Hi All, Looking Forward to Talking Boxing!

[TitoFan]

I once watched a very good documentary on the career of Wilfredo Gomez, up to and including the Salvador Sanchez fight. Gomez was a beast at super bantam... probably the best there ever was. But he went up to featherweight and immediately met probably one of the greatest featherweights in history (probably would've ended up being the best ever, but tragically died young). I'm pretty sure Gomez underestimated Sanchez. He wanted the rematch badly, but it never happened as Sanchez died in a traffic accident.

[TIC]

sal beats julio, i think alexis at lightweight might have been a step too far

[The Six Four]

Thanks for the warm welcome, Spicoli. It was truly tragic that Sanchez’s life was cut short at such a young age. Danny Lopez was pure entertainment to watch, and I can see Sanchez utilizing many of the same tactics he employed against Lopez in a potential fight with Chavez.

Azumah Nelson was virtually unknown at the time and given little chance, especially since he took the Sanchez fight on short notice. Who knows how that bout would have played out if Nelson had been more seasoned and had the benefit of a full training camp?

You're right—Chavez was an exceptional boxer in his own right and naturally the bigger fighter, having moved down from 135 to claim a title at 130. If Sanchez and Chavez had ever met in the ring, I believe it would have led to an excellent series of close, hard-fought battles.

Ruben Castillo, who faced both men, believed Chavez would have won, while Juan LaPorte, another fighter who shared the ring with both, called Sanchez the best he ever fought. Interestingly, Sanchez was already contemplating retirement before the Nelson fight. I believe he had two fights left on his contract, one of which was presumably against Mario Miranda, whom Nelson replaced. Beyond boxing, Sanchez had aspirations of studying and even spoke about wanting to become a doctor.


Master, the username comes from a Mike Tyson combo, based on the number system he used under Cus D’Amato.

Yes, Sanchez had apparently already signed an agreement for the Arguello fight, but a final deal had yet to be reached. Don King was involved, so it’s unclear whether he played a role in the stalled negotiations or if it was due to Arguello’s own plans to move up in weight.

I completely agree about Sanchez’s stamina—he seemed to have an endless gas tank. Unlike a typical counterpuncher who waits for his opponent to attack, Sanchez actively created his own opportunities. It’s remarkable how many huge names he faced and the legendary fights he had at such a young age.

Attending the Little Red Lopez and Bazooka Gomez events must have been an unforgettable experience. Those were truly historic moments in boxing.


TitoFan, I completely agree—Wilfredo Gomez was an absolute beast at 122, and I consider him the greatest fighter in the division’s history. Sanchez, on the other hand, had the potential to become the greatest featherweight of all time. I currently rank him around #5, but how much higher could he have climbed with time and an eventual showdown against Pedroza? That’s tough to say.

It’s unclear whether Gomez underestimated Sanchez. Leading up to the fight, Gomez was the favorite, having knocked out all 32 of his opponents. Sanchez, though highly skilled, wasn’t as well-known outside hardcore boxing circles and may have been somewhat underrated. The first-round knockdown may have left Gomez compromised, and with his eye swelling shut by the midpoint of the fight, the challenge ahead became even more daunting.

A rematch would have been fascinating—could Gomez have made the necessary adjustments to turn the tide and secure a victory? We’ll never know, but it’s one of boxing’s great “what ifs.”


TIC, thanks for sharing those fight links—I appreciate them! I agree that Sanchez would have likely beaten Chavez, but it wouldn’t have been an easy night for either fighter. Unfortunately, we never got to see 'Chava' truly tested against the best at 130, so it's hard to say with certainty how he would have fared at lightweight, especially against a talent like Arguello.

[The Six Four]

Can someone help me out? I’ve received a couple of reputation comments, but I’m not sure how to return them. Any help would be appreciated!

[The Six Four]

Ignore my previous post—I’ve figured out how to add reputation (well, technically, my wife did). Is this something that actually matters on the forum, or is it just a polite courtesy?

[Master]

Ignore my previous post—I’ve figured out how to add reputation (well, technically, my wife did). Is this something that actually matters on the forum, or is it just a polite courtesy?

Its ended up as a quick way to send positive (and negative) messages to posters. I do not think reputation matters much now.

It is good to have new and knowledgeable posters on the forum. You add a good perspective on the sport of boxing.

[ykdadamaja]

Welcome.