There’s that previous Nineteen Sixties question: what if that they had a struggle and no person got here? Contemplating the 1982 conflict between featherweights Salvador Sanchez and Azumah Nelson, the higher query is: what if that they had an epic, action-packed, back-and-forth scorcher of a battle between two Corridor of Fame champions and nobody knew about it?
In boxing, it’s straightforward to get vexed about all of the terrific matches that by no means had been or will likely be, however long-time battle followers comprehend it’s at all times higher to be glad about what you get, than to stress over what the merciless boxing gods deny you. And so, virtually 4 a long time later, we will look again with renewed appreciation on the dream battle that was between two nice champions, Nelson and Sanchez.
In fact followers and pundits have to be forgiven for not recognizing again in 1982 what a really top-shelf match Sanchez vs Nelson actually was. In spite of everything, nobody exterior of Ghana knew something about Azumah, who had a paltry report of 13 bouts and was introduced in as a final second alternative for prime contender Mario Miranda. Apart from holding the Commonwealth featherweight title, he possessed no {qualifications} for a shot at a world championship in any respect, a lot much less a bout with the person thought to be one of many best performers within the sport. Consequently, fewer than six thousand confirmed up at Madison Sq. Backyard that evening.
In distinction to Nelson, Sanchez, at solely 23 years of age, entered the ring with the mantle of greatness already upon his shoulders. Since turning professional in 1975, his profession had moved quick, virtually as quick because the sports activities vehicles he liked to drive. He fought steadily, not less than six bouts per yr, and since battering Danny Lopez to win the featherweight crown, he had notched 9 title defenses in simply two years, his thrilling knockout win over Wilfredo Gomez cementing his standing as, pound-for-pound, one of many absolute best.
Promoter Don King had just lately begun negotiations for a giant cash super-fight between Sanchez and light-weight king Alexis Arguello, and at this level there actually was no telling how far younger Salvador’s skills might take him. Having been featured on community tv in virtually all of his title wins, the American public had come to admire his precision counter-punching, granite chin and wonderful stamina. To everybody’s shock, he would wish all of those attributes to beat the brave problem of Azumah Nelson in probably the most thrilling contests in division historical past.
From the opening bell, Nelson, with nothing to lose and a loud contingent of fellow Ghanaians within the stands chanting and cheering, was a whirlwind of kinetic vitality, attacking with abandon and firing huge photographs from all angles. The champion was a notoriously sluggish starter, besides, the ferocity of Azumah’s early forays stunned all. Setting a relentless tempo, he scored with left hooks within the opening seconds after which adopted up with exhausting proper fingers behind an aggressive jab. A proper lead shook Sanchez close to the tip of spherical one and Nelson leaped in to attach with each fists, even treating followers to an improvised Ali shuffle between flurries of punches.
It was extra of the identical within the second with the challenger exhibiting Sanchez no respect, making the champion miss after which countering with heavy photographs from both hand. The straight proper proved to be Nelson’s handiest weapon and thus the at all times affected person and wily Sanchez seemed to counter with the left hook, and early within the third a stiff one buckled the challenger’s legs, a portent of issues to return. Nonetheless, each time the champion landed, Nelson fired again and the gutsy African received the fourth, ambushing Sanchez on the finish of the spherical with exhausting rights and harsh hooks to the stomach. A flush uppercut adopted by a left to the intestine appeared to deflate the champion and after the spherical he complained to his nook that he felt “weak.”
Nelson continued to make the battle within the fifth, rocking Salvador with a thudding hook halfway by, the final minute of the spherical a toe-to-toe slugfest. The sixth was shut, with Sanchez approaching at its finish, however then within the seventh, the champion, trying to find a option to decisively flip the tide, lastly discovered what he was searching for. Anticipating Azumah’s proper, he beat him to the mark with an ideal left hook that nearly put the challenger down. A harm Nelson stumbled after which went toe-to-toe, winging wild photographs, however just like the surgeon he reportedly needed to be after his boxing profession ended, Sanchez calmly fielded the maelstrom of blows to get in one other brief, exact hook. This time the blow despatched Azumah to the canvas.
Nelson rose on the depend of six and, demonstrating the center and resilience of a future triple crown champion, went again on the assault. Ever poised and affected person, Sanchez took his time, permitting the fearless challenger to get his punches off earlier than gorgeous him once more close to spherical’s finish with a pointy proper. The beginning of the eighth noticed the champion in management, seemingly rising stronger with every trade, and hurting Nelson once more with a counter left. Within the ninth, he tried to field Nelson, exploiting his higher mobility and longer attain, however the challenger pressured him, forcing him right into a collection of brutal, inside exchanges by which Sanchez ruthlessly dug away at Azumah’s ribs.
