Opinions on Salvador Sanchez

[J]

I have a few of his fight about 5 and he was a great fighter, very skilled. To this day I don't think I have seen a fighter consistenly truley fight without expression and make his attacks with such a plain face without reaction.

I have heard he used to train very hard that he had doctors monatoring his heart rate. I had two boxing trainers tell me he would have beaten Julio Cesar Chavez. I know he wanted to take on the great Alexis Arguello but died too early. I was to young to care about boxing but with video I have come to know of him and think he is a great fighter. Most boxing magazines have Salvador Sanchez or Sandy Saddler as the greatest lightweight ever. I like to know from those who where boxing fans at the point in time when Sanchez was alive, how would his career have gone and would he have eventually meet Chavez and what would have happened?

couple of things, he was a featherweight mate not a lightweight and willie Pep is usually accepted as the best followed by Saddler and in my opinion Salv at three.

very tragic his life was cut so short but he had it all and could have gone on to challenge for the top all time spot. His meeting of a fellow all timer Azumah Nelson is a dream match and with Salvador victorious this has strengthened his claim for greatness (note however Azumah took the fight at late notice and still lasted til the 15th TKO I think.)

Would have been great to see a rematch between these two great warriors sadly it wasnt to be.

[crooked nose]

Sanchez combined all the offensive and defensive skills. His attack was balanced, unusual for a Mexican fighter who usually stand, trade and like the left hook to the body. Sanchez could get in with quick sharp combos and dart out unhit. Danny Lopez was tailor made for him. And apparently so was Gomez. Sanchez had that remarkable calm in the ring under any circumstances. I don't recall him being expressionless, however. I recall him working with a sly grin on his face as he picked apart opponents.
Just the year 1980 alone made Sanchez an all-time great. Look at his record that year: starts with a Feb. KO of Lopez to take the title, just two months later he takes on the skilled Ruben Castillo and uses smarts and stamina to win a 15 rd. decision. In June, rematch with Lopez. Same result - an impressive, methodical KO. In September, a split win over difficult Patrick Ford (5'10"). He ended the year with a solid decision over future champion Juan LaPorte.
His death was so tragic and robbed us all of many thrills.

[dan1030]

It's always tricky to go into "what might have been" hypotheticals, but given how young he was when he died, it seems entirely possible that Sanchez might have eventually earned a spot ahead of Pep and Sandler. Maybe not--it's always possible that he'd pretty much peaked already--but I've always wondered just how far his career might have gone. Admittedly I am a bit biased in his favor, since he's one of the guys I grew up watching as much as possible.

[tonyevs]

Getting back to the Pep-Saddler rating.

I would put Saddler above Pep, because didn`t he have the stoppages over Pep.
Saddler lets not forget was dealing with his bad eyes.. before the excuses come for Pep 8)

Sanchez has to be rated right up there, Nelson took the fight at short notice but Sanchez also had to deal with a totally different styled fighter also, maybe these were the two best feathers ever anyway.

[Graham Brett]

IMO Sanchez at his devastating best (against Gomez) was quite simply a breathtaking fighter.

I had 106 amatuer bouts and a handful of pro bouts. I used to dream of Boxing like Sanchez.

Watching Sanchez box was a sight to behold. A thing of Beauty.

[KOJOE90]

IMO Sanchez at his devastating best (against Gomez) was quite simply a breathtaking fighter.

He did indeed look awsome that night and against P4P one of the most brutal punchers of recent years.

[crooked nose]

The Gomez fight was definitely the peak for Sanchez. How amazing it was that within two minutes of the opening bell that bout was all but decided. Who would have predicted Sanchez would lay such a pounding on him?Remember the scene before the bout - they entered the ring accompanied by bands, Mariachi and Puertoriqueno? Then as the fighters came together for instructions, ref Carlos Padilla was running around looking for the chief second from each corner. Sanchez and Gomez were left standing alone at ring center. It looked to me like Sanchez psyched him out right there. Sal was just grinning like a kid going to Disneyland and Gomez was trying hard not to look nervous.

[bollox]

Sanchez didn't fight Eusabio Pedroza but should have. Pedroza still holds the record for featherweight defences at 18? so why they didn't get a fight happening is anybody's guess

A Nelson rematch in say '83 or '84 would have been very interesting indeed. Nelson was a 13 fight novice at the time of their first fight

[MightyWarrior]

The "Battle of the bands" before Sanchez/Gomez was brilliant - Larry Holmes is commentating, and he sounds as excited as anyone in the house.
An awesome fight, one for the ages.

