Salvador Sanchez VS Living Legend Marquez at 126

[Prada]

Who wins and why?

[Idisagree]

The edge is clearly on Sanchez side. Sanchez was a great counter-puncher boxer with power and very underrated defense. Not to mention Sanchez had great stamina and had the better chin to boot. Marquez would have stood his ground and fought valiantly but Sanchez would've won a clear decision.

[Ezzard]

Very few boxers can adapt in the ring as well as Sanchez could. Over 15 rounds Sanchez would be a difficult opponent for any featherweight.

Marquez is a great fighter too. I just think sanchez does everything better.

We're talking about a truly great fighter (Marquez) against a guy who is gold standard, a fighter you can talk about alongside Pep and Saddler.

[Goodnight, Irene]

Very few boxers can adapt in the ring as well as Sanchez could. Over 15 rounds Sanchez would be a difficult opponent for any featherweight.

Marquez is a great fighter too. I just think sanchez does everything better.

We're talking about a truly great fighter (Marquez) against a guy who is gold standard, a fighter you can talk about alongside Pep and Saddler.

That chin. That endurance. That calmness in battle.

Rare qualities, indeed. To the extent which Sanchez possessed these (his three greatest attributes, IMO), they were truly special.

Incidentally, Marquez is also a superb in-ring adaptation expert. It would be a great spectacle to watch each man set out with a gameplan, think, adjust, & re-adjust, six or seven times over the course of a fight I'd expect to see the later rounds. I'd be pulling for Marquez all the way, here, but I can't say I'd fancy his chances. Keep in mind, however, a green Nelson ran Sanchez fairly close. A prime Marquez was better than a 14-0-0 Nelson.

[Diamond WEAPON]

Marquez wins simply by virtue of really being a Lightweight in the classic sense. He was naturally heavier than Sanchez, who actually had to be a Featherweight WHEN he fought. This is why I hate these very modern vs. classic matchups, it's largely apples to oranges. In reality a fight that's closer to "fair" in the sense of size would be Chavez-Marquez, since Julio was around before the advent of massive weight drains.

Even given the size disadvantage, Sanchez would still give Marquez absolute hell just by virtue of pure quality of his skill which transcends weight, as well as his abnormal speed and strength for the class. Juan's extra natural heft I think nicks it for him though.

[Ezzard]

Very few boxers can adapt in the ring as well as Sanchez could. Over 15 rounds Sanchez would be a difficult opponent for any featherweight.

Marquez is a great fighter too. I just think sanchez does everything better.

We're talking about a truly great fighter (Marquez) against a guy who is gold standard, a fighter you can talk about alongside Pep and Saddler.

That chin. That endurance. That calmness in battle.

Rare qualities, indeed. To the extent which Sanchez possessed these (his three greatest attributes, IMO), they were truly special.

Incidentally, Marquez is also a superb in-ring adaptation expert. It would be a great spectacle to watch each man set out with a gameplan, think, adjust, & re-adjust, six or seven times over the course of a fight I'd expect to see the later rounds. I'd be pulling for Marquez all the way, here, but I can't say I'd fancy his chances. Keep in mind, however, a green Nelson ran Sanchez fairly close. A prime Marquez was better than a 14-0-0 Nelson.

fair points

He ran him close yes, but Sanchez worked him out over the course of the fight. Once he dropped im with the left hook (round 5?) he changed his plan and smashed him with it again and again until he broke the right side of Azumah's jaw. That is what I call adapating and executing. Nelson was already a top fighter. That night he exhibited the psychological and emotional strength to come back in a fight after Sanchez had worked him out. Neslon's heart kept him in that fight and allowed him a second wind. He didn't get braver, stronger or quicker, he did though become more polished.

If Azumah had gone into that fight with the reputation of a Lopez or a Gomez I'd have expected Sanchez to be more switched on from the start.


I'd back Nelson to beat Marquez.

[Ezzard]

Marquez wins simply by virtue of really being a Lightweight in the classic sense. He was naturally heavier than Sanchez, who actually had to be a Featherweight WHEN he fought. This is why I hate these very modern vs. classic matchups, it's largely apples to oranges. In reality a fight that's closer to "fair" in the sense of size would be Chavez-Marquez, since Julio was around before the advent of massive weight drains.

It's a very good point. Many of the guys at the weights today are much bigger in porportions and would have big adntages like reach etc...

[Goodnight, Irene]

You might quite rightly pick the best iteration of Nelson to beat Marquez at Feather, but the version who competed so well with Sanchez (in itself, I'll admit is pretty convincing for Nelson's credentials) was 14-0-0. That's not going to be enough experience to beat a prime Marquez, IMO.

Prime-for-prime, I think Nelson narrowly decisions Marquez in a great battle at 126lbs, but the Nelson who fought Sanchez, IMO, loses a fight with a peak Marquez by a wider margin than he lost the bout with Sanchez. Under those settings, the young Professor is the one receiving the lesson...one on the perils of playing with Dynamite