Salvador Sanchez : Did He Reach His Full Potential ?

[Seamus]

I've actually heard comments that he seemed to be slowing down a bit, based on his last 3 bouts going into the 15th rd,including his titanic struggle with then untested Azumah Nelson. Don't see it at all myself, but maybe you think otherwise.

[elmersalsa]

He, the great Salvador Sanchez was a fantastic and most complete boxers in my lifetime. He could do it all. I wanted to see him fight the great Eusebio Pedroza but, the fight never happened. It would've been a fight of two complete great boxers that would match skill for skill in a very high level

[Seamus]

What I'll always remember about his last bout with Azumah Nelson, was how the African fought like it was a matter of life or death, while Sanchez for long periods of the fight showed no real sense of urgency. And how going into the final round, Nelson was bleeding from the nose and mouth, had puffy eyes, a jaw that looked like it was broken and was on unsteady legs, while Sanchez's face was unmarked and he wasn't even breathing heavy. The scorecards told one story, but the fighter's conditions told another. I firmly believe Sanchez could have ended it all at least a few rounds earlier.

[tagjohnson]

You guys really hit it on the head. Sanchez was really in complete control of his fights start to finish.

[King Carlos]

Absolutely, as far as his skill-set was concerned. Maybe a different story as far as what he could've accomplished, but I tend to think not too much different even then. It may've been myself you heard this from in the first place. It's an apparently unorthodox view I've held for quite some time. He was a prime example of a fighter who peaked early. Started out very young (debut at age 16), had plenty of fights and gained plenty of experience on the way up in his advancement to his first title shot, had competed in 10 15-round championship bouts (going the full distance in 5 of them, along with making it to the 15th round against Azumah Nelson) against top flight opposition, often in physically taxing bouts, etc. Hell, the only fight he competed in that was finished in less than 10 rounds (title bout or not) after winning the championship was the 8th round KO of Gomez.

If you ask me, he never surpassed his performance in his title winning effort against Lopez. He was pitch-perfect there. Even in the rematch he was being hit far more often before eventually disposing of the former champion. I don't think you can point to a single fight after winning the title where he showed any sort of notable improvement in any area. I wouldn't say he necessarily showed signs of regressing either, though. On that note, I also disagree with the oft repeated claim that he "fought to the level of his opposition". His bouts against the likes of Cowdell, Ford, and Castillo simply showed stylistic shortcomings on his behalf. He was a counter-puncher by nature, and when forced to lead he wasn't as impressive as when allowed to pick his punches with an opponent presenting himself consistently within range. Still a very effective fighter in those scenarios, mind you, but one who'd likely have picked up a loss here and there against certain dark horse pure boxer/cutie types. From a different era I'd favor a guy like Howard Winstone, for example. At least over 10 rounds.

While I said I don't think he'd showed signs of regression yet, I doubt he'd have continued on to a much longer reign had he lived, for various reasons. One, his heart seemed to be set on retiring early to go into the medicinal field, and if your heart is no longer in it, neither is your game. Disregarding that, he had potential fights on the horizon against the likes of Arguello, Pedroza, and a rematch with Nelson, likely moving up in weight for the former. Regardless of whether or not he won or lost those bouts, there's no doubt they'd have taken a serious toll on him. For a fighter who'd already peaked (by my judgment, anyway), would've been looking at 9+ years and probably 15+ title bouts by the time he was 25 or so (putting his body through the ringer since he was a teenager), against the vicious opposition he was facing, I can't see him fighting at the same level much longer than that, if even that long. And that's if he didn't decide to call it quits in the first place.

So yes, I genuinely believe we'd already seen just about the best he had to offer. Sal's early demise seems to add a sort of mythical quality to the majority of boxing fans. A belief that he'd have continued dominating and consistently improving for years to come, even when his actual career shows few such examples, and none as far as improvement. He was the finished product. He was also already a great fighter, and a very accomplished fighter, while he was here. Not just a potential great. That's good enough for me. He's not a fighter who needs to rely on "could've" and "should've". He already proved himself conclusively.

