Salvador Sánchez

Salvador Sánchez
Statistics
Real name Salvador Sánchez Narváez
Nickname(s) Sal Sánchez
The Invincible Eagle
The Champ
Chava
Weight(s) Featherweight
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Reach 173 cm (68 in)
Nationality Mexican
Born January 26, 1959
Santiago Tianguistenco, EdoMex, Mexico
Died August 12, 1982(1982-08-12) (aged 23) Queretaro, Mexico
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights 46
Wins 44
Wins by KO 32
Losses 1
Draws 1
No contests 0

Salvador Sánchez Narváez (January 26, 1959 – August 12, 1982) was a Mexican boxer born in the town of Santiago Tianguistenco, Estado de México. Sanchez was the WBC and lineal featherweight champion from 1980 to 1982. Many of his contemporaries as well as boxing writers believe that, had it not been for his premature death, Sánchez could have gone on to become the greatest Featherweight boxer of all time. Sánchez died on August 12, 1982 in a car accident from Querétaro to San Luis Potosí[1] He is also the uncle of Salvador Sánchez II.[2]

In 1991, Sánchez was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. The Ring magazine named him Fighter of the Year in 1981. In 2002, he was named the 24th greatest fighter of the past 80 years by The Ring magazine.[3] In 2003, The Ring rated Sánchez number 88 on the list of 100 greatest punchers of all time.[4] Sánchez was voted as the #3 featherweight of the 20th Century by the Associated Press.[5]

Career

Sánchez started his professional career at the age of 16, as a teenager (after a brief amateur career consisting of reportedly 4 amateur bouts) he started piling up wins against tough Mexican opposition. His first fight of note came in his 19th professional fight against the Mexican bantamweight champion Antonio Becerra. Becerra proved too experienced for the young Sánchez, the bout ended in a split decision defeat for Sánchez.

Sánchez kept on fighting and moved to the Featherweight division. Soon he had beaten people like the Puerto Rican featherweight champion Felix Trinidad Sr., on his way to securing a title shot at world champion Danny "Little Red" Lopez, a popular TV fighter of the late 1970s who was an impressive fighter and had won some spectacular fights against the likes of former world champion David Kotei (twice), Juan Malvares and Mike Ayala. Confident and hard to beat, Lopez was beaten by the 21-year-old Sánchez, who knocked out the defending champion in 13 rounds in Phoenix, Arizona, United States on February 2, 1980. Sánchez defended his title for the first time with a 15-round unanimous decision against Ruben Castillo (47–1). Thinking it was just a case of 'beginner's luck' (as it was Sánchez's first world title fight ever), Lopez looked for a rematch and this he got, in Las Vegas. This time Sánchez defeated Lopez by 14th-round TKO. In his next fight, he defeated Patrick Ford (15–0) .

On December 13, 1980, Sánchez defeated future champion Juan Laporte by unanimous decision. Sánchez then defended his title against Roberto Castanon (43–1–0) and scored a win over Nicky Perez (50–3–0). Then undefeated World Jr Featherweight champion Wilfredo Gómez (32–0–1) went up in weight and challenged Sánchez. Sánchez retained the crown by a knockout in round eight on August 21, 1981, in Las Vegas, and Gómez had to return to the Jr. Featherweight division.

With that victory, Salvador was an unknown to the casual boxing fan no more. He became a household name all over the United States that night.

In his next fight, he defeated Olympic medalist Pat Cowdell by split decision. His defense vs unheralded Jorge "Rocky" Garcia was the first fight featuring two featherweights ever to be televised by HBO. He beat Garcia punch after punch, but the challenger gave honor to his nickname, an unknown fighter who lasts the distance with the world champion.

