Salvador Sanchez
San Francisco, CA– There are legions of Mexican boxing fans that adore the late Salvador Sanchez. At the time of his death in 1982 that occurred while racing back to training camp after what amounted to a “booty” call and slamming into a truck loaded with chickens, Sanchez (42-1-1, 32 KOs) was the WBC featherweight (126 lbs) champion.
ANTONIO BECERRA HAS SOME “BRAGGING RIGHTS”
After going 18-0 with 17 whacks, Sanchez lost a split decision for the vacant Mexican bantamweight (118) title to Antonio Becerra in 1977. It would be Sal’s only loss. A bit of trivia, in 1979 Sanchez knocked out Felix Trinidad Sr. in five, he being the father of Puerto Rican icon Felix Jr. Besides a draw with Juan Escobar in 1978, getting dropped in the process, Sanchez’s resume is pristine.
TOOK WBC THRONE WITH FORCE
Defeating champion Danny “Little Red” Lopez (TKO 13) to snag the ‘BC diadem, Sal demolished “Little Red” in a rematch, this before beating Patrick Ford, Ruben Castillo, Juan Laporte, Roberto Castanon, and Nicky Perez, all top ten guys at the time, this before signing to fight Puerto Rican KO king Wilfredo Gomez. After a draw in his debut, Gomez was 32-0-1, 32 KOs.
BACK WHEN PROMOTERS PROMOTED FIGHTS!
Sanchez and Gomez would engage in Don King’s “The Battle of The Little Giants” in Las Vegas at the Caesars Palace Sports Pavilion in August 1981. Leading up toi the fight, Gomez was a 2-1 favorite in the betting parlors of Sin City. Then came the weigh in, the one where Gomez showed up at 130 for a 126 lb. title fight. Wilfredo would return to the scale twice, but he never made the weight. Officially, he was listed at 126 lbs.
GOMEZ BACKERS CHANGED THEIR WAGERS
With “wise guys” making a run on Sanchez, this after seeing Gomez’ weight woes, the odds drew closer come fight time. Gomez, knowing full well that he needed to stop Sanchez, he came out throwing bombs. On the flip side, so was Sanchez and the opening round kept the people on their feet, having never sat down after the introductions.
BEATEN AT SCALE, GOMEZ WAS STILL GAME
Gomez would suffer a fractured cheek bone in that round, still he fought on as gamely as an over matched fighter could. When it was all said and done, a TKO 8 win for Sanchez, he had slain the Puerto Rican fire breathing dragon. This would be Sal’s biggest win. With one more win in 1981 over Pat Cowdell (UD 15), Sanchez fought Jorge Garcia and in August 2002, he faced the great Azumah Nelson.
LAST FIGHT IN AUGUST 2002 VS. AZUMAH
Undefeated in just 13 fights, Azumah Nelson pushed Sanchez to the point where a possible upset was in the making, this before Salvador stopped a tired Azumah in round 15. This was his last fight as he died one month later.
TRAINING FOR ARGUELLO FIGHT THAT WOULD’VE BEEN BIG!
The big talk at the time of Sanchez’ death was a fight with then lightweight (135) kingpin Alexis Arguello, which obviously never occurred. Looking at his resume, when he became of age, Sal fought everyone there was. But was he that great a fighter? The win over Gomez wasn’t that telling because of Wilfredo’s weighty issues. Sanchez was life and death with Azumah for 14+ rounds, this when Nelson was green like quacamole.
WAS HE AS GREAT AS THEY CLAIM?
That being said, do we overrate Sanchez because he died at 23?
Pedro Fernandez