[Counter-puncher]

excellent post on all points

[Seamus]

If Sanchez had one weakness, it was that he occasionally fought at too relaxed a pace and even then, none of those fights ever looked to be in doubt. He dominated the second half of the fights with Castillo and Ford, and Cowdell was saved by the bell in a fight in which the scorecards made it ridiculously close. And of course there's the Nelson fight, where Sanchez looked like he was just starting out in the 15th. Most likely he just needed someone to push him, like Gomez and Lopez did.

[King Carlos]

If Sanchez had one weakness, it was that he occasionally fought at too relaxed a pace and even then, none of those fights ever looked to be in doubt. He dominated the second half of the fights with Castillo and Ford, and Cowdell was saved by the bell in a fight in which the scorecards made it ridiculously close. And of course there's the Nelson fight, where Sanchez looked like he was just starting out in the 15th. Most likely he just needed someone to push him, like Gomez and Lopez did.

Kinda what I described. He looked a lot better against those that forced the pace of the bout against him, rather than those that forced him to take the initiative. Similar to Marquez, and a lot of other natural counter-punchers, really.

[elmersalsa]

I wonder how a fight between Sanchez vs Pedroza would've turned out?

[King Carlos]

I wonder how a fight between Sanchez vs Pedroza would've turned out?

Would've been a very difficult test for Sanchez, that's for sure. Never really had a favorite in that one. Pedroza certainly dealt with Pat Ford a hell of a lot more conclusively than did Sanchez.

[ASRXPRO]

Sorry for being late to the party on this...
My father in law is Antonio Becerra, the only man to have beaten a young Salvador Sanchez.
We have been searching feverishly trying to locate Video, Pictures and even articles regarding the fight on September 9th 1977.

Maybe someone can help point me in the right direction?
Thanks for your help!

[elmersalsa]

Sorry for being late to the party on this...
My father in law is Antonio Becerra, the only man to have beaten a young Salvador Sanchez.
We have been searching feverishly trying to locate Video, Pictures and even articles regarding the fight on September 9th 1977.

Maybe someone can help point me in the right direction?
Thanks for your help!

Your father in law must be very proud to be the ONLY MAN to beat this legend

[ASRXPRO]

Sorry for being late to the party on this...
My father in law is Antonio Becerra, the only man to have beaten a young Salvador Sanchez.
We have been searching feverishly trying to locate Video, Pictures and even articles regarding the fight on September 9th 1977.

Maybe someone can help point me in the right direction?
Thanks for your help!

Your father in law must be very proud to be the ONLY MAN to beat this legend

It's actually the oposite of that... which has fueled our quest for more info.

[elmersalsa]

Sorry for being late to the party on this...
My father in law is Antonio Becerra, the only man to have beaten a young Salvador Sanchez.
We have been searching feverishly trying to locate Video, Pictures and even articles regarding the fight on September 9th 1977.

Maybe someone can help point me in the right direction?
Thanks for your help!

Have you ever tried to get a videotape of that fight by going to the Televisa TV network in Mexico City? They have an extensive variety of fights on film from the 60s and 70s. They were filmed mostly in La Arena Coliseo in Mexico City and the Inglewood Forum and announced by the great Mexican announcers like Paco Malgesto and Antonio Andere. Maybe they got that tape.

I also would like to have a video of that fight. Also, some football matches of the '70 and '86 world cups in Spanish.

I hope you find that video. JAH bless you to find that one, my friend

[palooka]

You guys really hit it on the head. Sanchez was really in complete control of his fights start to finish.

He was my idol but the truth is he had hard scraps with Pat Ford and Pat Cowdell, LaPorte gave him a real go. I think he was at his best winning the title v Lopez and the mega fight with Gomez, I think he struggled a bit for motivation though he was always in prime shape. Salvador was a counter puncher extraordinare.