However the punishment appeared to haven’t any impact and Nelson got here again to take the following two rounds on sheer aggression. The ultimate minute of the eleventh noticed the 2 warriors slug it out and the inexperienced African, to everybody’s shock, acquired the higher of it, touchdown thudding rights to the pinnacle earlier than briefly staggering Sanchez with a left hook to the jaw. At this level everybody anticipated Nelson, who had by no means fought previous the tenth, to fade, however the twelfth noticed no let up within the depth of the two-way motion. And because the challenger took the thirteenth on the power of his brawling assault, his proper fingers forcing Sanchez to retreat, it started to daybreak on incredulous reporters and ringsiders that Sanchez vs Nelson may show to be not solely an sudden struggle for the ages, but additionally a momentous upset.
But it surely was to not be. The fourteenth was one other nice motion spherical however lastly – lastly! – there appeared some give on the a part of the challenger, his power waning, his legs faltering, his punches wider and slower. He had shocked everybody along with his gallant stand, had given Sanchez the hardest battle of his profession, and ultimately it was not a lot ability or method and even expertise deciding the end result as a lot as grit, stamina and the impervious chin of “The Invincible Eagle,” which had beforehand withstood bombs from Lopez, Gomez and Juan La Porte, and now had taken one of the best from Nelson and remained unshakable.
As the ultimate spherical started, the courageous challenger as soon as extra pressed, forcing Sanchez to the ropes and letting his fingers go, however on the similar time leaving himself open for Salvador’s lethal counters. A proper backed Nelson up and a hook staggered him and now it was apparent his legs had been gone. Their positions reversed and it was Azumah on the ropes as Sanchez dug each fingers to the physique earlier than backing off, making Nelson come ahead and throw punches, the higher to search out openings for the crafty Mexican sharp-shooter to take advantage of.
Seconds later a collection of flush photographs had the challenger in serious trouble and nonetheless, he wouldn’t cease slinging leather-based, till one more crushing left hook buckled his legs and left him momentarily out on his toes, his fingers down, his entire physique contorted and off stability, like some decrepit, weather-beaten scarecrow. Two extra lefts lastly pressured the cussed challenger to break down however, extremely, Azumah instantly scrambled to his toes and waved at Sanchez to return again, to maintain combating, as if the knockdown had by no means occurred.
However regardless of his astonishing bravado, Nelson was completed. All coronary heart and braveness, he held his fingers up like a religious supplicant for referee Tony Perez, begging for the battle to proceed, however when it did it was the champion touchdown at will and the challenger staggering concerning the ring, earlier than Perez lastly stepped in and ended it, waving his arms and awarding the victory, and the tenth profitable protection of his featherweight crown, to Salvador Sanchez.
There are a selection of the reason why this dramatic and grueling wrestle has been largely ignored by so many within the years since. First, 1982 occurred to be a banner yr for monumentally thrilling clashes. An exciting contest, Sanchez vs Nelson would have simply been Battle of the 12 months in different years, however discovered itself in fourth place behind Aaron Pryor vs Alexis Arguello, Bobby Chacon vs Rafael Limon IV and Wilfredo Gomez vs Lupe Pintor, all magnificent wars. Second, in contrast to these wonderful matches, there had been no expectation of an incredible battle. Nobody knew who Nelson was, most had anticipated a routine win for Sanchez, and thus comparatively few followers noticed one of many decade’s nice fights.
However along with these information, the occasion which overshadows Sanchez vs Nelson is what came about simply three weeks later. A lover of sports activities vehicles, a person and a fighter who at all times moved quick, with depth and function, Sanchez was driving his Porsche at excessive pace on a freeway in central Mexico when he tried to go a truck. He someway miscalculated, slamming right into a second truck, and Salvador “Chava” Sanchez, the 23-year-old champion with seemingly limitless potential, the conqueror of Lopez and Gomez and Nelson, was killed immediately.
A complete nation, and scores of boxing followers, mourned the demise of this nice warrior, a boxer who had, in lower than three years, left an indelible mark on the game and established himself as a real nice. And a part of what makes him nice, a necessary component in his legacy, is that this epic battle, a contest made extra significant and resonant as Azumah Nelson’s profession unfolded and we discovered that his courageous effort on that summer time evening was not the results of some miraculous circumstance, however as a substitute testomony to the good Ghanaian’s expertise and tenacity, to the skills of a person who would come to be acknowledged as the best African boxer of all-time.
The reality stays {that a} younger Azumah Nelson gave an electrifying efficiency that evening, an astonishing exhibition of coronary heart and willpower that would solely have been withstood and overcome by a boxer of equal braveness and even better expertise. Salvador Sanchez had already proved himself a really nice boxer, however on that summer time evening in New York Metropolis he put the ending, remaining contact on a Corridor of Fame legacy simply earlier than all of it got here to an finish. Earlier than the younger Salvador, who remained cool and calm when underneath essentially the most intense strain, who might negotiate the quickest twists and turns contained in the ring, fatally underestimated a dangerous maneuver on a dusty, slender Mexican highway, and left boxing followers to perpetually speculate as to what might need been. — Michael Carbert
