Had Salvador Sanchez Lived?

He'd never have fought Arguello. By the time he could've moved up to 130 Arguello was already retired and had been fighting at 140.

 

he would likely had faced JCC at 130 at some point too.

 

I think he would've beaten Pedroza in a pretty clsoe fight. I don't think he would've been as available for Pedroza to roughhouse like he did to most fighters. I think Sanchez held an edge in speed, boxing ability, and probably power. Pedroza was a great fighter, Sanchez was just better.
I actually think Gomez could've survived the distance in a rematch. He certainly would've been a little more cautious and was a terrific boxer in his own right, but Sanchez had height and reach on him and would've outboxed him to a decision.
Moving up is the great unknown. Saying he'd jump all the weigh to 135 and beat Arguello is too much of a stretch for me without any supporting evidence at that weight or even 130. A very tall Patrick Ford gave him some problems at 126, so I'd have to think Arguello's height and reach would be a problem, not to mention the power. I'd have to say Arguello would've beaten him (but not easily).

 

I have great regard for Nelson, but I don't think any featherweight version of Nelson beats Sanchez. Sanchez had a tendency to fight to the level of his competition. I believe he would've risen to the ocassion against a little more experienced Nelson. I recently re-watched Nelson against Danilo Cabrera from '86 and I don't think that version would beat Sanchez.

 

.............I'm sure once I post this, Drew101's radar will perk up, and he'll be here to try to dissuade you, but I also see Sanchez edging out Pedroza in a unification match. Razor thin decision.

Gomez would put up a better fight the second time around. He was four pounds over at the weigh-in for their fight, and clearly thought he'd run the tables. He'd take the rematch more seriously and have better resiliency, which means Sanchez doesn't gun for a KO early like he did when they fought. Sanchez by decision this time; clear decision, but hard-earned.

Really difficult to say about any lightweight version of Sanchez; too much weight to pack on to automatically assume he could handle it and be the same fighter. The pick out of the gate is with the bigger man. Arguello by decision.

 

Not at all. The fight was already being discussed at the time Sanchez passed. Sanchez had brought the fight up and was very interested in it. He was thinking about jumping two divisions like Duran did.

 

I'm aware of that, I just don't see how it would've been done.

 

It would have had to happen fast, and if Sanchez chose that route Arguello would have undoubtedly waited for him to have a tuneup then fight. But yeah, Sanchez would have had to make up his mind pronto. Arguello had his own historical chase going on. I'd gues it was 70-30 of not happening.

Unknown to many Arguello himself announced interest of challenging SRL just before the latter retired. One mag actually penned a substancial sized open letter to Alexis pleading that he rethink.

 

I think Arguello would of been next:

Arguello WU15

Then I see him going down to 130 and fighting Mayweather:

Sanchez TKO10

Maybe Camacho next or perhaps more likely by 84 a step back up to Lightweight and a fight with Mancini

Sanchez WU15

 

I'd be looking to pit you two for a Classic Forum exhibition but having seen you both i think he's quite a bit above your weightclass

 

I'm in the minority on this, but I think Sanchez would've lost one of his next 2 bouts. Win the big one & lose the small one. He was like Lennox Lewis against the lesser opponents and had lots of struggles and very few A+ performances against those guys. And he was a different guy in there when he did show up with that B game. He had those A+ against elite competition only & I think he drops a decision to somebody not in his league. After that, he'd go on that "who needs this guy" type of potential opponent and would be avoided at all costs.