On July 21, 1982, Sánchez faced future champion Azumah Nelson at Madison Square Garden. Nelson, a late substitute for mandatory challenger Mario Miranda, was unknown at the time however, and was expected to only go a few rounds with the champ. It was an intense battle, with Sánchez managing to drop his young charge in the 7th round. After that they engaged in violent exchange after violent exchange. In the 15th, Sánchez broke out finally, connecting with a serious combination that dropped the challenger almost outside the ring. Referee Tony Perez had to stop the fight seconds later. Azumah Nelson went on to have a glittering career and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2004.[6]

Sánchez's dominance as featherweight champion was such that he held title defense victories over the next three fighters (LaPorte, Gomez, and Nelson) who won the WBC title after his death. Also notably, he went 4-0, all four wins by knockouts, against fellow members of the International Boxing Hall of Fame (Danny Lopez twice-KO 13, KO 14-Wilfredo Gomez-KO 8-and Azumah Nelson-KO 15)

Death

As he was training for a rematch with Laporte set for September, he crashed on the early morning of August 12, 1982, while driving his Porsche 928 sports car along the federal highway from Santiago de Querétaro to San Luis Potosí, dying instantly.[7] At the time of his death, there were talks about a bout with Miranda, a rematch with Gómez or a challenge of world lightweight champion Alexis Argüello. The latter was already off the table. There had been negotiations between the Sánchez and Argüello camps but they broke off when Argüello chose to campaign as a junior welterweight. Salvador Sánchez finished his career 44-1-1. Sánchez was posthumously inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1991.

Acting

Sánchez appeared as himself, albeit as a Junior Lightweight world champion, in the 1983 film The Last Fight, released after his death. The movie was dedicated to him. In it, Sánchez shared scenes with Ruben Blades, who played a challenger to Sánchez's title.[8]

Professional record

44 Wins (32 knockouts, 12 decisions), 1 Lost, 1 Draw[9]
Res. Record Opponent Type Rd., Time Date Location Notes
Win44–1–1Ghana Azumah Nelson TKO15 (15), 1:49July 21, 1982United States Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, United States Retained WBC & Lineal Featherweight titles.
Win43–1–1Mexico Jorge Garcia UD15May 8, 1982United States Reunion Arena, Dallas, Texas, United States Retained WBC & Lineal Featherweight titles.
Win42–1–1United Kingdom Pat Cowdell SD15December 12, 1981United States Astrodome, Houston, Texas, United States Retained WBC & Lineal Featherweight titles.
Win41–1–1Puerto Rico Wilfredo Gómez TKO8 (15), 2:09August 21, 1981United States Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Retained WBC & Lineal Featherweight titles.
Win40–1–1United States Nicky Perez UD10July 11, 1981United States Los Angeles, California, United States
Win39–1–1Spain Roberto Castanon TKO10 (15), 1:09March 22, 1981United States Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Retained WBC & Lineal Featherweight titles.
Win38–1–1Puerto Rico Juan Laporte UD15December 13, 1980United States County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas, United States Retained WBC & Lineal Featherweight titles.
Win37–1–1Guyana Patrick Ford MD15September 13, 1980United States Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas, United States Retained WBC & Lineal Featherweight titles.
Win36–1–1United States Danny Lopez TKO14 (15), 1:42June 21, 1980United States Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Retained WBC & Lineal Featherweight titles.
Win35–1–1United States Ruben Castillo UD15April 12, 1980United States Civic Auditorium, Tucson, Arizona, United States Retained WBC & Lineal Featherweight titles.
Win34–1–1United States Danny Lopez TKO13(15), 0:51February 2, 1980United States Veteran's Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona, United States Won WBC & Lineal Featherweight titles.
Win33–1–1Mexico Rafael Gandarilla TKO5 (10)December 15, 1979Mexico Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Win32–1–1United States Richard Rozelle KO3 (10), 1:55September 15, 1979United States Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, United States
Win31–1–1Puerto Rico Félix Trinidad Sr. TKO5 (10)August 7, 1979United States Summit, Houston, Texas, United State
Win30–1–1Mexico Rosalio Muro KO3 (10)July 22, 1979Mexico San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
Win29–1–1Philippines Fel Clemente UD12June 17, 1979United States Convention Center Arena, San Antonio, Texas, United States
Win28–1–1Mexico Salvador Torres TKO7 (10)May 19, 1979Mexico Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Win27–1–1United States James Martinez UD10March 13, 1979United States San Antonio, Texas, United States
Win26–1–1Mexico Carlos Mimila KO3 (10)February 3, 1979Mexico Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Win25–1–1Panama José Santana TKO2 (10)December 16, 1978Mexico Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Win24–1–1Philippines Edwin Alarcon TKO9 (10)November 21, 1978United States San Antonio, Texas, United States
Win23–1–1United States Francisco Ponce KO2 (10)September 26, 1978United States Houston, Texas, United States
Win22–1–1Ecuador Hector Cortez TKO7 (10)August 13, 1978Mexico Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico
Win21–1–1Mexico José Sánchez UD10July 1, 1978Mexico Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Draw20–1–1Mexico Juan Escobar MD10March 15, 1978United States Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States
Win20–1Mexico Eliseo Cosme PTS10December 5, 1977Mexico Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Win19–1Mexico José Luis Soto PTS10November 11, 1977Mexico Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Loss18–1Mexico Antonio Becerra SD12September 9, 1977Mexico Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico vacant Mexico Bantamweight title on the line.
Win18–0Mexico Rosalio Badillo TKO5 (10)May 21, 1977Mexico Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Win17–0Mexico Daniel Felizardo KO5 (10)March 12, 1977Mexico Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Win16–0Mexico Raúl López TKO10 (10)February 5, 1977Mexico Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico
Win15–0Mexico Antonio Leon TKO10 (10)December 25, 1976Mexico Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Win14–0Mexico Saul Montana TKO9 (10)October 31, 1976Mexico Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico
Win13–0Mexico Joel Valdez TKO9 (10)August 11, 1976Mexico Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Win12–0Mexico Pedro Sandoval TKO9 (10)July 5, 1976Mexico Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Win11–0Mexico Fidel Trejo KO6 (10)May 26, 1976Mexico Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Win10–0Mexico Jose Chavez TKO7 (10)April 24, 1976Mexico Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Win9–0Mexico Serafin Isidro Pacheco TKO4 (8)March 31, 1976Mexico Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Win8–0Mexico Javier Solis TKO7 (8)February 25, 1976Mexico Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Win7–0Mexico Juan Granados TKO3 (8)January 24, 1976Mexico Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Win6–0Mexico Fidel Trejo UD8December 11, 1975Mexico Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Win5–0Mexico Candido Sandoval TKO7 (8)November 25, 1975Mexico Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Win4–0Mexico Cesar Lopez KO4 (6)October 19, 1975Mexico Misantla, Veracruz, Mexico
Win3–0Mexico Victor Martinez KO2 (6)August 10, 1975Mexico Misantla, Veracruz, Mexico
Win2–0Mexico Miguel Ortiz KO3 (6)May 25, 1975Mexico Misantla, Varacruz, Mexico
Win1–0Mexico Al Gardeno KO3 (4)May 4, 1975Mexico Veracruz, Veracruz, Mexico Salvador's professional debut.

