“I’m convinced that Salvador Sanchez was the best Mexican fighter of all time. Even better than Julio Cesar Chavez.”    — Wilfredo Gomez

“He consistently showed the understanding and awareness of a veteran in his early twenties, a testimony perhaps to the number of fights and defenses he crammed into his short career. As a veteran, he might have attained the rare heights of strategic genius reserved for the likes of Archie Moore and Bernard Hopkins.”    — Matt McGrain

Sanchez dominating Danny Lopez.

Today the boxing world marks the anniversary of the untimely death of Salvador Sanchez, without a doubt one of the all-time greatest Mexican boxers. The fighter called “Chava” and “The Invincible Eagle” burst onto the boxing scene seemingly from nowhere in 1980 when he defeated Danny Lopez on live television for a world title belt. And while Sanchez’s championship reign was relatively short, it was just long enough for the Mexican warrior to establish himself as one of the greatest featherweights of all-time.

In 1982 he died in a car accident at the age of 23, but, amazingly, he had already won eleven straight championship fights, including historic wins over fellow Hall of Famers Lopez, Wilfredo Gomez and Azumah Nelson. Every year fight fans remember Sanchez and his tragic death, but we also recall his astonishing ring skills. So what better time to pay tribute to a truly great champion by bringing you Lee Wylie‘s excellent breakdown of this great featherweight’s unique and highly sophisticated counterpunching style.

In his final fight, Sanchez turns back the challenge of Azumah Nelson.

When many boxing fans hear the term “counterpuncher,” they naturally think first of a defensive-minded pugilist such as Floyd Mayweather or Guillermo Rigondeaux, a boxer who waits for the opponent to initiate before striking.  But Sanchez was something altogether different, an aggressive counter-puncher, ruthless and calculating, patient and precise. As Wylie notes, there were different facets to Salvador’s technique, but he was most dangerous as a counterpuncher.

So enjoy another Lee Wylie masterpiece and appreciate again the ring brilliance of the fistic legend who James Toney calls, “The greatest Mexican fighter of all-time … Period. Hands down.” Check it out: