Salvador Sanchez vs Wilfredo Gomez: The Battle of the Little Giants: 40th Year Anniversary.

[elmersalsa]

How time flies! I can't believe that 40 years has passed us by today of the night of Friday, August 21, 1981 in Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, NV.

WBC World Featherweight Champion, the great Salvador Sanchez of Mexico, 22, defended the crown against WBC World Super Bantamweight Champion Wilfredo Gomez of Puerto Rico.

Gomez, 25, was the favorite to win the fight since he had the reputation of an unbelievable record of 32-0-1, with 32 knockouts!

Up to the fight, Gomez won 32 straight fights by knockout. The most memorable was when he thrashed Sanchez' countryman Carlos Zarate in only 4 rounds in San Juan, PR. The win was so impressive and one-sided that many people believed that this little monster was the best fighter around under 135lbs. Maybe the best fighter pound per pound of the time period. And that Sanchez was going to be another victim. At to to that point, Gomez was labeled "The Anti-Mexican Killer". At least he had 8 Mexican fighters stopped under his belt. And at 122lbs, the invincible little giant had 14 title defenses, all by knockout. A world record at the time.

Against Salvador, some say it wasn't going to be any difference. Gomez would roll over him like a bulldozer and become featherweight champion.

But, on this night, this Mexican was different. He was a complete fighter and lean and tall counter-puncher that the whole country of Mexico was depending on him to avenge Zarate's loss.

I have never seen an atmosphere so electric as that night. It was one of the best that I have seen. Mexican music mariachis and Puerto Rican salsa musicians playing the congas and trumpets were there to support their respective heroes. One of the salsa icons, Roberto Roena, was there supporting for Wilfredo. Confident in victory.

And things did not started well for Gomez. In the first round, he got dropped by a left hook by Sanchez. It was the beginning of the end. Sanchez for the next 7 rounds, gave Gomez the beating of his life! It was an ass whupping that Puerto Rico never forgot. I couldn't believe my eyes of what I was seeing. I thought that Wilfredo was gonna win. But, Sanchez got me surprised with my mouth totally open. I couldn't believe of what I was seeing on tv. Gomez got whupped? No way!

But, I had to give Gomez mad respect. Even though that he was losing. Even though that he was getting his ass kicked each round. And even though both of his eyes were swelling and shut, the will, heart and determination was there. Like a real champion, he was there. Kill or be killed.

Was Sanchez that good? Or did Gomez underestimated him? Did the weight was a disadvantage for Wilfredo? He had to jump only 4 pounds. But, is 4 pounds enough?

At many times, he rocked Sanchez, but Sanchez did not even flinched. He was steady cruising kicking Gomez' ass. Sanchez fought magnificently, and to me, this gotta be one of boxing's all-time greatest performances without a doubt. Is up there with the great Joe Frazier's win over the great Muhammad Ali. And the great Roberto Duran's win over the extraordinary Sugar Ray Leonard the year before.

There was no doubt who was the better fighter that night. A rematch wouldn't change the outcome in my view. Sanchez was too good to be true. It was his greatest win at such young age. Many Mexicans until this day considered him the greatest of that country. An automatic all-time pound per pound great.

In 1981, The Ring Magazine voted him as co-winner of Fighter of the Year with the great Sugar Ray Leonard.

Months later, the Ring Magazine in Spanish had Sanchez on their cover with the title: "Mexico Tiene un Salvador!". (Mexico Has a Savior. Salvador means Savior in Spanish)

I will revisit the fight again to ots entirity and later discuss again of this magnificent great win.

[Onetimeonly]

Will you revisit it again? When Elmo, when???

[elmersalsa]

I saw the fight again. It was an unforgettable performance of an unforgettable decade.

The great Salvador Sanchez' concentration and chin was one of boxing's best ever. A true complete fighter that could fight inside, which is a lost art today.