Classic's thoughts on Sal Sanchez II vs. Tomas Villa

This looks to be the bright spot of the upcoming Latin Fury PPV this weekend, and it would be nice to hear people sound off on what should be a real dark horse. The General Forum doesn't deserve a thread like this, as they'll just ignore it while rehashing the same circuitous arguments.

Besides - I figure some Classic posters can also bring a bit of historical perspective, having maybe seen Sal's uncle coming up and doing a little contrast-and-compare. Obviously the apple fell far enough from the tree (or the tree's sibling, anyway) that there isn't greatness evident in the kid, but he's still a capable boxer-puncher with a mean streak when it comes to the body, and knows how to put on a show.

Villa, for his part, is a no-quit punch-his-guts-out type who pushed Rogers Mtagwa to the absolute brink before Mtagwa did the very same to the hyped Juan Manuel Lopez.

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Common opponent: trial horse Trinidad Mendoza, who Sanchez knocked out in three (as seen above), and Villa stopped via TKO in the 6th.

 

Yep, Sanchez basically fought scared all six rounds. He would stop running when Villa walked him into the ropes and throw quick little pitty-pat combinations, Ottke-style (but nowhere near as busy, and not enough to outscore Villa), to confuse Villa long enough for him to get back to running. The smaller Villa just kept him on his heels and whacked him around like a cat with a mouse. It was kind of embarrassing to watch the kid blow an opportunity like this as he's clearly got some talent if not much; he later stated that he broke his hand in the second round. :conf

Thankfully Villa got the nod, and on all three cards. Often in those kinds of circumstances the right thing isn't done.