1970s–1980sMexicanOrthodoxdeceased
Salvador Sánchez
“Sal”
Record: 44–1–1 (32 KO)Weight class: FeatherweightBorn: 1959-01-26
Titles & honours
- WBC Featherweight Champion (1980–1982)
Biography
Salvador Sánchez, born Santiago Tianguistenco, Mexico in 1959, won the WBC featherweight title in February 1980 (TKO 13 over Danny López) and made nine successful defences before his death. His August 1981 stoppage of Wilfredo Gómez — Gómez was undefeated in his previous 32 fights — was the consensus Fight of the Year. Sánchez was one of the most complete fighters of the 1980s: pressure, technique, conditioning, ring IQ all at world-class levels. Died at age 23 in a car crash in August 1982 — the day before his scheduled tenth defence. The boxing world has never recovered.