Today, January 26, one of the coolest and most iconic Mexican boxers of all time, Salvador “Chava” Sanchez (44-1-1, 32 KOs), could celebrate his 64th birthday if he had not died in a car accident in the prime of his life 23 years old.
He was an excellent boxer, combining speed, endurance, footwork, punching power and cool counter-puncher skills.
The Mexican performed all the main time of his career in the featherweight category, took the WBC title in 1980 and spent nine defenses in 2.5 years, and not against just anyone, but with opposition from normal to elite.
In July 1982, Sanchez faced Azuma Nelson, another legendary fighter of the 1980s. At that time it was a “green” prospect with the first title fight.
In a more difficult than expected confrontation, Salvador did finish the boxer from Ghana to a technical knockout in the 15th round.
In 1983, he wanted to challenge the great Alexis Argueyo for the WBC lightweight title. But the fight with Nelson was the last: he had a little more than three weeks to live after this fight.
On August 12, Sanchez’s Porsche 928 collided head-on with an oncoming truck (Sanchez drove into the oncoming lane in an attempt to overtake the truck in front of him). Boxer died on the spot.
Sanchez was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota in 1991, and in 1999 The Associated Press named him the third greatest featherweight of the 20th century.
One can only imagine what heights “Chava” could reach.