Mexico’s Best Boxer: Julio Cesar Chavez Or Salvador Sanchez?

Recently, I have come across several articles on Mexico’s WBC World Featherweight champion, Salvador Sanchez, 44-1-1, with 32 knockouts. That is an impressive record.

(Credit: WBC)

The only time I ever saw Sanchez fight was in September of 1980, winning a majority decision over Guyana’s Patrick Ford, 16-0, when he was 36-1-1, at the Freeman Coliseum, in San Antonio, Texas, via television. I thought Ford did enough to get the decision.

Sanchez would go on to win his next seven fights before he lost his life in an auto collision on August 12, 1982, colliding with a truck while speeding, per police report.

Sanchez won the title, stopping Danny ‘Little Red’ Lopez, 42-3, in February of 1980, in Phoenix, AZ. He later stopped one of the greatest boxers from Puerto Rico, Wilfredo Gomez, 32-0-1, in August of 1981, in Las Vegas. He would win his next three fights, ending with stopping future champion Azumah Nelson, 13-0, at Madison Square Garden.

Looking at the great world super Featherweight, Lightweight, and light welterweight champion Julio ‘J.C.’ Chavez, 107-6-2 with 85 knockouts in comparison with some 29 title defenses.

Chavez had wins over Roger Mayweather, Rocky Lockridge, Juan Laporte, Edwin Rosario, Rafael Limon, Jose Luis Ramirez, Sammy Fuentes, Meldrick Taylor, Lonnie Smith, Hector Camacho, Greg Haugen, Frankie Randall, Tony Lopez, Giovanni Parisi and Joey Gamache. Lost to Randall, Oscar De La Hoya and Kostya Tszyu.

Both fighters were inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Who do you think was the greatest Mexican champion between the two of them?