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

 

I'm not saying Pep didn't do his own fouling.

But what I'm saying is overall would those tactics be allowed in the 1980s ?

As I said before I know Pedroza was known as a crafty fighter who could be dirty at times.

But surely the fouling in the Pep fights was on a different level that wouldn't fly in the more modern era of boxing ?

I also think Saddler being the aggressor suits Sanchez's style more.

Sanchez liked fighters who come towards him where he could exhibit his fantastic boxing skills and countering abilities.

It's when Sanchez had to lead on the front foot he struggled more against the likes of Ford, Castillo.

I think stylistically Pep would be more of a problem for Sanchez with his elusive boxing style.

Rather than an aggressive come forward fighter like Saddler which suits Sanchez's style more.

 

Rummy, I could not see any way this was not going the distance. Both solid chins, both knowing their way around the ring, etc. This matchup has been in my head since I was in my teens. Although never a super fan of Sanchez, I always thought his counter-punching style would serve him well in this encounter. It was the bangers he shone against (Lopez, Gomez, Laporte) but I felt it was the boxers he had issues with (Castillo, Ford, Cowdell). The only way I could see an abbreviated end to this contest is the aforementioned dirty fighting that Saddler was known for. And if anyone thinks that statement is too oft-used with Sandy, one only has to read the writeups on so many of his fights. Almost every fight there is an infraction or a statement by the opponent citing unlawful tactics by Saddler. Now of course, we can assume he would have to clean up his act in this more modern, foul unforgiving era, however, the proclivity of these fouls in almost every write-up does suggest something more inherent than something he's thinking through. That being said, I'm leaning towards Sanchez on a very close decision.

 

The last Sadddler-Pep fight degernated into a foul-fest. You’re acting like that’s a typical Saddler fight and he would be DQ’d for such tactics against Sanchez, but there’s no reason to think a fight with Sanchez would be anything like the fourth Pep fight.

 

It wasn't just the 4th fight though the 3rd fight was also a foul filled fight.

Saddler was also known in general as a dirty fighter not just because of the Pep fights.

Would the referee let Saddler use that many rough house tactics in the 1980s ? It depends.

I know Pedroza used alot of rough house tactics against LaPorte and some feel he was a bit lucky not to be DQed but he also had 3 points deducted aswell.

Different eras.

But regardless I think Sanchez's counter punching style would be more effective against the aggressive Saddler rather than a tricky elusive fighter like Pep.

Styles make fights.

 

It goes the distance, but Saddler’s strength and especially his awkwardness win the day here. Sanchez will probably have some success late but it won’t be enough.

 

Although I favour Saddler I don't think he'd win as decisively as some do. He had traits to frustrate and trouble Sanchez absolutely. His effective use of his height and reach, crippling body punching, rough inside fighting and durability. Sanchez did struggle quite a bit with the taller Ford as others have mentioned but I think it's important to mention that Ford was more of a rangy out boxer with a focus on scoring points than Saddler. He fought a very disciplined fight, wouldn't mix it up as much in the mid and close range and didn't press forward as much, which left Sanchez with less counter opportunities. Against an aggressive guy like Saddler I think Sal would be given more in the way of offensive opportunities. would have more opportunities to land big counters if he could figure out the patterns of Saddlers attack which are less predictable and more unconventional than the attack sequences of somebody like Little Red Lopez.
Still, Sanchez although very good defensively, was certainly no Willie Pep. Saddler would be able to find Sanchez just as much as Sanchez could find him and I think for the most part he would dominate on the inside and in the clinches as usual. His body work would slow Sanchez down and his inside fighting would stifle much of Sal's offense.

For the early fight I think Saddler largely befuddles Sanchez and takes most rounds. Backing him into corners and unloading on him. Sanchez struggles to get around his guard.

Mid fight I think Sanchez gets himself back into the fight and manages to string together some big counters on a semi consistent basis. Stands his ground more times Saddler's entries to get shots off.

Late fight I think they're both going at it. Sanchez landing the bigger shots, but Saddler landing more and still trapping Sanchez on the ropes at times and being able to land hard combinations. Fight might almost resemble the first GGG Canelo fight. Puncher trucking forward and being more consistent with their work, while the counter puncher fights mostly off the backfoot but and picks their spots to come out with big fast counters and combinations.

I see the fight going to the cards. Who deserves the win depends on if you value the bigger more eye-catching counters of Sanchez, to the consistent aggression, body work and inside fighting of Saddler. Both guys have more than enough toughness and determination to give the other hell despite whatever stylistic disadvantages they may have, but I do think Saddler with his awkward combination of size, strength, aggression and inside fighting wins the day.