Sandoval was a better fighter before winning the title. When he did, he came back to Pomona and sat in a vacant shop in the mall and signed autographs. And ate, because many people showed their appreciation by bringing him food. I think that he was better overall than Pikin, and bigger, so he would probably win.
I think Robert would be too game for Sandoval. Think Sandoval has better skills but Robert would out gut him. Man his fight with Kid Akeem was something else. Don't think Sandoval could have pulled that off like Robert did.
Sandoval beat the Hell out of a far far better fighter than Kid Akeem to win the title. He wouldn't have had to struggle with Akeem the way Quiroga did. Jeff Chandler could smoke crack three minutes before the fight and beat Quiroga. Plus, I think Quiroga lost the Akeem fight. He also got a gift over Vincenzo Belcastro. They kinda had similar styles, but Sandoval was just a lot more talented, quicker, stronger, and harder punching than Quiroga.
Back then, that was exhilarating, to walk down to the mall to see world champion Richie Sandoval. I was 15 or 16 and I walked right by Albert Davila's house to get there.
Don't think Chandler was himself for the Sandoval fight. If memory serves came correct Sandoval got a controversial decision over Harold Petty- have to watch it again. Lets not forget Kid Akeem was a monster at that weight class 5'8 towering over everyone and he could punch. If not for the tragic outcome in that fight he had the potential to be a dominant force in that division. That fight was a complete war and BOTH fighters lost in the end due to the amount of punishment taken in that bout. Robert literally walked through Kid Akeem. Never seen Sandoval in that position so I don't know if he could take that kinda punishment. Fact of the matter is at the pro ranks Robert accomplished far more then Sandoval did at the end of the day. I agree that Sandoval had the more talent of the two but as you know that's only part of the game.
