Minimumweight, also known as mini flyweight, light flyweight, or strawweight that tops out at 105 pounds. The division actually started, not in the professional ranks but rather in the Olympics. The weight class was not recognized in profesional boxing until 1987. when the IBF sanctioned Kyung-Yun Lee as its title holder. The WBC, the WBA, and the WBO quickly fell in line and inagurated their own 105 pound division.

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The division originally produced a number of excellent fighters like Hi Yong Choi, Ivan Calderon, but the 105-pounders failed to capture the attention of mainstream boxing fans. It wasn't until the Minimumweight's first truly great fighter, Ricardo Lopez, "El Finito", came along. By the end of his career, Lopez had breached the "best in boxing history" instead of just in the division.

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If you wonder what Lopez did to deserve such an honor consider that (1) he is the only fighter in the weight class to hold two major titles, holding the light-flyweight crown, along with the minimumweight bauble, (2) finished his career undefeated at 51-0-1, and (3) won all 21 of his title defenses.

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The draw on Lopez' sterling record came about when Lopez faced another excellent 105-pound boxer, Rosendo Alvarez. Lopez narrowly avenged the draw by earning a split decision in the rematch. For Alvarez to hold the great "El Finito" to a draw (which, of course, many felt Alvarez had won) and then to lose by a split decision spells out Rosendo's talents. Had Lopez not been around, Rosendo Alvarez might be considered the best minimumweight of all time.

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Chayaphon Moonsri, also known by the name of Wanheng Meenayothin, recently retired (1922) with a record of 55-3-0 with 19 wins by way of knockout.

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The division is still relatively ignored, in part because it remains the only division never to have had an American World Champion. The minimumweights are the domain of fighters from Latin American and Asia, nationalities that produce smaller than average men. 

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