Very close either way. I have Saldivar #3 all time @ FW & Sanchez #5. Saldivar: FW record (allows for contests staged a few lbs over in non title fights) = 36-3; was 35-1 FW lineal world title record = 9-2; was 9-0 Best wins - Ismael Laguna, Sugar Ramos, Howard Winstone x 3, Raul Rojas, Mitsunori Seki x 2, Jose Legra & Jonny Famechon Sanchez FW record = 44-1-1 (only loss was an SD aged 18 & draw came at age 19) FW lineal word title record = 10-0 Best wins = Danny Lopez x 2, Azumah Nelson, Ruben Castillo, Pat Ford (MD), Juan Laporte, Wilfredo Gomez, Pat Cowdell (SD) & Robert Castanon I think Saldivar's win resume just has a touch more depth, but there's virtually nothing in it, imo. Two locks for the greatest 6 x FWs of all time (if the criteria is solely based on fights contested at FW), imo, alongside Pep, Saddler, Attell & Dixon.
You see, Greg, I agree with you, and made this thread to seee how unpopular it was, because as you know, Sanchez is generally regarded as greater than Saldivar and nobody even think about it. I know in Mexico it is like that. Hate to say this, but Sanchez dying during his career creates a aura about him, much like Senna in F1.
I rank Saldivar higher, but it's so close, I'd no problem with someone rating Sanchez higher. I know what you mean about Sanchez, but still, 10-0 in lineal FW title fights, with wins of Lopez x 2, Nelson, Gomez & LaPorte, is more than a little decent without applying special consideration due to his tragic early death. There can't be many fighters with more impressive resumes by the time they were 23 & imo, no more than a max of 5 who had greater careers at FW, and possibly less, depending on your own criteria.
you ask hard questions. saldivar did more, with more. who proved themselves greater? saldivar for sure. who was better overall? sanchez imo.
Another prime of example of this is Gerald McCellean . Some on this site make him out to be some destructive force , but scrutinizing his opponents and where they were in their careers at the time he faced them and the fact of him landing haymakers on the only real live body he faced (Nigel Benn , who had been ko'ed by supposed much lighter punchers ) for 10rds and ultimately losing to him suggest to me his punching power is a little overrated.
I'm a big Sanchez fan , but I think Saldivar is underrated by most. Whew! I think I'd pick Vicente but would not bet a nickel .
I think Saldivar has the edge regarding resume but I think Sanchez looks a bit better on film. It's a pick em honestly.