[elmersalsa]

Talking about complete fighters, the great Salvador Sanchez was one. Of the featherweight boxers, I ranked him @ #5 all time. And that's because his career was cut short. Had he continued at featherweight and had a showdown with the great Eusebio Pedroza and win, he would've make a case as the best fighter of his era.

[Nile4000]

Possibly, but can't really see him doing but much better if he moved up. Arguello, Mancini, Kenty, Davis Jr, and Verderosa would've given him problems. Can't see why he didn't rematch Juan Escobar also.

[palooka]

If Sal had not died so young there's no doubt he would have continued to learn. From all accounts he was a very intelligent man and he was always in excellent condition for his bouts. There were some big bouts out there for him and lots of money for him as a marquee fighter. After seeing the problems Pat Ford gave him I think Arguello would have been too much for him, a bout with Pedroza would have been a messy one. In a way, Sanchez' early death makes him seem even greater than he was.

[Seamus]

My guess is if he was serious about a fight with Arguello, he probably went into the gym at 135 and felt strong as a bull while losing nothing in stamina. It's funny, but in the 40 plus yrs I've been following boxing, it now surprises me how many times I heard others make the prediction that the guy jumping up in weight will get slaughtered. If Sanchez felt great at 135, I wouldn't make Arguello a heavy favorite.

[Ezzard]

In this case you have to remember that Arguello won the featherweight title so the size difference wouldn't be as big a deal.

[Counter-puncher]

I think the style match works pretty well for Sanchez too, ezz

[BroughtonRulesRefuge]

--- Of course Sanchez reached his potential, who ever thought otherwise?

Much better career record than SRLeonard as a comparison, much better title record, all done by age 23 before Leonard ever won a title. Never embarrassed himself like Leonard did against Kevin Howard, Hagler, Duran in their rubber, Norris and most especially Camacho who couldn't bust a bug at that weight.

Sanchez was studying to become a medical doctor, so he was never planning to extend out his career. I doubt he would have fought even 2 yrs more. Good enough to be great is plenty enough for those who know.

[King Carlos]

--- Of course Sanchez reached his potential, who ever thought otherwise?

Much better career record than SRLeonard as a comparison, much better title record, all done by age 23 before Leonard ever won a title. Never embarrassed himself like Leonard did against Kevin Howard, Hagler, Duran in their rubber, Norris and most especially Camacho who couldn't bust a bug at that weight.

Sanchez was studying to become a medical doctor, so he was never planning to extend out his career. I doubt he would have fought even 2 yrs more. Good enough to be great is plenty enough for those who know.

RedRooster?

[Ambling Alp II]

My guess is if he was serious about a fight with Arguello, he probably went into the gym at 135 and felt strong as a bull while losing nothing in stamina. It's funny, but in the 40 plus yrs I've been following boxing, it now surprises me how many times I heard others make the prediction that the guy jumping up in weight will get slaughtered. If Sanchez felt great at 135, I wouldn't make Arguello a heavy favorite.

Amen. Over and over and we see a guy move up and do just as well. As Ezzard mentioned, Arguello himself moved up to lightweight.
My guess is that he would have a few fights at 130 and then moved up to 135. If he would have lost to Arguello, it would have been because he wasn't good enough. It probably would have been a great fight.

[elmersalsa]

My guess is if he was serious about a fight with Arguello, he probably went into the gym at 135 and felt strong as a bull while losing nothing in stamina. It's funny, but in the 40 plus yrs I've been following boxing, it now surprises me how many times I heard others make the prediction that the guy jumping up in weight will get slaughtered. If Sanchez felt great at 135, I wouldn't make Arguello a heavy favorite.

By 1982, the great Alexis Arguello had signs of slowing down. He was not as quick as when he was at featherweight or Jr. lightweight. I believe a fight with the great Salvador Sanchez would've been a classic then, but I think Sanchez would've won by UD.