Salvador Sanchez - Underrated?

August 12 1982.

 

Nah. I wouldn't say underrated by any stretch. The fact is we never saw him prime even. Clearly had great attributes and skill and I believe that he would have had an ATG career but we will never really know for sure. I think like with musicians and actors who die young there is a tendency for people to over inflate but Salvidor was the real deal.

 

I remember when Salvador Sanchez won the WBC Featherweight Title on Feb 2 1980, I was at my monthly Air National Guard Drill that weekend. Another guy came running in the Motor Pool, and told us that Sanchez had stopped champion Danny Little Red Lopez in the 13 th round in Phoenix, Arizona. A week later I saw it on network television, Sanchez was very impressive, he was not a slow stereotypical Mexican fighter who was known for a good left hook to the body. He bounced around and counterpunched his adversary, used good head movement, was cool calm and collected in the ring. About 2 months later Sanchez defended his title with a unanimous 15 round decision over Ruben Castillo in my hometown on a nationally televised title bout. Then in June 1980 Sanchez again stopped Lopez in round 14 to retain his title. Sanchez fought tougher competition than his WBA counterpart Eusebio Pedroza, Patrick Ford, Juan La Porte, (two Pedroza victims) Wilfredo Gomez, Pat Cowdell, Rocky Garcia, Roberto Castanon, and stopped future legend Azumah Nelson in round 15 in Madison Square Garden in his last title defense on July 21 1982. Sadly Sanchez was killed in a tragic automobile accident on August 12 1982. He was a classy individual, he was not boastful, a good sport before and after a fight. A good example on how a champion should conduct himself in public, was very dedicated in the gym, took any and all opponents seriously. He may have achieved further stardom had he lived.

 

Better than Chavez, not for me buddy, have them 1/2 in Mexican best, after them its , Canelo ( I suppose ) Olivares, Zarate, Saldivar, in what order you feel they should be rated.
stay safe hombre.

 

Tough call but his greater versatility and defence swing it for me. High level boxing IQ. I absolutely wish we had seen a rematch between him and Uncle Azumah Nelson in 1984 rather than being a last minute under prepared substitute . What a fighter, what a man. Arguably the greatest featherweight in history.

 

Agreed buddy, as to the No 1 prob have him Saddler, Pedroza, Saldivar, in the mix for 1/2/3 thinking Pep might be too small and slight to trouble Sanchez, but no arguments a truly great fighter whose best we prob didn't see, shame.
stay safe amigo. chat soon.

 

We have an idea via the long distinguished career of Azumah who is in the argument for greatest feather and super featherweight in history.

 

Azumah was a true great. I'd be proud to call him my Uncle.

 

So am I.

 

He had some big tests ahead of him. He's an ATG absolutely but no-where near top 10 P4P. Well inside the top 10 Featherweights of course.

He and Pedroza, who actually reigned concurrently would have been an even money match. You could easily argue Pedroza is the underrated one. Sal seemed to be notably less brilliant against guys that weren't aggressive. Absolutely thrived on come forward fighters and bangers with that chin and beautiful counter punching (Lopez/Gomez) and he could go hard all night long.

Nelson was very green (just 13 fights under his belt and 4 of those were on debut whilst another 7 had 6 wins or less) when Sal beat him in a top fight.

He was about to go up in the weights where some stern tests were waiting. Great fighter tho and certainly very skilled as Jones stated.

 

Damn.
Would have been 62-63 with who knows what kind of record & accomplishments under his belt..

 

He is sort of in an odd place. Some might say overrated because he did to an extent get mythicized the way all talented individuals who die young do in the public eye, but at the same time, that glimpse of his prime that we did get suggests that his ceiling was very high - and to become a consensus ATG over such a short time should leave most agog, but his name doesn't come up quite as often as you'd expect (not saying it never does, obviously - just, not as often as some who did less over longer).

 

Azumah is not his uncle

Well you can call him uncle cause hes as much your uncle as he is the uncle of that clown and as much as Joe Gans is my uncle.

 

Ray Leonard is considered an ATG, and he had 40 bouts under his belt. Yes, he fought longer than Sanchez but really he went on way past his due by date.

So my question would be...wouldn't it be reasonable to put Sanchez at about the same level as SRL on any all time list?

 

By far the best boxer in history if we take the resume before 25 years.