FANTASY FIGHT: Sandy Saddler vs. Salvador Sanchez (15 Rounds/Poll)

This is a tough fight to call. Had Sanchez lived long enough to fight a guy like Eusebio Pedroza we would have gotten a much better idea on how he handles dirty fighters. At first glance you would have to favor Sanchez just based on styles since he was a counterpuncher who relied on his opponents aggression and Saddler was indeed a come forward aggressor but he was more than just that though. He was tall, powerful hitter, very physically strong, durable, endless stamina and also a great rough in-fighter. I would think that Saddler would be able to impose himself well even against a master counterpuncher like Sanchez to make this a nightmare for him. When Saddler lost to Pep and Elorde they had to fight their best performance that they could muster against him where Pep boxed masterfully on the back foot while Elorde swarmed in and out and outworked Saddler. Yet Saddler still ended up beating both of them in the next fights, where he defeated Pep 3x out of 4 and also stopped Elorde in their rematch. Sanchez didn't have the fleet foot speed and outboxing like Pep or Elorde. And let's not forget that Sanchez also had tough moments against a taller Patrick Ford and a green Nelson who gave him all he could handle with his relentless style.

Sanchez looked like someone who should have the advantage stylistically but even on his best night I'm not sure if he would be able to keep a guy like Saddler off of him without succumbing to his dirty fighting and brutal punishment on the inside down the stretch. Vote goes to Saddler in a hard fought fight.

 

Sanchez was an exceptional fighter but people forget his highlight reel wins aside he mad some challenging fights as champion including Azumah .. over 25 I like Sandy by decision .. he was a nasty fuc-er and I think he'd get into Sanchez's head in the mid to late rounds.

 

Around 1990, Ring magazine had this same fantasy fight in their section “ battle of the legends.” One of the panel members, Bob Sherrick said that Sanchez wasn’t a great fighter and that Saddler would have stopped him early. It was the same Bob Sherrick who picked Billy Conn to stop Michael Spinks . Right or wrong, Sherrick’s bias toward fighters who never fought on color film was atrocious.

 

Saddler could certainly fight dirty.

But do not kid yourself. Willie fought every bit as dirty against him in the third and fourth meetings and it degenerated into a street fight.

Sandy would fight you til hell froze over, then he’d fight you on the ice.

EDIT: Refreshing my memory, it was Pep who was penalized a point (although both surely could have been deducted more than once) and when it was over, the NYSAC revoked Pep’s license while Sandy’s was merely suspended.

That indicates to me that Pep fought dirtier.

 

I backed Sanchez to win but rethinking it, this is probably 50/50. Sadler could punch and was only stopped once in like 150 fights. He’s ranked as one of the best fighters of the 20th century.

 

While I pick Saddler to win; there's certainly some things which Sandy does often which Sanchez can exploit. He'd have to come with answers ready for at least:

- The long guard into the double handfight and the jab
- That horrible wide right hook which McGrain speaks of
- Find a way to free the hands or find breaks in the clinch
- Managing to navigate distance while not winding up on the ropes.

If Sanchez came out willing to handfight with Saddler, he could punish the long guard with straight punches to the body; feints, bobbing as a feint and moving forward into the guard with angled, wider punches. If Sanchez also treated Saddler's physical controls like punches (and so defends them appropriately) then he could also make the transition from out at arm's reach to up close and personal much smoother.

The wide hook to the body is a either a very tough punch to counter, or a very easy one. It could be as easy as shooting fish in a barrel, but I suspect with Saddler, it's a case of two of his being equal to five of yours. So the issue is finding a counter which doesn't open you up for his original punch. Uppercuts work if you start with your hands low, but I think Sanchez would be well served to work a very tight left hook to the body.

In theory, Sanchez could make use of his bladed stance to stab his shoulder into Saddler, keep his hands and elbows tight to himself and shrug off clinch attempts; bobbing under them when necessary. Pep also used Elbow Passes and Arm Drags to reposition himself and get off the ropes. I don't think I've ever seen Sanchez do this though, so it's a real shot in the dark.

With straight shots to the chest; sensible, paced movement and the occasional burst forward in order to give Saddler some pause, I think he can likely keep the fight where he wants it for long periods of time. At range, though; Sanchez would have to find answers to the attritional work Saddler did here.


I'd say I don't know that he can accomplish any of those singular goals; let alone all of them or enough to win, but I think these would be the keys to a Sanchez win. I suppose it just comes down to whether or not you think he can work this better than Pep did.

 

Voting getting closee