Salvador Sanchez vs Alexis Arguello. Who wins?

Question

Dream match that never happened. 15 rounds at featherweight

Answer 1

Arguello wins in a knockout in the 13th.

Answer 2

Two of my all-time favorite fighters. DRAW!

Answer 3

First of all, this fight almost happened.  Sanchez, already a veteran of about 45 fights (and only one loss early in his career) at the young age of 23, was getting ready for his second fight with future champ Juan LaPorte, when he died from a car crash.  Had he lived and beaten LaPorte, a 30-year old Arguello would have been in his sights.  Arguello  subsequently was featured the next year in an HBO Boxing promotion call "Night of the Champions" where he was taken apart by a coked-up Aaron Pryor.  To blindly just say "Arguello by KO in the xx rounds" could be disputed considering that Sanchez was 7 years younger, and that Arguello ended up losing two fights to Pryor around the time he would have probably faced Sanchez.

That being said, I still have to give Arguello the advantage, by either late round KO or decision.  Sanchez had a rock solid chin, and fought/beat big name contenders and champs like LaPorte, Felix Trinidad Sr., Azumah Nelson (KO'd him in the 15th) and Danny "Little Red" Lopez (KO'd him in the 13th and 14th in successive fights).  However, Sanchez was a Featherweight and would have had to jump two to four weight classes to face Arguello, the Lightweight Champ, who eventually moved up to Welterweight to fight Pryor.

Given the burden of having to fight at the higher weight, I don't think that Sanchez would be able to retain the speed he featured at Featherweight, and would have problems keeping the hard charging Arguello off of him.  So with all due respect to Sanchez, a great young champion who could have had a Julio Cesar Chavez-esque career, Arguello would just be too big an opponent and overwhelm the fight.

Answer 4

Two of my all time favorite fighters, and a really tough call to make.  Alexis Arquello would have had the size advantage but Sanchez would have made this one a war on heart alone.  I like Sanchez in this one, the foot speed and movement would have forced Arguello to constantly reset with each exchange, I doubt the smaller Sanchez would have gone toe to toe more than sporadically.  Razor thin, possibly even a split decision.l

Salvador Sanchez by split decision.

Answer 5

Arguello

Answer 6

This would be a great matchup. Both men great fighters, styles, but one difference would be the chin, Sanchez would have not gone down. Arguello I think would have been knocked out late. Wilfredo Gomez took a devastating beating at the hands of Sanchez. Pryor destroyed Arguello. I'm sorry PR boxing fans. Arguello could have not dealt with the power and chin.

Answer 7

Arguello would have had the physical advantages  but Sanchez was a just about to reach his prime, and he had already beaten the great Wilfredo Gomez, one of Puerto Rico's best. I think if Sanchez had lived to be 3 or 4 years older, he would have been in  his prime and outboxed Arguello or KO'd him in the late rounds.

My guess will be Sal Sanchez Unanimous Decision.

Answer 8

I've done this before.  At 126 Sanchez wins.  Arguello had trouble with mobile boxers.  Sanchez wasn't much of a mover but he was an offensive AND defensive wizard.  That's rare in a fighter.  Look at how he dismantled both Gomez and Lopez.  

Granted, Lopez isn't in Arguello's class but Gomez is great at 126.  Sanchez just had his number.  Arguello can KO a man with one punch.  Though he was thin he had the perfect physique to deliver his punches with power.  

Arguello always reminded me of Joe Louis where his strength didn't make sense for a man his size.  Arguello is the perfect boxer in terms of style and the way he delivers his punches.  Unfortunately, he also has Joe's weaknesses,  footwork and leaky defense.  Plus, Alexis is no speed demon.    

At 126 Sanchez would take Arguello apart.  I'm not sure how well Salvador would carry 135.  Arguello was destined to move up to lightweight and would have ruled there as long as he chose had he not moved up to challenge Pryor.  His power increased, unlike many who move up in weight.  

Sanchez never had problems making 126 and was more a natural there.  He would have moved up just to challenge Arguello.  Sanchez is one of my all-time favorite fighters.  If he could carry 135 without losing any of his natural ability, even if it's not enhanced like Arguello's power was,  he could out point Arguello.

If Sanchez has any change with the added weight he would be KO'd in the late rounds.  

On paper I would pick Sanchez by decision.  He was no speed demon but he threw an awful lot of punches each round.  Arguello would have to land once shot and hope to slow Sanchez down.  He's just too busy for a calculated fighter like Arguello.