Salvador Sánchez Santiago (January 26, 1959 - August 12, 1982) was a Mexican boxer born in the small town of Santiago Tianguistenco, Mexico. January 26 is the 26th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1959 was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... August 12 is the 224th day of the year (225th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1982 is a number and represents a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar Events January-February January 6 - William Bonin is convicted of being the freeway killer. January 8 - AT&T agrees to divest itself of twenty-two subdivisions January 11 - Mark Thatcher, son of the British...

Sánchez started his career very young, as a teenager, and he started piling up wins against tough Mexican opposition. His first fight of note came against the Mexican featherweight champion Antonio Becerra, and Becerra proved far too experienced for the young Sánchez, dropping him in the first round, en route to a 12 round unanimous decision. This would turn out to be Sánchez's last knockdown and loss suffered during his career.

Sánchez kept on fighting and moved to the Featherweight division. Soon he had beaten people like the Puerto Rican Featherweight champion Felix Trinidad Sr., on his way to securing a title shot at world champion Danny "Little Red" Lopez, a popular tv fighter of the late 1970s who was an impressive fighter and had won some spectacular fights against the likes of former world champion David Kotey (twice), Juan Malvares and Mike Ayala. Confident and hard to beat, Lopez was beaten by Sánchez, who knocked out the defending champion in 13 rounds in Phoenix, Arizona. Thinking it was just a case of 'beginner's luck' (as it was Sánchez's first world title fight ever) Lopez looked for a rematch and this he got, in Las Vegas. This time he lasted one more round. Danny Lopez (born July 6, 1952) is a former boxer from Fort Duchesne, Utah. ... Events and trends Although in the United States and in many other Western societies the 1970s are often seen as a period of transition between the turbulent 1960s and the more conservative 1980s and 1990s, many of the trends that are associated widely with the Sixties, from the Sexual Revolution... Phoenix is surrounded by twenty two towns and cities that have grown so closely together that it is almost impossible to distinguish one from another in this satellite image. ... This article is about the city of Las Vegas in Nevada. ...

After defeating the young future world champion Juan Laporte, Sánchez embarked on a string of defenses against men like Patrick Ford and Roberto Castanon, retaining his title each time. Then World Jr Featherweight champion Wilfredo Gomez went up in weight and challenged Sánchez. Sánchez retained the crown by a knockout in round eight on August 21, 1981 in Las Vegas, and Gómez had to return to the Jr. Featherweight division. Juan Laporte (born November 24, 1959) is a former boxer who was born in Guayama, Puerto Rico. ... Wilfredo Gómez (born October 29, 1956) is a former boxer and three time world champion. ... August 21 is the 233rd day of the year (234th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1981 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

With that victory, Salvador Sánchez was an unknown to the casual boxing fan no more. He became a household name all over America that night. For other meanings of boxer, see Boxer (disambiguation). ... Wikiquote has quotations relating to: United States Wikinews has news related to this article: United States United States government Official website of the United States government - Gateway to governmental sites White House - Official site of the US President Senate. ...

Two fights later, his defense vs unheralded Jorge 'Rocky' Garcia was the first fight featuring two featherweights ever to be televised by HBO. He beat Garcia punch after punch, but the challenger gave honor to his nickname, an unknown fighter who lasts the distance with the world champion. For alternate meanings of HBO, see HBO (disambiguation). ...

Then came Azumah Nelson at Madison Square Garden. The unknown Nelson came from Ghana and would later become a 3 time world champion and a future hall of famer. He was unknown however, and was expected to only go a few rounds with the champ. It was an intense battle, with Sánchez managing to drop his young charge in the 7th round. After that they engaged in violent exchange after violent exchange. In the 15th, Sánchez broke out finally, connecting with a serious combination that dropped the challenger almost outside the ring. Referee Tony Perez had to stop the fight seconds later. Azumah Nelson (born September 19, 1958) is a former boxer who was a three time world champion. ... Madison Square Garden Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and sometimes simply called The Garden has been the name of four arenas in New York City, United States. ...

Ironic as life is, that round 15 would be not only the last of that fight, but also the last round of Sánchez's life. As he was training for a rematch with Laporte set for September, he crashed on the early morning of August 12, 1982, dying instantly. All of Mexico and Latin America mourned the fallen champion. He was only 23. August 12 is the 224th day of the year (225th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1982 is a number and represents a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar Events January-February January 6 - William Bonin is convicted of being the freeway killer. January 8 - AT&T agrees to divest itself of twenty-two subdivisions January 11 - Mark Thatcher, son of the British... Latin America consists of the countries of South America and some of North America (including Central America and some the islands of the Caribbean) whose inhabitants mostly speak Romance languages, although Native American languages are also spoken. ...

At the time of his death, there were talks about a rematch with Gómez or a challenge of world lightweight champion Alexis Argüello. Tragically, it will never be known what could have happened in any of these fights.

An asteroid, 2001 BT13, number 23318, was named after Sanchez (http://www.answers.com/topic/meanings-of-asteroid-names-23001-24000?hl=salvador&hl=s%C3%A1nchez).

He is a member of the International Boxing Hall Of Fame, alongside Gómez and Arguello. The modern International Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Canastota, New York, United States, within driving distance from the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown and the International Soccer Hall Of Fame in Oneonta. ...

See also: Salvador Sánchez vs. Wilfredo Gómez.

Current References

Salvador Sanchez is mentioned in a song (aptly named Salvador Sanchez) on Sun Kil Moon's "Ghosts of the Great Highway."

External link

• Career Record (http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=002201)