Salvador Sanchez (boxer)

Salvador Sánchez Narváez (Santiago Tianguistenco, January 26, 1959 - Querétaro, August 12, 1982) was a Mexican professional boxer who became the World Boxing Council featherweight champion..

He was one of the best boxers in his country, in 1996, he was ranked as the 26th best in history and his fight against Wilfredo Gómez is considered Mexico's biggest victory over Puerto Rico. Since 1991, he is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Biography

The son of peasants, Salvador initially leaned towards wrestling, but was discovered by Agustín Palacios Rivera, who instilled in him the discipline of boxing and taught him the basics of this sport. His coach until the day of his death was Cristóbal Rosas.

Death

In the early morning of August 12, 1982, at about 2:00 a.m. m., about 12 km from Querétaro on the highway that leads to San Luis Potosí, the white Porsche 928 he was driving crashed head-on into a Ford pickup and a tractor-trailer loaded with two agricultural tractors while trying to pass another truck, which killed him instantly.

Sánchez's burial in Santiago Tianguistenco was broadcast throughout Mexico by Televisa. Wilfredo Gómez went to Mexico City to deliver flowers.

At the time of his death, a superfight was planned between Salvador Sánchez and Nicaraguan Alexis Argüello, rematches against Juan Laporte and Wilfredo Gómez, as well as a world title fight against the world's number one challenger, Colombian Mario Miranda.

Career

Lopez vs. Sanchez

Sánchez won the WBC featherweight title by knocking out Danny "Coloradito" López on February 2, 1980, which was a great surprise, given that the "Coloradito" Lopez had been a stable champion. Salvador Sánchez defended the world championship on 10 occasions, including his rematch against "El coloradito" López, whom he defeated again by TKO in the 14th round.

Sanchez vs. Gomez

On August 21, 1981, Wilfredo Gómez, three-time world champion, executioner of many Mexican boxers, and WBC super bantamweight champion, moved up in weight to challenge WBC featherweight world champion Salvador Sánchez. In what many consider to be the greatest victory by a Mexican over a Puerto Rican in boxing history, Sánchez defeats Gómez by TKO in the eighth round, with the fight being stopped, surprising even the bettors in Las Vegas, host city of the combat, who gave Gómez as a favorite. Salvador Sánchez sent Wilfredo Gómez to the canvas in the first round, who got up and continued fighting until the eighth round, when the fight was stopped by referee Carlos Padilla and Gómez's face was swollen, with bleeding from his nose and mouth..

Sanchez vs. Nelson

His last fight was against the unknown Ghanaian boxer Azumah Nelson at Madison Square Garden, whom he defeated by TKO in the 15th round in a highly contested fight and who years later would beat Wilfredo Gómez by TKO and put him on the line. edge of retirement. This victory against Nelson was not valued properly in Mexico, but as time passed and the Ghanaian boxer demonstrated his quality, they realized how important it was.

World Title Defenses

Salvador Sánchez defended his title like this:

• Ruben Castillo - UD 15
• Danny "Coloradito" Lopez - KO 14
• Patrick Ford - MD 15
• Juan Laporte - UD 15
• Roberto Castañón - TKO 10
• Wilfredo Gómez - TKO 8
• Pat Cowdell - SD 15
• Jorge García - UD 15
• Azumah Nelson - TKO 15

Between the bouts against Castañón and Gómez, he faced American of Mexican origin Nicky Pérez in a non-title fight, whom he defeated by unanimous decision in ten rounds.

Legacy and honors

The Salvador Sánchez Festival has been held annually since 1983, on the anniversary of the champion's death. Wilfredo Gómez has been a special guest at all the festivals held and has been named grand marshal by the Sánchez family on three occasions, an honor that the Puerto Rican boxer has accepted.

In 1999 The Associated Press named Salvador Sánchez the third best featherweight of the XX century.

Professional record