New Thread - Salvador Sanchez - What Happens Next

Sal Sanchez was gonna do a rematch in Sept. of '82 against former victim Juan LaPorte. Sanchez would've beaten the hard punching but limited skilled LaPorte again, and then perhaps would've moved up to 130 pounds to either beat the chit outta Bazooka Limon or Bobby Chacon for the 130 lb. WBC title... Since Chacon beat Limon in very late 1982, I see "Sanchez-Chacon" happening in May of 1983, instead of Bobby doin' the rematch with Corny Boza-Edwards.... Money talks......:good

MR.BILL

 

NAW! Nelson was still a solid 126 pounder until 1986 or so, while Sanchez was gearing for a rematch with Juan LaPorte in the fall of 1982. I think Sanchez would've moved up to fight Bobby Chacon in 1983 at 130 pounds... The MONEY would've been too good to resist..... Chacon was roughly SEVEN long years older than Sal Sanchez, and Sanchez knew he'd hammer the aging warrior at any rate... Plus, the name CHACON was much bigger than Azumah Nelson in 1983.... Money talks....:happy

MR.BILL

 

If he got by Pedroza, a BIG if, then he would probably take one of the JLW belts, most likely from Limon.I don't know if he would beat Boza, or Camacho, and I think Mayweather had the potential to beat him.But he wins more than he loses.Lightweight, I think he could probably take O'Grady, possibly Mancini, though an Arguello, Kenty, and Davis Jr. would beat him.

 

Sal was a smart guy interested in attending medical school. If he eventually did decide to pursue that, he wouldn't have been likely to stick around for Chavez. Beyond that, the WBC's elimination of the championship distance is something he may not have put up with. He was conditioned and geared for 15 rounds.

When he died, there didn't appear to be much for him. Only Arguello was being seriously discussed as a super fight against a new opponent. Sal wasn't even acknowledging Pedroza, and Sanchez was a much bigger name in the US than El Alacran. The press was largely advising him against going after Alexis.

At 130, Boza Edwards, Limon, Navarrete and Chacon carried very serious firepower and had evolved into a core of hard bitten veterans. Then, Camacho came along, and this was Hector's best weight. Sal never had any problems making 126, the money was excellent, and he enjoyed as much fame as any boxer in the States could without speaking English. LaPorte II would again have brought him an international audience, and I think he'd still be holding his FW belt after the Gomez-Pintor classic. Sal would win Gomez II after all that Lupe took out of Wilfredo in New Orleans.

However, Sal died tragically on August 12, 1982. Mancini-Kim took place on November 13. I have a hard time seeing Sanchez competing in 12 round title bouts, and again, the loss of those three key rounds would deprive him of a critical advantage, the thing which made him most special, something he took great pride in. With Gomez and the rematch with Little Red, he achieved absolute acceptance as a champion, and really had nothing then left to prove in the minds of English speaking fans. Then, after his death, his stature actually grew as his true heir, Nelson, embarked upon his own long championship career.

Taking into account his discipline and training habits, Sal probably could have gone on about as long as he cared to. Take away the championship distance though, and I'm not convinced he sticks around much past the year he died, if at all.

 

I honestly think he peaked young, and given his experience/the caliber of fights he was already in, methinks he wouldn't have remained at the world stage for more than a few more years, tops. Especially when you consider the possible matchups and their consequences with the likes of Pedroza, Arguello, etc. on the horizon.

 

I agree with this stance. People keep saying "Oh, what he would have had in front of him at only 23," but it's about how many hard fights you've had, and how often you've put yourself through the grind, not necessarily how old you are. He was a seasoned eight-year pro veteran, and I don't think he could have gone on for maybe more than two years, tops. Not at that sharp edge.

 

the route he wouldve went is hard to say but i belive he wouldve beaten all of the men you mentioned including chavez/whitaker

 

Because of the money issue and possible ducking, he doesn't fight Pedroza, beats LaPorte in the rematch, then moves up to beat either Chacon, or Limon.I can't really say that he takes Mayweather, Camacho would be a serious risk, and there is a good chance if he hung around 130 after a year, he would have a loss, ruining his chance for Arguello.

 

Arguello would've beaten him.

 

:-(

 

Howard Cossell did an obituary/euguly of Salvador Sanchez, suguesting that retirement was not too far away.

 

A Nelson rematch would have been an absolute thriller.

 

Some kind of phenomenal, for sure.

Sanchez goes down as the #1 Featherweight.