Unsung 20th Century Fights: Salvador Sanchez vs Wilfredo Gomez

On Aug. 21, 1981, two of the most gifted pugilists put it all on the line for supremacy in the featherweight division.

Reigning WBC and The Ring featherweight champion Salvador Sanchez made his sixth title defense against Wilfredo Gomez, a former WBC and The Ring title holder himself at super bantamweight.

For Gomez, making the jump from 122 to 126 lbs meant forgoing his championships in order to set his sights on new challenges. With a polished record of 32-0-1, Gomez had done everything but hear an unfavorable decision on the scorecards, or feel the dispiriting hug of the referee calling off a fight.

Meanwhile, Sanchez heard the chill-inducing pre-fight announcements sing to the tune of his 40-1-1 record, his only loss coming by split decision in 1977 against Antonio Becerra.

Many pundits label Sanchez as the greatest what-if story, and in some cases, the most special fighter boxing has ever seen. Gomez cared little about this natural apt that Sanchez was blessed with, as the fight took its course in a fashion that should be talked about to this day.

The Fight

Sanchez began crafty with his combinations and counters, and zealous with his uppercuts. Gomez retorted with a string of wild hooks, which Sanchez weaved. A very short left hand sent Gomez to the canvas in round one, and established momentum for the Mexican legend. The round ended with an all-out onslaught of every punch imaginable from Sanchez, making Gomez retreat, and succumb to buckling knees in one of the best pugilistic rounds you’ll ever see.

Sanchez proceeded in round two with an unbelievable jab, and trying to stay alive, Gomez threw with the verve of a Rocky Marciano. Midway through, Gomez and Sanchez gave viewers one of the most exhilarating 30-second sequences in boxing history. Gomez had Sanchez boxed into a corner, and they both threw a series of errant uppercuts before going crazy with a bunch of hooks that landed in a true test of chin strength. Gomez stole the round to even the fight.

Seemingly over the early knockdown, Gomez began throwing a bevy of feints to throw off Sanchez’s relentless attack, getting very low and animated. Gomez caught Sanchez with a nice uppercut midway. Sanchez retaliated with a left hand that sent Gomez backpedaling after a brief sequence of whiffed uppercuts. Gomez weaved several punches and went to the body with power in a wowing defensive exhibition. What once looked like a fight Sanchez would end early, Gomez took a 29-28 advantage heading into the fourth.

Both fighters mirrored each other with a round four of innumerable punches thrown. Nevertheless, Gomez took a convincing round, putting him up 39-37 on my card.

Otherworldly speed slowed down for Sanchez, who compensated with great head movement in round five. Gomez was touching up Sanchez’s chin, temples and abdomen to put it lightly. Sanchez had some…