SEARCHING FOR SALVADOR SANCHEZ
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 13 Feb 2008
Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez, reigning WBC 130 lb. titlist, conceded to a smaller cut of the purse for a chance to salvage national pride and a possible career defining fight against the world's number one superfeatherwieght Manny Pacquiao.
Pacquiao?s continuing success against Mexican fighters established not just a boxing rivalry but an ongoing frantic search for a Mexican boxer who can put a halt to his rampage. Pacquiao?s popularity and pound per pound status has also lead to mythical match-ups against all time greats. Is there a Mexican boxer past or present, alive or dead in the 126 to 130 lb. weight range that can subdue the storm from the Pacific?
Twenty eight years ago the best 126 pound boxer in the world was a Mexican named Salvador Sanchez. In 1980, he wrested the WBC featherweight champion by scoring a one-sided 13th round KO win over the popular American Danny "Little Red" Lopez. But it was Sanchez? performance against the Puerto Rican superman, Wilfredo ?Bazooka? Gomez, in 1981 that cemented his legend.
Gomez was the Manny Pacquiao of his time. He was the reigning WBC superbantamweight champ and he held an incredible record of winning 32 consecutive fights by knockout. He was a fearsome puncher who in his career scored knockouts in his first forty victories. He moved up in weight and was at the 32nd KO juncture when Sanchez gave him a terrific beating and scored an
eight round knockout win.
Sanchez's life came to a tragic end when he was only twenty three years old when his speeding Porsche rammed into a truck. Boxing enthusiasts still speculate how good he could have been. Consider the fighters he has beaten in such a short career: Danny Lopez, Wilfredo Gomez and future champs Juan LaPorte and Azumah Nelson.
If Sanchez had fought today, could he beat Pacquiao? I believe he could. Marquez himself gave us a glimpse four years ago. Juan Manuel survived a major shellacking in the first round and outworked and out boxed Pacquiao the rest of the way. Pacquiao may have had blistered feet and an injured left that night, but still Marquez showed that smart boxing can tame the
beast.
Salvador Sanchez (44W-1L-1D, 32 KO) could hit but was not a known knockout puncher. He showed a preference for counterpunching and his fists were fast and accurate. He had a great chin and he was at his best against fighters who charged at him. He would make his opponents pay for their misses. Imagine him against an often erratic and off balanced Manny Pacquiao.
Can Marquez channel the ghost of Sanchez? The circumstances of Sanchez-Gomez are different from Pacquiao-Marquez II. Their battle will be fought one division higher. Freddie Roach has worked on Pacquiao?s technical flaws and has developed new
weapons for the Pacman. They have tasted each others blood and familiarity does breed contempt.
I believe in this fight both boxers will once again have their moments. Marquez will showcase his counterpunching while Pacquiao will try to cut off the ring and unload during the moments when he can trap Marquez. Pacquiao has to make each power blow count and hurt Marquez every opportunity he can get. Marquez will have to earn Pacquiao?s respect and if he has the
power at 130 lbs. to make Pacquiao pay attention remains to be seen. Past opponents like Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera also had their moments out-boxing the Filipino. Even Oscar Larios gave Filipinos a third round scare last 2006.But their efforts were not sustained for the twelve full rounds. Pacquiao made them pay when he had his moments.
It will take a legendary effort from Marquez and maybe even the spirits of the great Mexican warriors of the past to pull this one off.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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