Salvador Sanchez, the renowned Mexican boxer, was born on January 26, 1959, in Santiago Tianguistenco, Mexico. Raised in a humble family, Sanchez displayed a natural inclination towards boxing from a young age.
Sanchez began his amateur career at the age of 16 and quickly demonstrated exceptional talent and determination. Despite facing financial challenges, Salvador's passion for the sport drove him to train rigorously, honing his skills and developing a unique boxing style characterized by speed, agility, and precise counterpunching. He embarked on a journey that would solidify his place among the boxing greats. Sanchez's early life was marked by his unwavering dedication to the sport and a relentless pursuit of excellence that would ultimately make him one of the most revered figures in boxing history, as well as a Mexican boxing legend.
On May 4, 1975, Sanchez marked his professional debut in Veracruz, facing fellow debutant Al Gardeno. Dominating the match, Salvador showcased his skills by stopping Gardeno in the third round. Following this impressive start, he embarked on a winning streak, triumphing in his next 17 fights, with 16 of them ending in stoppages. However, a significant challenge awaited him on September 9, 1977, when he encountered Antonio Becerra in Mazatlan for the vacant Mexican bantamweight title. Despite Becerra's lesser professional experience, his extensive background as an amateur proved advantageous, enabling him to skillfully fend off Sanchez's eager attacks. Ultimately, in a twelve-round battle, Sanchez suffered his first and only defeat, as the judges rendered a split decision in favor of Becerra.
On April 15, 1978, Sanchez embarked on his first journey to the United States, for a match at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. His opponent for the night was fellow Mexican boxer Juan Escobar. Despite facing adversity in the ring and being knocked down in the fifth round, Salvador showcased his resilience and determination, rallying back to level the scorecards and secure a draw. It was a close call, as two judges deemed the fight a draw, while the third judge scored it 93-97 in favor of Escobar, nearly resulting in what could have been Sanchez's second career loss. However, his ability to rally and salvage a draw highlighted his tenacity and fighting spirit.
In the subsequent 11 bouts, Sanchez competed in six matches in Mexico and five in the United States. Among these, a notable achievement came on July 22, 1979, when he delivered a dominant performance by demolishing the renowned Felix Trinidad Sr., a respected figure in the boxing world. Following this triumph, only six weeks later, Sanchez faced Richard Rozelle in a featherweight world title eliminator. Rozelle boasted an impressive amateur background with national titles to his name, and his corner included the experienced Angelo Dundee. The fight, although seen as a stepping stone for Sanchez's shot at the WBC world featherweight title, proved to be a formidable challenge. Despite Sanchez's reputation for early stoppages, it was his strategic boxing prowess that truly won fights, relying on precise timing and counterpunching rather than raw power. His genius in the ring was captivating to witness. Displaying his brilliance, Sanchez dropped Rozelle at the conclusion of the second round and overwhelmed the Detroit-based fighter with unrelenting attacks, ultimately prompting the referee to rightly stop the contest in the third round.
Following his impressive victory over Rozelle, Sanchez captured the public's attention, but it was his bout on February 2, 1980, against the long-reigning WBC world featherweight champion, Danny 'Little Red' Lopez, that truly propelled him towards the path of the Hall of Fame. Lopez, hailing from Utah, had held the featherweight title since 1976 and had successfully defended it against formidable opponents such as Jose Torres, David Kotey, and Mike Ayala. With an impressive record of 39 stoppages in 42 victories and only three losses, Lopez was widely regarded as the man to beat in the 126-pound division. At just 21 years old, all eyes were on Sanchez as he stepped into the ring to face this formidable champion, marking a pivotal moment in his career.
In their highly anticipated clash on February 2, 1980, Sanchez faced off against the reigning WBC world featherweight champion, Danny 'Little Red' Lopez. While Lopez held the title and had a formidable reputation with an impressive record, it was Sanchez who emerged victorious in this historic encounter. Throughout the grueling match, both fighters displayed exceptional skill and determination, engaging in intense exchanges. As the fight entered the 13th round, Sanchez's relentless attacks began to take their toll on Lopez, prompting the referee to intervene and stop the bout 51 seconds into the round. It was a pivotal moment that cemented Sanchez's ascent to boxing greatness, as he captured the world featherweight championship from the respected champion.
Two months later, on April 12, 1980, Sanchez defended his titles against the resilient Ruben Castillo at the Civic Auditorium in Tucson. In a grueling fight that lasted the full 15 rounds, Castillo's scorecard was behind by four rounds on two judges' cards and by three rounds on the third judge's card, allowing Sanchez to keep his titles.
Just nine weeks later, on June 21, Sanchez faced ‘Little Red’ once again in a rematch at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. While Lopez put up a slightly stronger fight this time, Sanchez's growing confidence was evident as he dismantled Lopez with powerful right-hand shots and impactful left hooks to the jaw. Recognizing the one-sided nature of the bout, referee Mills Lane halted the contest in the fourteenth round.