There are stories of the hard living Gomez being way over weight the night before, and having to run a couple of hours in the desert to make weight on the day of the fight. If true, no wonder he looked a little nervous.

And yes, the smiling Sanchez looks supremely confident before the bell - I think he knew he'd already taken the best shots the pulverizing Danny Lopez could throw, so he wasn't gonna be troubled by a super bantam.

Gomez desparately wanted a rematch, but the signs were Sal was going to move up to 135, for a Arguello superfight.

Only 21 or so when died, a real tragedy.

I recently spoke to a Mexican girl who told me years back, she and her father drove past a terrible road accident outside of Mexico city: A sports car had been absolutely flattened. It was the only the next day she and her dad realised it was the car Sanchez had just died in.

[J]

Getting back to the Pep-Saddler rating.

I would put Saddler above Pep, because didn`t he have the stoppages over Pep.
Saddler lets not forget was dealing with his bad eyes.. before the excuses come for Pep 8)

Sanchez has to be rated right up there, Nelson took the fight at short notice but Sanchez also had to deal with a totally different styled fighter also, maybe these were the two best feathers ever anyway.

excuses the geezer was in a plane crash.
told he would never walk again let alone box, think you'll find the excuses are more likely to be the other way round mate.
he had one leg shorter than the other fucked his back and was partially blind in one eye post crash. and still beat saddler once
this for a guy whose movement was key.

think those excuses outweigh sandy's personally.

pep was 127-1 by the time he fought Saddler no-one has ever come close to replicating that.

if he could beat saddler post crash you can bet you bottom dollar he would have done in his prime.

[J]

actually i was slightly inaccruate he didnt just fornicate his back slip a disc or something.
he broke it.

bloke's a real hero.

[bollox]

The Saddler - Pep fights were amongst the dirtiest in history. Have seen pics of Pep after one of them and he looked like he'd been hit by a truck

[Graham Brett]

, but the signs were Sal was going to move up to 135, for a Arguello superfight.

Wooooooooooooooooooooooooo

What a fight that would have been.

I may have favoured Alexis at the heavier poundage.

[KOJOE90]

Hasn't Pep been married about 5 times?

[bollox]

Hasn't Pep been married about 5 times?

Anyone would have thought Pep and Saddler were married to each other. Argument (fight) followed by a period of quiet. Another argument followed by another quiet period. etc etc

[zuru]

I have a few of his fight about 5 and he was a great fighter, very skilled. To this day I don't think I have seen a fighter consistenly truley fight without expression and make his attacks with such a plain face without reaction.

I have heard he used to train very hard that he had doctors monatoring his heart rate. I had two boxing trainers tell me he would have beaten Julio Cesar Chavez. I know he wanted to take on the great Alexis Arguello but died too early. I was to young to care about boxing but with video I have come to know of him and think he is a great fighter. Most boxing magazines have Salvador Sanchez or Sandy Saddler as the greatest lightweight ever. I like to know from those who where boxing fans at the point in time when Sanchez was alive, how would his career have gone and would he have eventually meet Chavez and what would have happened?

I think Sanchez was an excellent fighter,(and as far as expressionless,look at some of E.Pedroza's fights,he wore the expression of a mannequin),but I remember when the talk of Arguello was going,I personally always thought that he was too small,for Arguello,but maybe his speed(if he could have retained it)would have won over.And Nelson WAS a novice when they met,and greatly troubled Sanchez before losing,but I think honestly,that due to his(Nelson's) inexperience that Sanchez may have just been surprised,and didn't take him to seriously at that point.And in a later rematch,would have known Nelson's quality,and would have adjusted accordingly and still won.I don't know about the Chavez fight,but man, it would be entertaining.Sanchez had the speed,but couldn't dream of hurting Chavez,however,he may have been able to cut him.They both had IRON chins,excellent stamina,great heart,,it would have been great.That is a good Dream match Zlaru,
take care,
zuru

[bollox]

Here are some Sanchez downloads that Broncano was kind enough to post the links to, elsewhere. Unfortunately it's in Asian but there are some good clips here. Look for the light blue bits and there are your downloads

http://www.ddanzi.com/ddanziilbo/102/102SP_20103.asp

Have almost completed the Sanchez - Nelson download from Emule. Haven't seen it for well over 20 years