Salvador Sanchez #1 Pound for Pound

What were some of the signs that Sanchez had a lax attitude after Gomez? In what ways was he not consistent? I've never heard that about him.

 

On a side note..Sanchez had a certain spirit or intensity when he was fighting that was unique imo. Ray Arcel referred it as 'mental energy. Besides the physical skills, strength etc. It came through everytime I saw him fight. He seemed to love what he was doing and it showed because he did it better than anybody else.
I was a kid watching those fights and I didn't totally understand what I was watching but I knew somebody is gonna lose today but it won't be this BabyFaced kid here.

 

True. Outstanding win for Sanchez and shows his true quality as a fighter. Azumah had no name yet, unknown challenger, Sanchez probably didn't know that much about him if anything. Just another title defense. Then the bell rings and he feels Nelson's strength, awkwardness, agility. Azumah put it on him for awhile but Sanchez adjusted on the fly and took the fight back.
A rematch would have been very interesting. Nelson gained some experience but he paid to learn.

 

While I do respect other posters on this site, the right to their opinions, I believe that Salvador Sanchez would have been the best Featherweight Champion of all time had he lived. Death robbed him of that possibility as he died on August 12 1982 at the age of 23, due to that tragic auto accident prior to his 10th title defense scheduled for Sept 15 1982 against Juan La Porte in Madison Square Garden. I really believe he would have defeated WBA Featherweight Champion Eusebio Pedroza, of Panama, in a title unification bout. That fight would have gone the 15 round distance. A chess match in the early going, Sanchez would have outsmarted Pedroza down the stretch to outpoint him by close but unanimous decision. Salvador was very studious in the ring, was not a typical slugger, used lateral movement, had a good defense,, was a good counterpuncher, was a very clean fighter, unlike Pedroza, who received constant warnings for low blows and rabbit punches. Sanchez had incredible stamina, had an iron chin, very disciplined during training, very confident and fought better opposition during his title reign, Danny Little Red Lopez, Patrick Ford, Juan La Porte, Ruben Castillo, Roberto Castanon, Wilfredo Bazooka Gomez, Pat Cowdell, Rocky Garcia, and Azumah Nelson. Salvador would have defended against Mario Miranda, of Colombia, then as mentioned the title unification win over Pedroza, potential fight against Alexis Arguello at 130 lbs, Alexis as great as he was did have trouble against fighters who had lateral movement.

 

Danny 'Little Red' Lopez was at the top of his game when Salvador took the title from him. He was World Champion, well respected for his heart, stamina, punching power. Lopez was 27 years old.
Sanchez dominated him. Little Red took a rematch because he was a warrior but after the 2nd fight Danny knew he would never beat Sanchez. That is why he retired. He's one of those guys that had a plan to retire, financially responsible etc. Lopez wasn't shot or diminished to any great extent going into those fights.

 

I meant more so in his attitude in his performances. Not his training or anything, which was unquestionably spartan, or his win streak. He was such a composed, natural fighter with great ring sense, and I personally think he took some performances too laxly in the beginning of the bout, before upping the gears. For Gomez, Lopez etc. he was 100% switched on from the very start.

 

Don't get me wrong, not knocking Sanchez, I'm old enough to have saw his fights on TV as they happened. He was the real deal. He had everything one wants to see in a great fighter.
But so did Curry and Camacho Sr, at one point in their careers.
Another example is the Pat Ford fight, Sanchez struggle mightily against Ford, some actually thought Ford actually beat Sanchez and Sanchez received a gift dec. Ford's very next fight was against E.Pedroza , Pedroza beat Ford like he caught him breaking into his house. Pedroza beat him far more convincingly than Sanchez did. Their was no doubt who won.
Does it mean because of a common foe Pedroza was a better fighter? Of course not. But is it food for thought? Yes , it is. Especially since those fights were back to back. And one would think Fords confidence would be sky high after he was robbed ( Some opinions, not mine, I feel Sanchez pulled it out) against Sanchez .
What I'm pointing out is yes I believe Sanchez was a excellent fighter. But did he do enough in his career to be considered the GOAT P4p? No he didn't in my opinion, best featherweight in history? Personally I feel he was very close, but E.Pedroza could have proved He wasn't the best of his own era.
It's unfortunate fate had a different agenda and we never got the chance to see who was the better fighter. But we shouldn't just make Sanchez the GOAT, his history in the ring was incomplete.

 

I have to respectfully disagree

 

Really good post.