I always favor Duran at LW, however, I don't think we got to see the best of Sal. Like Tony Ayala, a star on the rise whose career was tragically cut short, only Sal couldn't have helped it....
Roberto Duran was a GREAT 135 pounder and Salvador Sanchez was a GREAT 126 pounder.... BUT!! Yes.. Sanchez, had he lived on, would've gone to 130 & 135 pounds by 1985 / '86..... At 5' 9 " tall, Sal Sanchez would easily fit in as a lightweight..... Now, 140 would be a tuff call on Salvador Sanchez.... We'll never know for sure...... At any rate, in a time machine, I give Sal Sanchez a real chance at upsetting Roberto Duran at 135 pounds... But at 140 to 147 pounds? NO WAY, JOSE!! Physically speaking, Roberto Duran was stronger than Sanchez, and Duran had better KO power..... Sanchez was more of a surgeon who'd wear down his victims.... Duran at 135, would tear apart a *******o, before kayoing him hard.... Peace... MR.BILL:happy
I don't think Sanchez would ever have gotten better than he was. He would almost certainly have moved up in weight, and I personally don't see too many advantages for Sanchez in this fight over prime Duran, who would clearly win either by UD, or possibly a late stoppage over 15 rounds.
I can't disagree with this assessment. Sanchez was great and I think he would have given a good account of himself. But jump 2 weight classes and beat arguably the greateat Lightweight ever? I can't see that.
Salvador sanchez would easily make 130 & 135 pounds without putting any fat on his body.... Hell, at the higher weights, Sanchez may've gotten a bit stronger and increased his punching power, as well.?.? Beating Roberto Duran would be a stretch for Savador Sanchez, but I can picture Salvador Sanchez out-boxing the slow but powerful Alexis Arguello at 130 or 135 pounds...
Duran clearly defeats a Sanchez that never fought at LW at LW a better match-up is if you have Sanchez come up 4 lbs to fight a Duran that TKO'ed Ernesto Marcel at 130 lbs
Sanchez is one fighter who stylistically does well imo here, but the size and ultimate class of Duran would tell as it progresses i think. The struggle for leverage when initiating exchanges would go is way as the bout wears on i think.
Sal was an excellent counter puncher with superb speed, but I don't see him having the kind of power necessary to keep Duran off. Lopez and Gomez did not share El Cholo's punch resistance, with respect to either chin or facial damage. This would probably look a good deal like Duran-Buchanan.
I couldnt think of a worse fighter to move up in weight and fight than a young Lightweight version of Duran.
It will be Duran true to form with the usual slow relentless case of breaking Sal up which wil accelerate from 9/10 onwards, i don't see him making the distance, TKO 12 or about.
I think Sanchez would carry the 135lbs very well, it may have been a blessing for him. So lets say hypothetically Sanchez carry's 135lbs brilliantly and is a strong at the weight. I still don't see him winning, Duran's superior defense, straighter punches, power, jab and speed would see him beat Sanchez. Sanchez's movement, pressure, would see him make it a hard fight for Duran, but ultimately he'd fail. Sanchez beats Arguello though, too much movement, angles, speed, workrate
After facing Duran, Sanchez would rather have run into a truck. Oh yeah, he did. Anyway, had he lived, Arguello would have KO'd him.