BoxRec

On a Friday night of August 21, 1981 at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, NV, Salvador Sanchez of Mexico defended successfully his WBC World Featherweight Crown for the 6th time against WBC World Super Bantamweight Champion Wilfredo "Bazooka" Gomez of Puerto Rico. Sanchez won by an 8th round technical knockout.

It was one of the greatest fights of the 80s decade. A great unforgettable decade of unforgettable fights. Never before an atmosphere so intense and livid of Latin American fans, especially Mexicans and Puerto Ricans from all over the United States came to see a fight of two great little men.

The fight was called "The Battle of the Little Giants" promoted by American promoter extraordinaire Don King.

And from the first round, both fighters did not disappoint. They started with fireworks from the get go. In the very first round, Sanchez, 21, sent Gomez, 25, to the canvas by a left hook. Hurt and embarrassed, Gomez got up like a great warrior and kept fighting. But, the fight was written all over the wall in who the fight belonged to. It was all Sanchez!

Gomez had an unbelievable record of 32-0-1, all wins by knockout! He was in a 32-fight knockout streak. Sanchez was 41-1-1, with 29 knockouts. Gomez was the 2-1 fighting favorite.

Gomez before the fight disdained and insulted Sanchez in press conferences. He had no respect for the champion. Gomez was so overly confident that this fight was not going to last the distance and that he will destroy Sanchez just like the ten previous Sanchez's countrymen that could not take his fists, including former champion Carlos Zarate in which Gomez destroyed him in 5 rounds 3 years earlier in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Another rumour has it that Gomez did not train properly for the fight and that he was so overconfident that he forgot that he needed to train for the biggest fight of his career. He even scorted and was seen with a Puerto Rican beauty for months before the fight in parties instead of hitting the gym.

And by fight night, Gomez still needed to lose 4 pounds. He lost the pounds eventually. But, in that night, he lost his mind, his soul, his countrymen, his invincibility and his undefeated record. All it was shattered by the fists of Sanchez who fought magnificently great.

As the fight wore on, Gomez's eyes were shut courtesy of the beating that Sanchez put on him. It was a display of great ring generalship, resistance, stamina, courage, will, boxing ability and determination. Sanchez had it all. Gomez's fists couldn't hurt him at any moment like the other 32 victims.

The fight was over in the 8th. A handful of combinations of lefts and rights, all in the face, put Gomez on the floor. The last rope saved him from falling off the ring. When he got up at the count of 8, the referee, Carlos Padilla of the Philippines, saw enough and halted the bout.

The winner by technical knockout in the 8th round and still the WBC World Featherweight Champion! Salvador Sanchez! It was his greatest and finest hour. It was one of boxing's greatest performances of all-time at any weight class and Sanchez that night became larger than life. An all-time great.

Gomez wanted a rematch, but, it never happened. The following year in August, Sanchez tragically died of a car accident in his native Mexico. He was only 23 and still making history.

Would Gomez won the rematch if they fought again?

Your comments.

With that win, Salvador Sanchez won the Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year for 1981. He was the co-winner with the other great boxer, Sugar Ray Leonard.

It was a huge win and great performance for Sanchez. Everyone thought the fight would be more much more competitive.

Ambling Alp II wrote: ↑23 Aug 2026, 17:03 It was a huge win and great performance for Sanchez. Everyone thought the fight would be more much more competitive.

I thought Wilfredo "Bazooka" Gomez was going to win the fight. I remember the fight vividly, like if it was yesterday.

But, what a performance by Salvador Sanchez! It was one of the greatest performances in boxing history, no doubt.

Amazing that Sanchez was only 23 when he died. Even more amazing is that he had
a hall of fame career in those short years.
One hell of a fighter

tiny_acres wrote: ↑25 Aug 2026, 20:52 Amazing that Sanchez was only 23 when he died. Even more amazing is that he had
a hall of fame career in those short years.
One hell of a fighter

He's more accomplished than many fighers who lived out their entire career and retired in their 30's. Having done all he did at 23 is truly remarkable for sure.

- What's more is that Sal did it with unmatched class with only 4 Ama bouts. Azuma put up as absolute ferocious fight that can be had, one of the all time best that boxing is noted for. Sal was in training for his supposed last bout when when he ran into a truck one foggy early AM. He had been accepted into a medical School.

A 1982 Porsche 928 was the culprit, the first ever Porsche V8.. Damn, I now realize time is running out on my acquisition of a Porsche, and that's what I'd want, but alas, maybe luckily out of my paygrade...

Definitely an All time Great victory and an All time Great fight. What an atmosphere with this one. Both men were played in with their own bands, and the bands tried to outplay each other in the ring. Really wild and fun atmosphere for a Prize fight. Felt like a party in there, and the fight lived up to everyone's hopes.

Sanchez did a job on Gomez, but Gomez fought back with everything he had, and definitely landed plenty of those Bazooka Right hands, but to no avail on the Masterful Precise, and apparently tough as a rock Salvador Sanchez.

This is definitely a Classic bout that should never be forgotten, and Salvador Sanchez is a Legendary Fighter that should never be forgotten. To have accomplished all that he had at the age of only 23 is absolutely incredible.

Gomez was supposed to be the favorite, but Sanchez completely turned the tables and put on an incredible performance. clicker games