What if: Salvador Sanchez Had Lived? Part 1
Published Apr 05 2010 by: Rich Thomas | Follow us on Facebook & on Twitter
A Look Back at the Career of the Great Salvador Sanchez and What Could Have Been
Killed in a car accident in 1982 at the age of 23, Salvador Sanchez had just entered the star phase of his career. The WBC Featherweight Champion, he had defeated hard-punching Danny Lopez twice, Ruben Castillo, Juan La Porte, pound-for-pound entrant Wilfredo Gomez, and budding all-time legend Azumah Nelson. He was the first featherweight boxer to be showcased by HBO, and with that network behind him, Sanchez's all-action style, skills and athletic powers would surely have catapulted him to super-stardom. What might have been if Sanchez had not been killed in that car crash?
Three weeks after the car crash that took his life, Sanchez was scheduled to meet #1 contender Juan La Porte in a rematch for the WBC title. By early September 1982, La Porte was no longer the novice that Sanchez had defeated in their December 1980 barn-burner. He was now a solid contender who had challenged and lost to Eudebio Pedroza in a close fight for the WBA belt. Still, it is hard to see the solid La Porte beating his now close-friend, the great Sanchez.
Once again, La Porte stands his ground with Sanchez and tries to match him blow for blow, and once again he finds Sanchez's combination of hand speed, volume punching and elusive head movement too much. La Porte and Sanchez tussle over the early rounds, with Sanchez asserting himself and sweeping the middle part of the fight. In the 10th, he knocks La Porte down, but refuses to finish him. La Porte shows his heart and rallies, storming out to capture the 11th. Sanchez takes the momentum back and closes out the show, winning the fight with scores of 115-112, 116-111 and 116-111.
By 1982, Sanchez was showing signs of outgrowing the 126 lbs. division. With 10 defenses of his WBC title behind him, "Chava" announced that he would move up to the 130 lbs. division. Historically, the champion in September 1982 was fellow Mexican Rafael Limon, a two-time champion on his second reign, and in the midst of a bitter rivalry with Bobby Chacon. Instead of Limon vs. Chacon III (The Ring's 1982 Fight of the Year) in December, the world was instead treated to January 1983's Limon vs. Sanchez. Just a couple of weeks shy of his birthday, Sanchez made minced-meat of Limon. Limon had a granite chin, but a wild, arm-punching style. Sanchez stood toe-to-toe with Limon, making him miss and making him pay. Limon would throw a wide shot which Sanchez would duck and exploit with a 3- or 4-punch combination. Limon's chin held up, but his face was reduced to ribbons. The doctor stopped the fight in the 7th.
Sanchez was now a two-division champion, and had not lost a fight in almost seven years. The #1 and #2 contenders for the WBC title were Cornelius Boza-Edwards of Uganda and a rising, flashy Puerto Rican by the name of Hector "Macho" Camacho. On his way up, Camacho was charismatic and had been trash-talking about how he could easily beat Sanchez. Combined with the renewal of the Mexican-Puerto Rican rivalry, the fight promised to be a mega-event. The WBC even ordered Sanchez to skip Boza-Edwards and fight Camacho first. Boza-Edwards was offered some step-aside money and a promise to fight the winner, and Sanchez vs. Camacho was signed for July 1983.
For once, Sanchez was in the ring with a fighter faster than himself. Sanchez came forward and Camacho alternated between brief exchanges and avoiding Sanchez with his footwork, sticking the right jab throughout. Unable to put his lead foot in the right place against a slicker opponent, Sanchez lost the first few rounds as he was unable to crack Camacho's combination of grace, skill and southpaw stance. However, there was a warning sign that should have worried Camacho's corner: Sanchez was no target. Camacho's punch accuracy was noticeably lower against the ever-moving head of Sanchez, and the shots that were getting through weren't slowing "Chava."
Sanchez got his timing down and started turning the tide in the 5th. Standing for another tactical exchanged, Camacho was bulled back on the ropes by Sanchez. With his lead foot firmly planted on the outside, Sanchez unleashed a hard right hand that caught Camacho flush on the cheekbone, opening a deep gash. That was followed by a double left hook. Camacho blocked the one upstairs, but the shot to the body landed hard. Hurt and shaken, Camacho was in full retreat for the remaining 90 seconds of the round. As Sanchez started pitching the right in greater quantities, Camacho started losing rounds. He boxed Sanchez for the remainder of the fight, but he never tried to stand and trade with him again. That wasn't enough. The scorecards were read out: a Split Decision with 115-113 twice for Sanchez, 116-112 Camacho.
The Puerto Rican immediately began to complain that he had been robbed, but at the time he was a 22 year old fighter who had just lost his first championship fight. Few listened and those who did labeled Camacho a cry-baby. Having fought three major opponents back-to-back in La Porte, Limon and Camacho, Team Sanchez scheduled an easy fight with a journeyman for November 1983, and then went on a much-needed Christmas vacation.
To be Continued...
I definitely don’t agree about the split decision between Sanchez & Camacho. I strongly believe that Sanchez was a couple notches above Camacho and would’ve taken a pretty lopsided decision. Good read though.
Sanchez was poised to fight Alexis Arguello in nov or dec of 82 and lets say he wins and becomes lightweight champ would Camacho have competed at 130? Camacho had fought on ESPN a couple of times and by the end of 82 had fought on national tv since all the tv networks still had Boxing in there programming.People who were around back then probably still remember Camacho running his mouth that he was better than Sanchez and if they fought he would beat him.Well if Sanchez was the 135 champ its possible Camachos mouth and rising star would get him a shot.Also to rattle your brain some more with Sanchez the light weight champ its possible that a Mancini vs Kim fight never happens and championship fights would still be 15 rnds today.Just maybe.So after a couple of defenses against Ray Boom Boom Mancini and Jose Luis Ramirez Sanchez faces Camacho say around sept of 83 on mexican independance day.What did we find out about Camacho at 130lbs he was deadly blazing hand speed but after winning his belt and a couple of defenses none went past 6rnds he packed it in and moved up in weight.At 135 he wasnt as spectacular his mouth hadnt slowed down but he in my opinion lacked stamina and conditioning and would run and hold as much as he could.A fight with Sanchez going 15 rnds is something I dont think Camacho would be able to handle.Lack of stamina is something you better not have when facing SAL.I think Camacho would come out blazing out the gates and probably be slightly ahead after 5rnds but his lack of stamina would start kicking in around the middle rnds and thats when SAL gets going.Going into those championship rnds would separate the Champ from the young contender and after 12 rnds Camacho would be a beaten fighter and not answer the bell for the final rnd.Sanchez by stoppage in 15.