In the case of Salvador Sánchez, the boxing world will forever wonder: What if? Sanchez was the reigning WBC featherweight champion when he died in an auto accident on August 12, 1982. At only 23 years old he was in his prime and considered one of the best pound for pound fighters on the planet. Sanchez turned pro at 16 and won 17 of his first 18 fights by knockout. Tall and thin but with real power in both hands. But power was not his only weapon. He was a brilliant counterpuncher with sharp timing and accuracy, able to break down aggressive opponents with clean and punishing shots. In 1977 he lost a 12 round decision to Antonio Becerra for the vacant Mexican bantamweight title. That would be the first and last loss of his career. In 1980 he met popular WBC featherweight champion Danny “Little Red” Lopez, a hard hitting American who had made nine successful defenses. Sanchez picked Lopez apart with patience and precision, stopping him in the 13th round. Before the year was over he had defended the title four times, outpointing Ruben Castillo, stopping Lopez again in the 14th of their rematch, and beating both Patrick Ford and future champion Juan Laporte. In 1981 he faced the feared Wilfredo Gomez, the WBC junior featherweight champion who was unbeaten in 33 fights with 32 knockouts. Many thought Gomez would be too much. Instead, Sanchez dropped him in the first round and dominated the All-Time-Great until he was stopped in the eighth. His final fight came on July 21, 1982 at Madison Square Garden against a young Azumah Nelson. Nelson was aggressive and relentless but Sanchez broke him down and stopped him at 1:45 of the 15th round for his ninth title defense. Just three weeks later he was gone. Sanchez finished with a record of 44 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw with 32 knockouts. His career was short but his talent, composure and fighting spirit made him one of Mexico’s all time great champions. To this day, we still wonder how far he could have gone.
