Antonio Becerra 'The Only Boxer to Defeat Salvador Sanchez'

Friday Night - September 9, 1977

Mazaltan, Mexico

For the 'vacant' Mexican Bantamweight Championship

The undefeated and 'highly regarded' 18 1/2 year-old - Salvador Sanchez at 18-0-0 (17 KO's),
was ranked as the #1 Mexican Bantamweight.

Antonio Becerra, a 21 year-old 'straight-forward brawler', was ranked as the #2 Mexican
Bantamweight, and had a record of 25-2-0 (17 KO's).

The bout was held in Mazaltan, which was Antonio Becerra's 'home-town', on the Central-West
coast of Mexico.

What Antonio did to the 'undefeated' Wunderkind, was back him up, and pin Salvador to the ropes,
where he banged away at Salvador's mid-section for the entire bout. Antonio prevented Salvador
from using his great ring movement, and superior boxing skills.

Antonio did dominate many of the rounds, with crisper punching, and was clearly the stronger
boxer in the ring, as Salvador faded down the stretch, as a result of the constant pressure
put upon him by Antonio.

Antonio Becerra won a 12-Round Split-Decision.

Based upon reports from those who witnessed the bout, there were some who had questioned
Salvador's heart, as he was in 'survival-mode' in several of the rounds, and was unwilling to
exchange with Antonio when the fighting got difficult.

 

In defense of Salvador,

That bout was held in Antonio Becerra's hometown, and it was a 'closely fought'
12-Rounder.

If it were held in Salvador's hometown, it probably would have been called a 'Draw'.

Becerra, a hard puncher that had a good left hook to the body, came on strong in
the later rounds, after forcing Salvador to fight at a fast-pace in the first-half of
the bout.

By Round 9, Salvador looked tired, and had to spend the last 3-Rounds with his back
against the ropes, as he had 'no legs'.

 

I have Rounds 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the 'Antonio Becerra vs Salvador Sanchez' bout.

Antonio was a 'tough-bull'.

Salvador landed some good punches on Antonio's head early in Round 9, but the tough
kid from Mazaltan just walked through the punches, and whacked Salvador's body hard
during the last 'minute' of the round.

Round 9 was 'close', and could have been scored 'Even'.

But the last '3-Rounds' were solidly for Antonio Becerra.

From what I can surmise, Salvador was slightly ahead after '8-Rounds'.

 

Antonio Becerra's Mexican Bantamweight 'reign' was short-lived.

On November 11, 1977 - just 9-weeks after defeating Salvador Sanchez, he
defended his Championship versus #9-ranked Mexican Bantamweight -
Hector 'Young Casanova' Medina.

In the Challengers hometown of Ciudad Obregon -

The 19 year-old - Hector Medina, a short 5' 2" 'slugger' with a record of
18-9-1 (5 KO's) 'out-slugged' the Champion - Antonio Becerra over
12-Rounds.

Antonio Becerra dropped to 26-3-0.

 

Only the last '4-Rounds'.

Only scorecard I found was one that had Antonio Becerra as a
116-115 (5-4-3 in Rounds) winner.

After the bout, Antonio Becerra was ranked as the #10 WBC Bantamweight in their November 1977 ratings.