In his first fight of 1981, Sanchez faced Roberto Castanon, the European featherweight champion from Spain. Despite Castanon's impressive record of 43 wins and 1 loss, his previous outing against Lopez in 1979 showed that he struggled outside of his home country, as he was knocked out in just two rounds. Castanon possessed an aggressive style, constantly moving forward and throwing powerful punches. However, this played into Sanchez's strengths perfectly. Every time Castanon stepped into range, Sanchez skillfully picked him apart with precision. Despite managing to hang on for 10 rounds, all three judges had Castanon significantly behind on their scorecards, leading to Castanon’s second loss of his career.
On August 21, 1981, Wilfredo Gomez, a Puerto Rican boxer, challenged Sanchez for his titles. Gomez, also known as 'Bazooka,' entered the fight undefeated in 32 bouts with only one draw and had held the WBC super-bantamweight crown since 1977. With a reputation for stopping all of his opponents, including Mexican fighter Carlos Zarate, Gomez aimed to secure an early knockout against the champion. However, Sanchez, who had a slight reach advantage and a more calculated boxing style, landed a beautiful right counter in the first round, causing Gomez to hit the canvas for an eight count. This match is worth watching, as even though the scorecards showed a close fight going into the seventh round, Gomez's face revealed the toll of Sanchez's systematic and impressive boxing skills, making it one of the finest boxing displays witnessed in the ring.
Following another knockdown in the eighth round, the referee swiftly stepped in, bringing an end to the fight. With this result, Sanchez retained his title as champion, while Wilfredo Gomez went on to achieve further success, becoming a three-weight world champion. Gomez's impressive career rightfully earned him a place in the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1995.
On July 21, 1982 Sanchez would fight his final fight against Azumah “The Professor” Nelson in Madison Square Garden. With a record of 13-0 and relatively unknown, Nelson, the future Hall of Famer, accepted the fight against Sanchez with only a few weeks' notice. As the clear underdog, he faced little expectation and received minimal chances of winning. However, the native Ghanaian proved to be a formidable opponent, giving Sanchez a tough challenge. Nelson skillfully countered every one of Sanchez's punches and displayed versatility, whether fighting at a distance, up close, or on the defensive. Their styles mirrored each other, as they strategized to land punches and evade their opponent's attacks.
The momentum of the fight shifted in the seventh round when Sanchez unleashed a powerful left hook that sent Nelson staggering back into the corner ropes. Shortly after, Sanchez landed another crushing left hook to Nelson's jaw, causing him to go down. Displaying true champion resolve, Nelson got back up and immediately resumed the fight, taking the fight back to Sanchez. As the fifteenth round entered its final two minutes, Sanchez unleashed a relentless barrage of punches, resulting in Nelson being knocked down once again. Despite his brave efforts to continue fighting, referee Tony Perez intervened to protect Nelson from further punishment.
Following his successful defense streak, Sanchez had numerous enticing options for his next fights. He had already signed a rematch with Juan Laporte, and a rematch with Nelson seemed highly likely. There were also rumors circulating about Sanchez moving up in weight to challenge the lightweight champion, Alexis Arguello. However, the most captivating prospect that unfortunately never materialized was a showdown against fellow Mexican Julio César Chávez at super featherweight. By the time Sanchez defeated Nelson, Chavez had already compiled an impressive record of 29 wins and would go on to become the WBC super featherweight champion in 1984. Despite the allure of these potential matchups, Sanchez had publicly announced his intention to retire at the end of 1983. He planned to return to college and pursue a career as a doctor, showing his disciplined approach to securing his financial future. One of his few indulgences during his career was his collection of fast cars, which at the time of his victory over Nelson, amounted to nine vehicles.
Tragically, just three weeks after his impressive victory over Nelson, the 23-year-old Sanchez's life came to a devastating end in a car accident. The collision occurred when Sanchez's Porsche 928 collided with a tractor-trailer while he was driving between Queretaro and his training camp in San Jose Iturbide, a distance of 160 miles north of Mexico City. The specific reason for Sanchez's presence on the road at 3:30 A.M. remains unknown, as it deviated from his usual training routine, which involved going to bed at 9 P.M. and beginning his road work at 5:30 A.M. The shocking news of his untimely demise left the boxing world and his fans mourning the loss of a remarkable talent.
Commentator Larry Merchant said of Sanchez, “When a champion is as physically talented as this man is, their main opponent is themselves.”
Mike Tyson weighed in on Sanchez’s skill in the ring, “If you’re a halfway fighter, a decent fighter, you might last the distance… He fights right above the level of the game that he’s fighting. He’s just above everybody else.”
Over 50,000 devoted supporters gathered to pay their final respects to the beloved champion at his funeral. If you happen to find yourself in Santiago, you might come across a stunningly crafted statue commemorating Sanchez's legacy. Additionally, not far from the statue, you can visit his final resting place, where he was laid to rest.
Salvador Sanchez, known as 'The Invincible Eagle,' was a compact fighter standing at 5ft 6 inches with powerful shoulders. His punching ability was reminiscent of a middleweight, earning him widespread recognition. In 1991, he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Sanchez is survived by his wife, Maria Teresa, and two sons, Salvador and Omar. To this day, he remains adored by millions of Mexican fans who continue to celebrate his legacy as a featherweight icon.
