Prime Salvador Sanchez vs Prime Alexis Arguello, 130 lbs, 15 rounds.

Sanchez was NOT like "Most" fighters. Barrera and Canelo (first two that come to mind) also started fighting at fifteen and they were more complete fighters in their mid to late 20s. You're probably putting Sanchez in the Wilfredo Benitez category, and I get that, but I would argue that Sanchez was a cut above all the fighters I just mentioned.

 

Fair enough I suppose. Of course I'm also factoring in the idea that his attention was already being somewhat diverted by a potential career change to medicine, to which Sanchez himself said at the time would probably allow him one more year in the game. Of course you can never believe a fighter who says he's going to retire, but it's hard to keep that razor's edge of performance and training that long with distractions. Or even without them.

 

If Sal Sanchez' stamina remained the same at 130 as it did at 126, I would bet the house on Sanchez. Sanchez was more fluid, faster, and a better boxer than Arguello. Arguello threw good straight punches, but he was a flat-footed boxer. He out banged everyone because he was the naturally bigger man. I mean, come on, he was what...5'10"? He was the Diego Corrales of that era. However, the biggest factor here would be Sanchez turning Arguello and never letting him set up to unleash his bombs. Arguello may have had more pop in his punches, but Sanchez' chin was pretty damn durable and would withstand the few punches Arguello would get in. I see Arguello's plodding style similar to Danny "Lil Red" Lopez and Sanchez winning a unanimous decision or perhaps a late stoppage.

 

Prime vs. Prime, have to go with the proven Arguello at 130. If I remember correctly, Sanchez's only fight at 130 was against Nicky Perez. That's not enough to convince me of anything.

If the fight had happened in real time though, and it had been talked about before Sanchez died, and if it was at 130 rather than 135, I'd pick Sanchez because I don't think Arguello could have made the weight at that point in his life without major difficulty.