40 Years Ago: Salvador Sanchez is World Champ!

[elmersalsa]

It all happened on that Saturday afternoon of February 2, 1980.

Long-time reigning WBC World Featherweight Champion, Danny Lopez, of Los Angeles, CA was defending his crown against an unknown Mexican fighter with only 21 years of age. His name? Salvador Sanchez.

In one of the most entertaining bouts of 1980, Sanchez surprised the American press by giving Lopez a great beating. He dominated the fight from the beginning with quick left jabs and right crosses. The unknown young Mexican was too fast. He was not giving Lopez, a superb knockout artist and one of the best ever at the art of giving knockouts to his opponents, an easy target to cleanly hit.

Was "Little Red" Lopez ready to be taken? I don't know. He was 28. All we know that he did his best like he always did, fighting and not giving up. It certainly wasn't that easy for Sanchez. But, round after round, Lopez's face was getting redder and redder until a cut in his left eye gave the referee a reason to stop it in round 13. It was well stopped. Lopez was getting pummeled out there. But, he didn't give his crown that easy. It was just that the kid from Mexico was better and it wasn't Lopez's afternoon.

In other times, Lopez with one shot could turn around a fight even when he was losing and behind on points. He found a way to win because of his heart, will and determination and punching power made him the champion that he was. And most of the time, even in times of trouble, he always found a way to win. Why wasn't on this afternoon? Maybe it wasn't the 70s decade anymore. Maybe it was his time to be taken.

Little we knew that Sanchez became one of the best fighters and superstars of the early 80s decade. He made 9 title defenses in 2 years, proving that he was a busy and entertaining champion. Little we knew before our eyes, the greatness that he gave us in two years. He whupped every single top contender that came his way, even whupping Lopez in the rematch months later. The only thing that was missing in his resume was a great win against WBA World Featherweight Champion Eusebio Pedroza of Panama for a World Championship Unification match. It didn't happened. Sanchez dies in an automobile accident in August of 1982. He was only 23 years old. He had a long and prosperous future of big fights ahead of him.

It was reported by the time of his death that his camp was in negotiations for a multi-million dollar payday against the great Alexis Arguello of Nicaragua for Arguello's WBC World Lightweight title.

Sanchez gave us some glorious performances of the ages, beating the likes of Lopez, Juan LaPorte, Ruben Castillo, Patrick Ford, Roberto Castanon, Azumah Nelson and his best win of all, the amazing display of boxing perfection when he totally trashed the great Wilfredo Gomez of Puerto Rico in 8 rounds. It was Sanchez' greatest moment that put him with the at least all-time greatest featherweights. Too bad that he left us so soon. But what a fighter he was!

[Ambling Alp II]

You have to wonder what if? He had done so much already at 23. It would have been great to see how much he would have done. Doubtful he would have had a long career; he already had been in a lot of tough fights. Still, he certainly had some good years left.

[elmersalsa]

You have to wonder what if? He had done so much already at 23. It would have been great to see how much he would have done. Doubtful he would have had a long career; he already had been in a lot of tough fights. Still, he certainly had some good years left.

In 1982 we lost the two major fighters in boxing: Sugar Ray Leonard (eye retina) and Salvador Sanchez (car accident death).

I would have loved to see Sanchez fight the great Eusebio Pedroza. But, at the time of his death, he was about into negotiations for the great Alexis Arguello multi-million dollar fight at lightweight.