior.
Best remembered for his trilogy pairing with Manny Pacquiao, Morales turned in a massive victory over the Philipino striker back in 2005. In a subsequent rematch and rubber-match, however, Morales came unstuck in a pair of back-to-back knockout losses.
A notable knockout force at featherweight, Morales has finished Espadas Jr. Eddie Croft, and Fernando Velardez of note.
8. Kid Chocolate (136-10-6)
Kid Chocolate — real name Eligio Sardinas Montalvo is washed with success in boxing history.
An inductee into the International Boxing Hall of Fame — Chocolate is a technical great when it comes to ringcraft in the squared circle.
A former NBA (National Boxing Association) and The Ring super featherweight champion, Chocolate stopped Lew Feldman to retain the world super featherweight championship in 1932.
With his win over Benny Bass the year prior, however, Chocolate immortalized himself in boxing history forever. Stopping the ‘Little Fish’ with a knockout win, Chocolate became the first Cuban-born fighter to win a world championship in professional boxing.
Manny Pacquiao, Willie Pep, Loma, Salvador Sanchez, Marco Antonio Barrera, Henry Armstrong
7. Juan Manual Marquez (56-7-1)
Himself — akin to Morales, tied to a stunning four fights with one of the greatest of all-time, Manny Pacquiao, Iztacalco native, Marquez achieved world champion status in a stunning four separate weight classes.
Marquez would fail in his first attempt at WBA featherweight gold, but four years later, he would break through in an IBF title fight with Manuel Medina — lodging a thunderous seventh round knockout win.
First fighting Pacquiao to split decision draw the following year, Marquez would once more avenge a prior loss to another rival — all the way later in 2012.
Landing one of the most hellacious and memorable knockouts of all time, Marquez felled Pacquiao with a sixth round one-punch knockout in Las Vegas.
6. Marco Antonio Barrera (67-7-1(1))
Enjoying a stunning run at the featherweight limit in his debut in the division at the turn of the century, Barrera would enjoy spoils at the weight class from the get-go.
Drawing the above-mentioned, ‘Prince’ Naseem in 2001, Barrera inflicted the Brit’s sole professional loss in a lopsided unanimous judging win.
And in the next two years, the Mexican would best the trio of Morales and Kelley, in between a win over Johnny Tapia.
However, failing in his pursuits of wins over both Pacquiao and the above-mentioned, Marquez, Barrera would again beat Morales and lodge back-to-back victories over Rocky Juarez before his career swansong at the end of the last decade.
5. Manny Pacquiao (62-8-2)
And set to return later this month in a title showdown at welterweight for the WBC crown against Mario Barrios, Pacquiao has one of the most longevity-laden careers in combat sports.
In 2003, Pacquiao began his featherweight title run with a penultimate round knockout of Barrera. And during that title reign, Pacquiao would beat Barrera, Marquez, and Morales — three names on this list before him.
With that run alone — never mind his welterweight and lightweight title victories in the years since, Pacquiao comfortably makes the top 5 of this rankings list.
4. Salvador Sánchez (44-1-1)
Another historic figure on this list of relatively newer-age fighters, is Mexican striker, Sánchez — who called time on his career just two years into the 80s.
But despite fighting just two years into the decade, Sánchez was one of the most active fighters at the featherweight limit of all time.
Winning WBC and The Ring featherweight crowns in 1980, Sánchez stopped Danny Lopez in a thirteenth round knockout. Defending the belt against Ruben Castillo, Patrick Ford, and Juan Laporte of note, Sánchez then added to his résumé with a host of other defenses.
With 32 knockout wins littered on his impressive record, Sánchez bowed out with a TKO win over Hall of Fame inductee, Azumah Nelson, in his retirement fight to retain his championships one final time.
3. Johnny Kilbane (49-6 (official record))
Once more forever immortalized for his contributions to boxing, Kilbane’s likeness has been turned into a statue on Achill Island, Mayo, in the Republic of Ireland, where his parents emigrated from.
In the ring, officially — Kilbane was revered as one of the best boxers of his generation, never mind just the featherweight limit.
Competing until the 1920s, Kilbane would end his career — almost on top. Winning the NYSAC (New York State Athletic Commission) in his penultimate outing, Kilbane stopped Danny Frush with a seventh round knockout in Ohio.
Despite defending the then-world featherweight championship on four occasions, Kilbane enjoyed — to this day, the longest reign as world champion at the weight class.
Until 1923, Kilbane held the championship at featherweight, since his initial reign began all the way back in 1912.
2. Henry Armstrong (151-22-10)
To this day, the late Armstrong is still within the boxing record books. The Mississippi native is the sole fighter in boxing history to hold featherweight, lightweight, and welterweight championship — simultaneously.
In 1937, Armstrong won the NBA, The Ring, and the NYSAC featherweight crown with a sixth round KO win over Peter Sarron at Madison Square Garden.
And despite his featherweight success, Armstrong would make a stunning leap to welterweight — a whole two divisions at the time, to take out Barney Ross — that of course, over the course of 15 professional rounds no less.
1. Willie Pep (229-11-1)
Boasting one of the longest professional boxing records of all-time, Connecticut native, Pep would win a stunning 229 separate professional boxing matches. But it doesn’t stop just there.
Fighting until 43 years of age, Pep enjoyed a long-time rivalry with fellow former world champion Sandy Saddler — finally breaking through with a decision win in 1949 to win the featherweight titles again.
Four years earlier, Pep would win the NBA featherweight crown — adding to his already-laid out title success at the weight class with a twelfth round knockout win over Sal Bartolo once more at Madison Square Garden.