Mexico’s Top Boxer: Julio Cesar Chavez vs. Salvador Sanchez

Hmm. So, boxing, right? I stumbled upon some stuff recently—like, no idea why I got into this rabbit hole— about this guy from Mexico, Salvador Sanchez. Featherweight world champ. His record? A crazy 44-1-1. Dude’s got 32 KOs under his belt! Seriously, that’s wild.

Oh, and a quick sidenote (though not that I expect you to know this): I once watched him fight back in September ‘80. Yeah, on TV, not in person—what can I say, I never made it to San Antonio. Anyway, he was up against Patrick Ford from Guyana. Ford was all, “I’m gonna win this,” with his 16-0 record. Sanchez was 36-1-1 back then. And honestly? Kinda thought Ford had it in the bag. But, Sanchez snatched that majority decision, and I was, like, “Whaaat?”

But wait, where was I? Oh, yeah—I was supposed to say it was sad. Like, the guy won seven more times after that Ford match. But then, boom. August 12, 1982—he had this ugly run-in with a truck. Can’t help but think about what might’ve been.

And now, let’s talk about how Sanchez snagged that title. It was against Danny ‘Little Red’ Lopez in 1980. Phoenix was the place. Then, he dismantled Wilfredo Gomez in ’81. Crazy! Then, a few more wins, and there he was at friggin’ Madison Square Garden, taking out Azumah Nelson. And Nelson wasn’t a pushover, you know?

Okay, switching gears—Julio ‘J.C.’ Chavez. Man, if we’re gonna talk about records… how’s this: 107-6-2, with a jaw-dropping 85 knockouts. The guy defended his title 29 times. That’s nuts! He left a trail of wreckage: Roger Mayweather, Rocky Lockridge, and a bunch more. Oh, and sure, he had a couple losses—like to Randall and Oscar De La Hoya (darn it, Oscar).

But between Sanchez and Chavez, who would be the Mexican boxing GOAT? Geez, how do you even begin to compare salsa to guacamole when they’re both so different and yet so… epic? Anyway… food for thought.