Salvador Sanchez vs. Alexis Arguello

I just thought of this and it just got too exciting to ignore. Sanchez established himself as a great boxer-puncher while Arguello, having trouble with boxers, is a fundamental boxing wizard and one of the hardest punchers in the history of the sweet science. "The Explosive Thin Man" was better than the nickname would suggest. "The Murdering Thin Man" may've been more appropriate. Salavador, though a scientist, is a ruthless punisher who is not without his own machismo as was shown during his one sided affair with Wilfredo Gomez. This is one I will not call however I think I know the question here. It starts with Salvador being able to outbox Alexis however, would he be content to do that? At one time or another, he's going to try and take out Arguello. Salvador, solid chin and all, would've been in a danger zone in the championship rounds of 13,14 and 15. At FW, Alexis was every bit the puncher and the finisher Joe Louis was. I can't resist calling this one. Salvador rises from a 14th round knockdown and shows a lengendary heart by surviving the 14th and 15th rounds. Salvador by exciting but unanimous decision.

What a fight! Arguello's advantages include three+ inches in height and five inches in reach, power and the ability to cause cuts. Sanchez's advantages include superior defense, fitness and being able to fight in several styles. Sal also fought his very best against the very best and has better handspeed. Both are exceptionally tough, have exceptional whiskers and share a desire to be great. It wouldn't get better than this.

Arguello sometimes struggled for periods of time with guys who moved really well like Ruben Castillo or Vilomar Fernandez or even a Gerald Hayes. But Sanchez, while a GREAT counterpuncher was not especially mobile in his approach. So I don't see him dancing to victory, but instead trying to be slick in the pocket.

I also don't think Sanchez could really dissuade Arguello or make him go backwards. Bobby Chacon hit harder than Sal I think and so did Andy Ganigan. Neither of those guys could slow Arguello down.

Here is my guess. Alexis takes the early rounds while Sal tries to figure out what to do with the jab. In the middle rounds Sanchez figures it out and asserts himself and after about eight round it is an even fight with the momentum belonging to the Mexican. Somehwere around 9-10 Arguello is either going to cut Sanchez or hurt him enough to get him out of the pocket. By the twelfth Sanchez is now behind and has to mke something happen. He courageously wades in but this is now Alexis' territory and though he never drops Sal, he lands enough to win the late rounds. Arguello's superior size, length and power are just a little bit too much. Arguello by a close, very close decision.

Marble, I know you saw the Ruben Olivares - Alexis Arguello showdown. I believe this was the first world title Alexis ever won (Featherweight). I watched the fight years after it happened and I was amazed at the boxing ability of Olivares. Of course, I only saw it once so I'm anxious to know how you sized that fight up.

this matchup is a barnburner..both get tested fully..ill take alexis for the reasons marble stated.and by a hairline UD..

4445Frank wrote:

Marble, I know you saw the Ruben Olivares - Alexis Arguello showdown. I believe this was the first world title Alexis ever won (Featherweight). I watched the fight years after it happened and I was amazed at the boxing ability of Olivares. Of course, I only saw it once so I'm anxious to know how you sized that fight up.

I happen to think a good argument can be made for Olivares being considered Mexico's greatest fighter. When he was a bantam very, very few men could handle his power. He just blitzed people with that left hand. As he got older, slowed down just a bit and moved to feather he revealed some tremendous boxing skills. I mean how many real bangers in history have been any good fighting going backwards? Robinson, Louis, Sanchez, Gans...it's a pretty damned short list.

Arguello was one of those guys a boxer could befuddle. Chacon did it to him too as did Vilomar. But almost nobody could do it for 15 rounds. Alexis was really a terminator. He'd lose round after round and change nothing. He'd just keep closing and closing and then he'd hit you just one time too many and the fight would turn.

Olivares was simply too small in my view for Alexis and actually to be a great feather at all.

dmar5143 wrote:

this matchup is a barnburner..both get tested fully..ill take alexis for the reasons marble stated.and by a hairline UD..

At least in the first fight. Then the question comes up does Sal make enough adjustments, CAN he make enough, to change the outcome in a second fight?

My guess would be yes. Sanchez's versatility might overcome Alexis' extraordinary one dimensional approach.