See also

Trivia

In the movie 21, Ben Campbell, played by Jim Sturgess, introduces himself to a girl as Salvador Sánchez.[10]

Folk Rock band Sun Kil Moon recorded an eponymous song about Sanchez on their 2003 album Ghosts of the Great Highway.

Sporting positions
Preceded by
Danny Lopez		 WBC Featherweight Champion
Feb 2 1980 – Aug 12 1982
Died in car crash		 Vacant
Title next held by
Juan Laporte
Lineal Featherweight Champion
Feb 2 1980 – Aug 12 1982
Died in car crash		 Vacant
Title next held by
Eusebio Pedroza

See also

References

  1. ↑ Luevanos, Fernando (2006-10-04). "Mexicano Salvador Sánchez". Box Rec. Archived from the original on 2015-01-04. Retrieved 2010-06-23.
  2. ↑ Seckbach, Elie (2009-10-04). "Sánchez like Sánchez". Fan House. Retrieved 2010-06-23.
  3. ↑ "About.com: Boxing". Boxing.about.com. Retrieved 2017-12-16.
  4. ↑ Eisele, Andrew (2003). "Ring Magazine's 100 Greatest Punchers". About.com. Retrieved 2017-12-15.
  5. ↑ "AP Fighters of the Century List". Retrieved 2012-12-18.
  6. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-10-22. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
  7. ↑ Lightweight champ Sánchez dies in crash
  8. ↑ http://www.salvadorsanchez.com/English/legacy.html
  9. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-01-13. Retrieved 2011-08-05.
  10. ↑
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