Born: January 26, 1959 Died: August 12, 1982 Total Bouts: 46 Won: 44 Lost: 1 Drew: 1 KOs: 32 Hall of Fame Induction: 1991

WHAT IF? That will forever be the question concerning Salvador Sanchez.

Though his professional career lasted but seven years and 46 fights, he is often talked about in the same breath with the likes of Willie Pep and Sandy Saddler. Some high praise for a boxer of any era or weight class.

Though his career was abbreviated he did in that short time hold the WBC Featherweight Title from 1980-82, and made nine successful defenses. During that span he stopped Little Red Lopez twice, Wilfredo Gomez and a 23 year old Azumah Nelson. When he died tragically at 23 years of age he was ranked as one of the top P4P Boxers in the World.

Sanchez, like many Mexican born boxers turned pro early, 16, and promptly won 17 of his first 18 bouts by knockouts. His slender frame not only packed punching power, but he was an elegant boxer.

Fighting for the Mexican Bantamweight Title in Mazatlan, Mexico in 1977, Antonio Becerra took a 12 round decision from Sanchez giving him his first and only defeat.

Sanchez quickly gained prominence with wins in Mexico and the US, including a 5th round TKO of Felix Trindad Sr in Houston, Texas.

In 1980, Sanchez challenged the very popular WBC Featherweight Champion Danny "Little Red" Lopez for the title. The last half of this fight in Phoenix, Arizona, saw Sanchez battering Lopez about the ring, when finally the referee had seen enough.
 

Four months into his reign Sanchez again stopped "Little Red", this time in Las Vegas. Successful defenses followed over Patrick Ford, and up and coming future champ Juan La Porte, Roberto Castanon, Nicky Perez, then a dominating win over the Future Hall of Famer Wilfredo Gomez by an 8th round TKO. A split decision win over Pat Cowdell at the Astrodome, and a decision win over Jorge Garcia followed.

Then in his final bout at the Madison Square Garden, Sanchez stopped the young and talented Azumah Nelson in the 15th round. Three weeks later Sanchez died when his sports car crashed in Mexico.

Sanchez in interviews had expressed a desire to unify the Featherweight Division and eventually move up to Lightweight to Challenge Alexis Arguello.

Of course we'll never know.