On Aug. 21, 1981, two of probably the most gifted pugilists put all of it on the road for supremacy within 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 with a view to set his sights on recent challenges. With a refined record of 32-0-1, Gomez had done the whole lot 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 best what-if story, and in some cases, probably the most special fighter boxing has ever seen. Gomez cared little about this natural apt that Sanchez was blessed with, because the fight took its course in a fashion that ought to be talked about to at the present time.

The Fight

Sanchez began crafty along with his combos and counters, and zealous along with his uppercuts. Gomez retorted with a string of untamed hooks, which Sanchez weaved. A really 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 each punch conceivable from Sanchez, making Gomez retreat, and succumb to buckling knees in the most effective pugilistic rounds you’ll ever see.

Sanchez proceeded in round two with an unbelievable jab, and attempting to stay alive, Gomez threw with the verve of a Rocky Marciano. Midway through, Gomez and Sanchez gave viewers one of the crucial exhilarating 30-second sequences in boxing history. Gomez had Sanchez boxed right into a corner, and so they each threw a series of errant uppercuts before going crazy with a bunch of hooks that landed in a real 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 pleasant uppercut midway. Sanchez retaliated with a left hand that sent Gomez backpedaling after a temporary 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.

Each fighters mirrored one another with a round 4 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 place it evenly. Sanchez had some strong moments within the round but Gomez began running away with the fight, and duplicated such efforts in round six. Within the blink of a watch, Gomez was up at the least 4 rounds after six, and five on my end.

A champion weathers every storm. The calm got here on the bell of round six. Inside those 60 seconds, Sanchez did whatever it was that he needed to do with a view to turn the tide, and switch the tide he did.

In round seven, Sanchez remained stoic as ever, never gritting his teeth, showing his mouthpiece when hit flush within the face, or showing any emotion for that matter. Sanchez now went for the body with vicious intent, trying to put a dent in Gomez’s ribs. A brief right and prolonged left cross rattled Sanchez upstairs. Nonetheless, Sanchez returned to form, and made it a fight over again.

Round eight could be the last round of the event, as Sanchez hit Gomez with three Ryan Garcia-type crosses to the appropriate side of his body, winding up madly for every punch. The referee stood and watched as Sanchez decked Gomez with a mean overhand right and a series of shots to the top that left Gomez dazed over again. This time, there was no resurfacing for the Puerto Rican warrior, because the fight was called as a TKO.

Conclusion

Sanchez displayed natural talent, grace, impeccable hand speed, fundamental footwork and the need of a champion. Gomez exhibited resilience, heart, power and skill. The fight was a beauty to behold from start to complete, and added to the legacy of a Sanchez who would only benefit from the limelight for thus for much longer.

Sanchez would fight three more times, going into round 15 in all three bouts. He would come away with the victory in each, ending his profession with a Hall of Fame-worthy record of 44-1-1. Unfortunately, Sanchez crashed his Porsche while driving in his home country of Mexico. He died from impact. He left the world with many questions as to how much further he could have prolonged his boxing legacy.

The 23-year-old phenom completed a lot in such a brief period of time. Assuming he followed an identical profession trajectory as lots of the greats before and after him, especially of Mexican descent, Sanchez could have usurped 100 skilled bouts. It stays a conversation for the ages.

Gomez solidified an all-time profession after his fight with Sanchez as well. The Puerto Rican would move up in weight yet one more time to super featherweight, capturing the WBA and The Ring titles at said weight class against Rocky Lockridge in 1985. He would only lose twice more after his fight with Sanchez, before hanging up the gloves.

Each boxers were inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame – Sanchez posthumously in 1991, and Gomez shortly after in 1995.

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