Who is the greatest Mexican fighter and why? Who would win head to head if they fought at 130 or any catchweight? JCC was great, but I pick Sanchez on both counts. He was complete as a fighter as I've ever seen (I wasn't alive for SRR).
Julio Cesar Chavez is the greater fighter. Salvador Sanchez was a hell of a fighter, but gets too much credit on the "what might've been" thing. To be honest, I'm not even sure he was the best featherweight in the world when he died.
JCC of course 3 division champion, pound for pound king for almost 4 years straight, and beat great number of very good fighters. Undefeated for 14 years and didn't lose until after his prime. Head to Head at 130? it would have been quite a sight.
Julio Cesar Chavez More quality wins, despite the best names on both resumes being Gomez and Nelson. Started 88-0, finished 108-6, won titles in 3 weight classes. Sanchez could have become the best though, but I don't think he should be ranked based on "what might have been?" At 130, I would go with Salvador Sanchez by a hair. I think he could have dealed with Chavez at 130 and his counterpunching, defense, and overall skillset would have seen him through to a close decision.
I agree with 4Rounder. Sanchez gets a little too much credit for what could have been. Just look at Vargas. Suppose he had been killed in a car crash after his fight with Quartey. People would be hyping the **** out of him forever. Youngest 154 champion of all time, wins of Wright and Quartey, undefeated and on a collision course with Tito Trinidad for just his 20th pro fight. In the case of the 2 fighters being compared here, one lived on to be truly great. One died before reaching his full potential.
Exactly. Sanchez was a great fighter, no doubt, but gets way overrated - it's kind of like the Jim Morrison or Jack Kennedy effect. Dying young often results in somebody getting overrated.
Both are great fighters IMO and both are part of my all time favorite but we can't compare the two and make a judgement because Chava died while on his peak and has never had a long career like JCC. But on the head to head issue I'll pick JCC over Chava at 130 or any other weight higher than 126. Take note that Chava is a NATURAL 126 pounder while JCC started his career at 130. And also take note that Chava went down ONCE against Juan Escobar while Chavez went undefeated until he reaches 140 and suffered his first KD and SD loss against Frankie Randal.
In terms of overall accomplishment Chavez gets a slight nod. But, just going on what my eyes told me, Sanchez was the better fighter of the two. Chavez had a lot of walkover fights in his career. Too many to give much credence to the 100+ wins thing. I also think that Lopez, Gomez and Nelson were bigger wins at the 130 and under range than Chavez's in that weight range. Chavez's biggest wins were in the over 130 category but it's also where he had his biggest defeats.
gettin up for fight afta fight is a good accomplishment! u cant take that away from nobody. stayin in shape for every fight! fighters nowadayz wont be able to do that! its a great feat on its own.
uh bad comparrison SAL already had like 43 wins and beaten great fighters with with out any doubts. vargas hadn't beaten anybody except winky and ike and winky was close plus sanchez was complete and actually won against his trinadad
chavez fought a bum every other week because it was his style 2 stay sharp...old school ...i think certain type fighters can be brought along well like this...comparing sal 2 vargas is a bit of a stretch
If you take away Gomez (going up in weight) and Nelson (had about 15 fights at the time) who did Sanchez beat? I'll agree that the discipline and skills were there, but would of, should of, could of, does not prove the unknown. We know the JCC was the real deal, if not ask Camacho, Taylor and many others :?