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~ 25 Years ago Today on July 21st, 1982 ~
By: CutMeMick
When I hear someone use the nickname ‘Chava’ the 1st thing that comes to mind is my great grandfather who’s name was Salvador Galvez he was also known as ‘Chava’. There’s another ‘Chava’ that rapidly comes to mind also and that’s the late great Salvador Sanchez. I’ve been watching a couple of his fights and the other night I realized that on July 21st 2007 will be 25 years to the day that ‘Chava’ fought his last fight against the great Azumah Nelson. I thought I would do something special to commemorate him and his legacy. I can’t do a parade for him nor can I have a TV special on him but what I can do is share some of my fav. pictures of him and some videos, along with taking us back to that day in the Madison Square Garden where these two great fighters stepped into through the ropes and faced off in one of the most memorable bouts in Featherweight history.
It was July 21st 1982 at Madison Square Garden the place that is known as the Mecca of boxing. The ring was set, the judges were ready and referee Tony Perez was standing in a neutral corner ready for the announcer to take over.
In the blue corner wearing yellow trunks trimmed with red and green weighing in at an even 124 lbs. Undefeated in 13 professional fights with 10 of those wins by knockout he is also the Commonwealth Champion from Accra, Ghana here is Azumah Nelson.
In the red corner wearing read trunks trimmed with white. Weighing in at an even 126 lbs. With a record of 42-1-1 with 30 of those wins by knockout he is also the WBC Featherweight Champion of World from Santiago, Tianguistenco, Mexico City, Mexico Salvador Sanchez. (If you notice Sanchez’s record was announced incorrectly and was never corrected by the ring announcer nor by the TV commentators. Sanchez’s records at the time of the fight was 43-1-1)
The early rounds where in favor of the aggressor Nelson who was landing the harder punches and was pressing the action. Nelsons left hook landed hard several times. Sanchez looked at times confused, Sanchez was trying to establish his jab but the young and fearless Nelson didn't care and could careless about Sanchez. Nelson even did the Ali shuffle twice as he made Sanchez miss. Through the middle rounds Sanchez started working the body and throwing hooks down stairs and occasional overhand right would land for Sanchez. In the 6th round Sanchez answered back with his own left hook and hurt Nelson before the round was over. In the 7th round Sanchez had some what found a rythim when out of nowhere Sanchez throws a thumping left hook that send Nelson stumbling back. Sanches goes after Nelson and Nelson just continued to fight back he wasn't going doen without a fight as they traded punches he get's caught with another left hook and he went down. He was up by 5, the ref. gives him an 8 count and let's him continue. Nelson after being knocked down start throwing his jab making it hard for Sanchez to hit him this IMO was very smart of Nelson who bought time with that jab and kept Sanchez off of him. Before this round ends they exchanged some hard punches back and forth. Nelson througout the fight walked to the wrong corner 3 times. Once I can honestly say he was really out of it the other 2 looked more like and honest mistake. In the rest of the rounds Sanchez lands several of his hard left hooks that push back and really hurt Nelson. He also continues to work Nelsons body with hooks down stairs mixing in the right hand every now and then. In the 11th round about 35 seconds before the round ends Nelson hurts Sanchez with a right hook and just wails away trying to finish off Sanchez but he has no luck. By the 12th round Nelson was still in the fight, he was countering Sanchez but his punches were getting a bit sloopy and more wild. I think the 12th round was Nelson last good round eventhough he lost the round. In the 13 and 14th rounds Sanchezs work was already showing on Nelsons face the right side of his jaw was swollen and even then Nelson was still throwing back and was hitting Sanchez with a few good shots here and there but it was at a point where hes taking 2 or 3 shots to land 1. In the 15th and final round Sanchez starts off 2 big right hands then follows it with hooks and uppercuts, a left hook pushes Nelson back. Sanchez goes after him against the ropes and begins to attack the body while Nelson continues to fight back nothing discouraged Nelson on this night not even the knockdown. Sanchez lands a hard right hand that stuns Nelson, Nelson begins to bleed from his mouth. Sanchez then throws 3 left hooks that hurt Nelson, Nelson answers back with his left hook then throws some jabs but misses. Sanchez counters with a huge left hook that woobles Nelson back to the ropes on the ropes Sanchez let's his hands go and drops Nelson with a left hook followed with a right hand. Nelson get's up by the count of 3 and the ref. gives him another 8 count and clears him to continue. Sanchez cocks back and shoots off his trademark left hook again that lands repeatedly on Nelson prompting ref. Perez to stop the fight.
And that would sadly be the last round Sanchez would ever fight. Then 22 days later on Aug. 12th, 1982 Sanchez a sports car fanantic would make a costly move while driving in his new Porsche while in Queretaro, Mexico. He attempted to pass a truck and he was struck by an oncoming truck and died instantly. 9 yrs. later he was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame and is considered by many amongst one of the most skilled fighters of all time and is also considered P4P all time. Some people say he falls short in the P4P lists do the short lived 'Prime' that he had others say that, that short lived 'Prime' shows enough to prove that he was/is a P4P fighter all time.
Story has it that both Wilfredo Gomez and Azumah Nelson kneeled at his gravesite (On different occasions Gomez was the 1st fighter to visit his gravesite), crying and both began to rubb dirt from the ground in front of Sanchez's stone-cross all over their hands. Afterwards, Nelson was asked why he did that.... he replied, "I want some of Salvador's power put into my hands".
Simply sensational.
I hope you have enjoyed this read as much as I did typing it up. I hope that join and help me celebrate remember the mans last performance. For those who have seen it know what I'm talking about and those that haven't I strongly recommend you try to get your hands on it. It's one for the ages.
R.I.P.
Salvador 'Chava' Sanchez
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