“I’m satisfied that Salvador Sanchez was the very best Mexican fighter of all time. Even higher than Julio Cesar Chavez.” —Wilfredo Gomez
“He persistently confirmed the understanding and consciousness of a veteran in his early twenties, an affidavit maybe to the variety of fights and defenses he crammed into his quick profession. As a veteran, he may need attained the uncommon heights of strategic genius reserved for the likes of Archie Moore and Bernard Hopkins.” —Matt McGrain
“Salvador Sanchez? I’m glad he wasn’t round in my period.” —Willie Pep
Right this moment the boxing world marks the anniversary of the premature loss of life of Salvador Sanchez, indubitably one of many all-time biggest Mexican boxers. The fighter known as “Chava” and “The Invincible Eagle” burst onto the boxing scene seemingly from nowhere in 1980 when he defeated Danny Lopez on stay tv for a world title belt. And whereas Sanchez’s championship reign was comparatively quick, it was simply lengthy sufficient for the Mexican warrior to ascertain himself as one of many biggest featherweights of all-time.
In 1982 he died in a automobile accident on the age of 23, however, amazingly, he had already gained eleven straight championship fights, together with historic wins over fellow Corridor of Famers Lopez, Wilfredo Gomez and Azumah Nelson. Yearly combat followers keep in mind Sanchez and his tragic loss of life, however we additionally recall his astonishing ring expertise. So what higher time to pay tribute to a very nice champion by bringing you Lee Wylie‘s wonderful breakdown of this nice featherweight’s distinctive and extremely subtle counterpunching type.
When many boxing followers hear the time period “counterpuncher,” they naturally assume first of a defensive-minded pugilist comparable to Floyd Mayweather or Guillermo Rigondeaux, a boxer who waits for the opponent to provoke earlier than putting. However Sanchez was one thing altogether totally different, an aggressive counter-puncher, ruthless and calculating, affected person and exact. As Wylie notes, there have been totally different sides to Salvador’s approach, however he was most harmful as a counterpuncher.
So take pleasure in one other Lee Wylie masterpiece and respect once more the ring brilliance of the fistic legend who James Toney calls, “The best Mexican fighter of all-time … Interval. Palms down.” Test it out:
