By Juan Angel Zurita (May 20, 2009) - As much as I appreciate Salvador Sanchez, I believe he has become a tad bit overrated over the years. Yes, he was a great fighter but his biggest victory was against a great junior featherweight, not a natural featherweight. His other great victory at featherweight came against Azumah Nelson, a fighter many claim was not yet in his prime. And despite Nelson’s inexperience at the time, he still gave Sanchez a share of problems.

In many of Sanchez’s other victories against C-B level featherweights, Sanchez went the distance and struggled to fully dominate at times. During his featherweight reign, he fought in 10 championship bouts and went 10-0 (5 KOs). The six that went the full route were, Ruben Castillo (UD 15), Patrick Ford (MD 15), Juan La Porte (UD 15), Nicky Perez (UD 10), Pat Cowdell (SD 15), Jorge Garcia (UD 15), and an honorable mention to Azumah Nelson (TKO 15).

Considering these factors, is it ridiculous to fathom such names as Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Manny Pacquiao, and Juan Manuel Marquez would have stood a chance? Surely, these fighters are greater than the names that went the full route with him, correct?

That said, before attempting to assess how these fighters matchup with the old school featherweight great, there are some things that we must take into account when discussing the great Mexican, Salvador Sanchez.

The kid had an iron jaw. In 46 pro bouts, Sanchez was only floored once against unheralded, Juan Escobar, in his 22nd bout, at the ripe age of 19. At this stage, Sanchez was still learning his craft since he practically had no amateur background. After he won the WBC Featherweight title from Danny ‘Little Red’ Lopez, he seemed to mature a great deal. In fact, in his biggest bouts at 126, against Lopez (twice), Laporte, Gomez, and Nelson, he was never seriously hurt or even close to being put down. His chin was tested by Lopez, Gomez, and Nelson, all very good punchers at 126.

The kid had super human stamina during the course of a 15 round championship bout. Sanchez fought during an era when fighters still had 15 round championship bouts. Out of his 10 championship bouts, he notched 5/15 round decisions, and went deep three other times (Lopez TKO 13, Lopez TKO 14, Nelson TKO 15). Part of what makes him such a legend is that in each of those bouts he never appeared fatigued and always displayed great poise. Sanchez’s stamina was unquestionably superb. In his early 20s, the kid possessed poise and ring intelligence rarely seen.

Salvador Sanchez practically had no amateur career. He turned pro a few months after he turned 16. It took him about 30 bouts before it all finally clicked for him, and when it clicked, he went on a tear. He was an excellent boxer-puncher that could box from the outside or work well in the pocket. He was also great at making adjustments in the middle of a fight, and although he didn’t possess one-punch KO power, he had more than enough pop to keep anyone honest. The kid was definitely a prodigy considering his lack of amateur experience. In his early 20s, the kid had a poise and ring intelligence not commonly seen. Further, he really seemed to pick up the pace late in a fight when he needed to.

The Four Main Events

To more accurately prognosticate how these four fighters matchup against Sanchez, we’ll take the best versions of each fighter at 126, the featherweight limit (Sanchez’s prime weight class), and we’ll pit them up against one another in a classic 15 round bout. The best version of each fighter at 126 is listed below in parentheses.

Erik ‘El Terrible’ Morales – Weight: 126 Height: 5’8″ Reach: 72″ (Hamed, Morales rematch)

Salvador ‘Chava’ Sanchez – Weight: 126 Height: 5’7″ Reach: 67″ (Gomez, Nelson)

Both fighters were relatively the same size. However, Morales would’ve been a tad taller and also held a 5 inch reach advantage. At 126, the major difference between the two is that Morales only fought in this weight class six times (5-1, 2 KOs), which amounts to about 11% of his total bouts. Conversely, Sanchez turned pro as a bantamweight (16 years of age) and ended up fighting roughly 55% of his 46 bouts at featherweight.

The Baddest Hombre From The South – Erik Morales vs Salvador Sanchez

The bout has pocket warfare written all over it. Sanchez begins the bout in his typical style, boxing from the outside looking to feel his opponent out. Unlike Barrera, Morales doesn’t comply. He takes the bout to Sanchez from the outset to find out what the bushy-haired star is really made of. Sanchez responds with some violent exchanges of his own and the two fight on relatively even terms with Morales edging out the opening round on all of the judge’s scorecards due to his aggression. Over the next four rounds, Morales continues the same plan of attack and continues to give the impression that he’s winning the rounds with his aggression.Sanchez seems more interested in finding counter-punching opportunities and using his footwork to keep Morales in the center of the ring. Finally in the middle of the sixth round, Sanchez lands a perfectly timed counter that cuts Morales over the left eye. Sanchez ceases the change in momentum and finishes the round by pounding on a defensive-minded Morales’ ribcage. Morales’ goal is to simply make it out of the round so his corner can work on the nasty cut. It’s obvious that the gash is seriously affecting him. The seventh sees a rejuvenated Morales pop out of his corner, with his cut appearing to have been well-managed. There now appears to be a sense of urgency, perhaps due to the unfortunate cut, as Morales races after Sanchez like a hungry pitbull. Similar to the outset, he begins to open up and take chances, not respecting Sanchez’s power nor his counter-punching ability. Fortunately for him, this strategy appears to work over the next 3 rounds. He outworks Sanchez on many occasions but has begun taking cleaner counter punches to the head more often.

After nine rounds, many at ringside have Morales slightly ahead despite looking like the loser in the bout. Aside from the nasty gash over his left eye, his right eye has now begun to close. The tenth round is a pivotal round as a smiling Sanchez comes out of his corner like a boxer that has yet to fight a round. Morales’ cut has again badly reopened and Sanchez is taking clear advantage of it. He pounds Morales to the head and body, and Morales’ warrior pride sees him firing back. Morales won’t back down although he’s getting the worst of it in the exchanges. In the 12th round, Sanchez has begun to take charge over a tiring, beat-up, Morales. The 13th round sees Morales doing a lot of holding with Sanchez pacing himself for the attempted finish. The 14th round is a round for the ages, as Morales comes out gunning for the knockout on his spent legs. Sanchez takes some great shots and is losing the first half of the round before an overhand right staggers a tiring Morales. Sanchez increases the tempo and the referee is very close to stopping the bout. A Sanchez left hook to the liver finally sends Morales to the canvas wincing in pain. Morales rises at the count of 5 and proclaims he hasn’t had enough. Sanchez bullies him to the ropes and continues to hail punches from different angles. The referee has finally seen enough and stops the bout. Morales complains about the stoppage although it was very clear that he didn’t have the energy to properly defend himself anymore.

Result: Sanchez TKO 14

Summary

Erik Morales would’ve also been competitive with Salvador Sanchez. He actually had the tools to give Sanchez more problems and perhaps defeat him, but Morales was never one to make things easy for himself. In almost all of his fights, at some point he’d ask you to go to war and stay there with him, particularly during his featherweight run. Anyone recall his debut at featherweight against Guty Espadas and his war with Chi? Against Sanchez, this would’ve been his downfall. The harder-punching Sanchez’s power would’ve eventually broken him down very late in the fight. You just can’t let Sanchez hit you that often or else. And if you’re as big a Morales fan as I am, you’ll know our fighter got hit quite often during his prime.

Salvador Sanchez was simply the greater/natural featherweight and had several key advantages (chin, power, stamina) that would’ve ultimately lead him to victory over ‘El Terrible.’

 The Game of Chess at the Highest Level – Marco Antonio Barrera vs Salvador Sanchez

Marco Antonio Barrera – Weight: 126 Height: 5’6″ Reach: 70″ (Hamed, Morales rematch)

Salvador Sanchez – Weight: 126 Height: 5’7″ Reach: 67″ (Gomez, Nelson)

As we can see both fighters were relatively the same size. At 126, the major difference between the two is that Barrera only fought in this weight class seven times (6-1, 3 KOs), which amounts to about 11% of his total bouts. Conversely, Sanchez turned pro as a bantamweight (16 years of age) and ended up fighting roughly 55% of his 46 bouts at featherweight.

This would’ve been an epic bout between two all-time great Mexican fighters. Sanchez starts the bout in his typical style, boxing from the outside looking to feel his opponent out. Barrera follows suit and does the same. The bout is a closely contested boxing match for the first 10 rounds. At this point Barrera holds the slight edge in overall connects with Sanchez having landed the harder eye-catching shots. The bout is too close to call.

In round 12, Sanchez cuts Barrera, gains his second win, and begins catching a tiring Barrera with more regularity, stunning him several times in the process. The 13th round is all Sanchez as he begins his assault over a retreating Barrera. In the 14th round, Barrera makes a final stand, but Sanchez answers back with a series of sharp combinations which force Barrera to go into survival mode. In the 15th round, the ref looks closely to ensure that Barrera doesn’t take anymore unnecessary punishment, but the game veteran manages to use his experience to see the final bell.

Result: Sanchez UD Barrera, 9-5-1

Summary

Barrera would’ve been very competitive with Sanchez. In a way, they shared similar styles in that they preferred to box but would go to war when they had to. The key point in this matchup though is the fact that Sanchez was at his best at 126 while Barrera was at his best at 122. We all saw what happened when Wilfredo Gomez, arguably the greatest junior featherweight of all-time, moved up a few pounds to challenge Sanchez in his house. Further, many diehards believe that Erik Morales, also at his very best at 122, defeated Barrera when they fought their rematch at 126.

Salvador Sanchez was simply the greater/natural featherweight and had several key advantages (chin, power, stamina) that would’ve ultimately lead him to victory over the ‘Baby Faced Assassin.’

Never Back Down – Manny Pacquiao vs Salvador Sanchez

Manny Pacquiao – Weight: 126 Height: 5’6 1/2″ Reach: 67″ (Barrera, Marquez 1)

Salvador Sanchez – Weight: 126 Height: 5’7″ Reach: 67″ (Gomez, Nelson)

As we can see both fighters were relatively the same size. At 126, the major difference between the two is that Pacquiao only fought in this weight class four times (3-0-1, 3 KOs), which amounts to about 8% of his total bouts. Conversely, Sanchez turned pro as a bantamweight (16 years of age) and ended up fighting roughly 55% of his 46 bouts at featherweight.

This would’ve been an encounter for the ages. Sanchez starts the bout looking to feel his opponent out. Pacquiao doesn’t comply and cautiously pressures Sanchez seeking to land one of his lightning quick overhand lefts. Early on Pacquiao has some success landing the occasional left, but Sanchez is able to keep Pacquiao at bay with his own controlled aggression while simultaneously displaying superior counter-punching skills. The bout is relatively close after 8 rounds are complete. Both fighters have had their moments, but neither of them has been seriously hurt. Sanchez has a small cut over the corner of his right eye while Pacquiao’s left eye has begun to swell. The 9th round sees Sanchez with a renewed purpose. Pacquiao seems to have lost some steam in comparison to how he began the bout. Every time Pacquiao misses, he’s counter-punched, and quite often finds himself off balance, absorbing punches against the ropes.

Rounds 10-12 look very much like round 9. Pacquiao puts together the occasional burst, leaving himself off balance, allowing Sanchez to take advantage. It now appears as if Sanchez has clearly taken over the bout. Nevertheless, Pacquiao doesn’t give up and rallies to win the 13th by outworking Sanchez. Sanchez appears to have slowed down. The 14th round boasts its share of moments. Pacquiao rocks Sanchez several times, with Sanchez returning the favor. Pacquiao’s left eye has now begun to close. Overall, the round is fought on pretty even terms.

The 15th round is again another hotly-contested round. Pacquiao shoots for the KO sensing he may be behind on the scorecards. Sanchez stays on the outside and counter-punches Pacquiao effectively. Both men stand and trade for the final 20 seconds. Pacquiao rocks Sanchez but Sanchez comes roaring back. Pacquiao is slightly buckled at one point but does well to tie his opponent up. The final bell rings with both men digging in to land the final shot. Sanchez presses forward as an off balance Pacquiao backs away.

Result: Sanchez UD Pacquiao, 8-6-1

Summary

Pacquiao would’ve been extremely competitive with Sanchez. What hurts Pacquiao in this matchup at featherweight is that during this stage of his career, he wasn’t yet the fighter we see today. In my estimation, he was too raw, too left hand crazy to beat a fighter the quality of Sanchez at his prime weight. When Pacquiao fought Marquez at 126, despite dropping him 3 times in the opening round, he lost the majority of the remaining rounds. Sanchez’s granite chin would’ve allowed him to do what Marquez did in the latter half of the fight without the inconvenience of having to fight through eleven rounds with a broken nose.

At 130-140, it would’ve been a different ballgame. We’ve never seen Sanchez fight above the featherweight limit so it’s hard to say how he’d fair at 130, 135, or 140. However, if I had to choose a winner in each of these weight classes, I’d pick Sanchez by SD at 130, and Pacquiao at 135-140. For the latter, it’s difficult to say how Pacquiao would win but he gets the edge since Sanchez never fought in those higher weight classes.

In an all-time sense, Salvador Sanchez tops Pacquiao as the greater featherweight, but when it’s all said and done, Pacquiao will more than likely go down as the greater all-time great because of his multi-division success spanning 6 different weight classes.

Battle of the Master Counter-Punching Technicians

Juan M. Marquez – Weight: 126 Height: 5’7″ Reach: 67″ (Medina, Pacquiao 1)
Salvador Sanchez – Weight: 126 Height: 5’7″ Reach: 67″ (Gomez, Nelson)

Both fighters are mirror images of each other in the height and reach departments. Juan Manuel Marquez, the career featherweight, has fought 50 of his 55 bouts at featherweight, which equates to 91% of his bouts being fought in that weight division. Conversely, Sanchez turned pro as a bantamweight (16 years of age) and ended up fighting roughly 55% of his 46 bouts at featherweight.

This would’ve been a matchup between Mexico’s top two featherweights of all-time. Both fighters are notoriously slows starters, therefore, we shouldn’t expect any fireworks early on.

The first couple of rounds begin slowly as expected. Marquez methodically picks his spots while Sanchez does the same. After four rounds, some claim Marquez swept each round while others contend the four rounds were split. In round five, Sanchez finally decides to pick up the pace and begins pressuring Marquez, negating the distance Marquez requires to be most effective with his intelligent counter-punching style. The two in-fight for the remainder of the round with Sanchez punctuating the end of the round by landing several head snapping shots. From rounds 6-11 the fight becomes a calculated war. Any time the fight is in the center of the ring, Marquez manages to outjab/outland Sanchez. However, any time the fight goes to the inside, Sanchez gains the edge by landing hard combinations to the head and body, particularly left hooks to the body.

Throughout these key middle rounds, both fighters manage to inflict damage to one another. Sanchez has a small cut and some slight swelling over his left eye while Marquez sports a larger cut and more significant swelling over his left eye. In fact, it appears as if Marquez’s left eye has begun to close.

In the 12th round, Marquez senses he may be a bit behind, increases the aggression, and walks into a perfectly timed Sanchez right hand which puts him down for a count of five. Marquez appears slightly hurt but instead of using his legs to recover, he stubbornly jumps on Sanchez attempting to make up for the lapse in concentration. Sanchez responds by answering back with solid body shots and the two trade furiously until the round ends.

In rounds 13-15, Marquez increases his punch output, and it actually begins to payoff. He scores well with combinations to the head and body, and manages to dominate Sanchez in the 13th. Sanchez, senses the fight may be close on the cards, and begins the 14th round by bullying Marquez to the ropes. Marquez’s left eye is now completely shut and it appears he’s having trouble seeing through that eye as Sanchez tags him with several head-jolting right hands. The referee looks on closely as Marquez fights in defensive-mode until 1:30 of the 14th round. This is where he lets it all go. In between one of their violent exchanges, Marquez is countered with a beautiful right hand which visibly stuns him. He proceeds to hold for the remaining seconds of the 14th round.

The 15th round is a round for the ages. Both fighters do their best to convince the judges that they deserve to win the fight. Marquez comes out firing, and lands some very effective combinations. Sanchez answers back with some work of his own by ripping blows to Marquez’s midsection. Both fighters rock each other, but Sanchez manages to stun Marquez once again. Marquez appears hurt yet still fires back. The crowd erupts sensing the end may be near. The final seconds tick from the clock, Marquez lands one of his best combination of the fight which sends Sanchez reeling back. The final bell sounds. Marquez and Sanchez have just gone through 15 full rounds of furious hell.

There is much debate throughout ringside regarding who won the fight. Sound familiar?

Result: Sanchez SD Marquez, 7-7-1 (ultimately the knockdown makes the difference)

Summary

It is this writer’s opinion that Barrera, Morales, Pacquiao, and Marquez would’ve all been competitive with Salvador Sanchez at featherweight. However, I believe Pacquiao and Marquez would’ve stood the best chance at defeating him. Sanchez was a fine fighter but these four were also greats in their own right.

We veteran boxing observers tend to romanticize our favorites from the past, but the truth is, many of today’s greats would’ve held their own if not defeated some of the old time greats. One just has to carefully consider each unique mythical matchup. In this particular case, while I believe Sanchez was one of the best featherweights of all-time, I believe these four fighters were also several of the best 122-126 lbers to ever come around. Hence, as good as Sanchez was, I don’t believe he would’ve had an easy time with any of the aforementioned fighters.

Disagree? Agree? Submit your feedback/comments below.

By Richard Lapchick - Boxing is another example of a sport that made people proud because of an athlete’s heritage. Jewish, Italian and Irish immigrants took great pride in their fighters in the early 20th Century. There are many books and articles written about how Joe Louis did this for African-Americans. Julio Cesar Chavez, a boxer of Mexican-American descent, united his community nationally like no athlete before him. Like Louis, Chavez was the precursor of boxers like Oscar de la Hoya.

In “Mexican Boxing: Our Pride and Passion,” Juan Angel Zurita wrote: “Personally, not many feelings compare to the energetic rush that I experience during a boxing match with an arena filled with other Mexican/Mexican-American boxing fans. When I hear the rancherita ring walk music or when I see the beautiful green, white and red, something inside of me explodes. It’s a very powerful feeling. It’s pride, fervor and machismo wrapped up into one feeling. One has to experience it to understand it. … For Mexican/Mexican-American boxing fans, it is very important that our ring warriors proudly represent our people and our culture. It allows us to identify with something positive, something victorious.”

Full Article

By Juan Angel Zurita (January 8, 2007) - In these most recent rankings you will notice a new adjustment to my criteria. I now introduce my inclusion of Mexican-American fighters. I’ve decided to include this group in these rankings from now on for several reasons. First off, there isn’t a deep enough pool of quality Mexican-American fighters around to merit compiling a top ten list much less a top twenty. Second, many Mexican-American fighters were born in the Southwest United States, a place once called Mexico, a place many of us still call Mexico. Well, if you live here, you know what I mean. Lastly, many Mexican-American fighters refer to themselves as “Mexican” because that’s the ethnic blood that runs through their veins, the culture they live and breathe, and a heritage they are proud of. And no physical border can ever that away from them.

1. Juan Manuel Marquez: Some will argue that Barrera deserves the top spot based on his superior resume and overall accomplishments. However, I base this ranking on several factors. While Marquez may not boast the same accomplished list of credentials, he’s compiled a decent resume of his own, he faired significantly better against Manny Pacquiao, and it is my view that he’s never officially lost a fight. Further, I believe that Marquez would defeat Barrera if they were to face off. Fortunately, all speculation will come to rest when these two tangle in March.

2. Marco Antonio Barrera: Like Marquez, he too is at the end of the road, but he’s still more consistent and active than many of the fighters ranked below. He boxed his way to an easy decision victory in his rematch with Juarez, and showed he has plenty left in the tank. Win or lose against Marquez, this route is a great way to cap the end of a fine career. At this point, this first ballot future Hall of Famer can only add to his legacy rather than hurt it since it’s clear that he’s no longer in his prime.

3. Jose Luis Castillo: Castillo has lost a bit of momentum since he failed to make weight for his third and final bout with Diego Corrales, and that’s really a shame considering that over the last five years his resume is as good as anyone’s. During that time frame, he defeated Stevie Johnston via UD, drew with Johnston in their rematch, arguably split a pair with top pound-for-pound contender, Floyd Mayweather Jr., decisioned Juan Lazcano and Joel Casamayor, knocked out Julio Diaz, got knocked out by Corrales in a classic war he was winning, and then avenged his knockout loss to Corrales with a four round blowout in their rematch. In the process, he’s quietly established himself as one of the top fighters in the game over the last five years, and he could further elevate his stature should he go on to best England’s undefeated hero, Ricky Hatton, in a proposed future superfight.

4. Rafael Marquez: Since his breakout win over Tim Austin almost four years ago, this scintillating puncher has been a dominant champion piling up seven defenses of his IBF bantamweight strap in the process. There is now talk that he’ll be ascending to the super bantamweight division with his eyes set on big name fights, and first in line could be a title shot against WBC super bantamweight champion, Israel Vasquez. There’s even talk that the bout could land on the undercard of Barrera/Marquez. Somebody awaken me from the dream.

5. Oscar De La Hoya: The Golden Boy has the luxury of being the only Mexican-American to make my top ten. Sure, he’s no longer in his prime at this point, but last May he showed that he isn’t quite through yet when he destroyed what was left of hard-punching, smack-talking, Ricardo Mayorga. His date with Floyd Mayweather Jr., slated for May of this year, could yield quite a few surprises. Keeping things in perspective, De La Hoya may not be what he once was, but for the first time in years, he’ll actually be the naturally bigger and stronger fighter in the ring. The significance of that factor will obviously be determined by the mystery of how much he has left at this point in his career.

6. Antonio Margarito: While he didn’t look too hot in his latest bout with Joshua Clottey, let’s keep in mind that he entered that bout with an injured right ankle. Still, he battled through a horrible start and plugged away to eventually seize the momentum and pound out a close decision against the formidable Ghanaian. Next up he’s scheduled to face off against Puerto Rican badass, Miguel Cotto, in a bout that will make or break him.

7. Israel Vasquez: Since suffering a heart-breaking twelfth round TKO loss to Oscar Larios in 2002, Vasquez has reeled off ten consecutive victories. In one of those victories he redeemed himself by stopping Larios in their rematch (TKO 3). In another significant bout, he came back from the brink of defeat against Jhonny Gonzalez. In the Gonzalez bout, Vasquez proved that you practically have to knock him unconscious to defeat him, as he rose from two knockdowns to halt Gonzalez in the tenth round of their Fight of the Year type battle. Vasquez could now very well face off against top ten pound-for-pounder, Rafael Marquez, in a bout that would has most boxing diehards salivating.

8. Jorge Arce: For a fighter with so much talent, power, flair, and pizzazz, Arce seems to be content in allowing his prime to wither away as he continues to feast on past prime fighters. Boxing fans would surely welcome matchups against either Vic Darchinyan, Nobuo Nashiro, Martin Castillo, or even up and coming southpaw, Cristian Mijares. The competition is there, therefore, it’s now either time for Arce to step up or fade out.

9. Juan Diaz: Diaz is often criticized for his quality of opposition, but much of that criticism is highly unwarranted. Let’s not forget that he turned pro at 18 years of age, and although he won a title in only his fourth year as a pro, he’s still only twenty-three years of age. Apparently, his detractors would like for him to be pushed too quickly ala David Reid and Fernando Vargas. Perhaps, many are just upset that he’s turned out to be better than they expected. Nevertheless, he should be given plenty of credit because he’s passed several formidable tests while showing great skills and improvement along the way. Diaz’s handlers are moving this kid correctly, and if all goes well, expect him to finally step it up a notch competition-wise by year’s end.

10. Erik Morales: As far back as 2001, many boxing pundits felt the end was near for Morales since he’d been involved in more than enough share of wars. However, he continued to defy boxing gravity while continuing to perform at the world-class level. Finally, in 2005 all the wars eventually caught up with him. After Zahir Raheem boxed him silly, Pacquiao finished him off in consecutive bouts (TKO 10, KO 3). But give credit to Pacquiao. Not many fighters from 126-130 would’ve been able drill him into submission the way Pacquiao did. Morales, another future first ballot Hall of Famer, should simply call it day and look back at a great career. Sadly, he’s recently stated that he wants to challenge for the lightweight title before he calls it a day, and should he follow that path, he’ll more than likely be knocked out brutally into the sunset.

11. Humberto Soto: Soto has been on a roll since losing a close decision to veteran Kevin Kelley back in 2002. Since that minor setback he’s won seventeen fights in a row, one of those an impressive victory over former Olympian, Rocky Juarez. He’s now campaigning at super featherweight where he’s earned the opportunity to challenge for the WBC super featherweight title held by Marco Antonio Barrera. However, he’ll have to take a backseat for the time being since Barrera is slated to defend his strap against counter-punching specialist, Juan Manuel Marquez. Lucky for Soto, he may not have to wait too long for a big fight opportunity as his name has recently been floating around as a possible opponent for Pacquiao. That matchup could be just what the doctor ordered, since this young charge is eager to avenge Pacquiao’s destruction of several Mexican legends, albeit past prime legends.

12. Jhonny Gonzalez: “Things weren’t suppose to end that way.” That’s what Gonzalez has been painfully saying to himself since he fell apart in the latter rounds of his spotlight bout against WBC super bantamweight champion, Israel Vasquez. It’s a really shame too because he thoroughly dominated the first half of that bout and appeared to be well on his way to a breakout victory. How will he recover after such a devastating defeat? Since he’s still rather young at 25 years of age, it’s likely that he could use the setback as an invaluable learning experience. The success of his comeback will highly depend on the level of opposition he jumps in against in his immediate future. If you’re a fan, let’s hope his handlers are reading this.

13. Martin Castillo: Needs to redeem himself against Japan’s Nashiro who took his WBA super flyweight strap last month. Hopefully, he doesn’t waste too much time because he was on a nice roll before catching a bad break.

14. Fernando Montiel: Will he ever come through when he needs a big win? He’s 0-2 so far in his career when he’s had to step up to the plate. He’s proof that some fighters can have all the talent, but lack the closing skills necessary to catapult themselves to the next level.

15. Oscar Larios: Let me get this straight? ’Cholo’ recently goes twelve rounds with Pacquiao, unlike Barrera and Morales? It would be nice to see him in against Vasquez again since their last bout left a bad taste in my mouth. Will Vasquez ever stop Larios without the assistance of Larios’ porous skin?

16. Rocky Juarez: He may not be anything special but mark my words. If he’s matched correctly, he’ll shock many. Example: Put him in against Korea’s, Injin Chi, and he’ll finally shine.

17. Daniel Ponce De Leon: Boasts great power, but he’s extremely raw. He’s scheduled to face Filipino up and comer, Rey ‘Boom-Boom’ Bautista, in a bout that could prove to be a sizzler.

18. Orlando Salido: A few years back when no one would listen, I stated that Juan Manuel Marquez didn’t carry him during their title fight. Salido was simply a tough nut to crack, a decent fighter. This past fall, he confirmed my suspicions when he easily outworked Robert Guerrero, to take ‘The Ghost’s’ IBF featherweight title. Shamefully, following that bout, he was stripped of the title for testing positive for steroids. The potential is there to play the role as the featherweight division’s spoiler, but he needs to clean up his act, literally.

19. Jesus Chavez: Is he ranked too low? It’s hard to tell since he hasn’t stepped into the ring in well over a year. We’ll soon find out where he’s at once he defends his IBF lightweight title against Julio Diaz next month.

20. Julio Diaz: A golden opportunity will soon present itself when he faces off against inactive Jesus Chavez for Chavez’s IBF lightweight title. Will he take advantage?

Missed The Cut

Cristian Mijares, Sergio Mora, Rodolfo Lopez, Jorge Solis, Robert Guerrero, Ulises Solis, Omar Salado, Hugo Cazares, Omar Niño, Giovanni Segura.

A Few Comments & Observations

- Anyone notice that the top 5 Mexicans are all a few steps away from the retirement home? There’s no point in even asking where the future Julio Cesar Chavez can be found. Where is the future Barrera, Morales, Castillo, Marquez, or De La Hoya?

- It should be fun watching De La Hoya’s Mexico/Philippines World Cup on March 4th, in Cebu City. Boxing is definitely more exciting when there are competitive rivalries.

- Has anyone else grown tired of seeing the little guys from 105-122 pass the titles around like they’re playing hot potatoes? It would be nice to see a few fighters establish themselves as the next Chiquita Gonzalez, Michael Carbajal, or Ricardo Lopez. I don’t know about you, but I really miss the days when those fighters were around.

Originally Published @:  http://www.doghouseboxing.com/Zurita/Zurita_010807.htm

Salvador Sanchez is considered by many boxing historians as one of the greatest featherweights to ever set foot into the boxing ring.  Like many great Mexican fighters before and after him, he came from a poor upbringing, with zero to little amateur experience and rose to become one of the great fighters of his era.  He dominated Danny “Little Red” Lopez in his first world title fight (TKO 13) and duplicated the feat in the rematch (TKO 14). From 1980-1982, he defended his featherweight crown a total of 9 times.  His best victories came against the likes of Danny Lopez (twice), Ruben Castillo (W 15), Patrick Ford (W 15), young future world champion, Juan Laporte (W 15), Hall of Fame Great, Puerto Rico’s Wilfredo Gomez (TKO 8), Hall of Fame Great, Azumah Nelson (TKO 15). 

In less than three years, he accomplished what most featherweights never accomplish in their entire careers.  He established himself as a great featherweight and as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters of the early 80s. Sadly, his path towards heightened greatness was derailed in August of 1982 when he was involved in an automobile accident which claimed his life.  We now commemorate his career in a full length article below.

On January 26, 1959, in Tianguistenco, Mexico, Felipe Sanchez and Luisa Narvaez gave birth to one of the greatest boxers of all-time.  Salvador Sanchez Narvaez was born into a proud family of hard-working farm workers but his destiny would not lead him in the footsteps of his family. His destiny was to become something much bigger

Sanchez was first discovered as a teenager by his first manager Augustin Palacios.  After a few amateur fights, Palacios decided that Sanchez was ready to turn pro.  Sanchez began his development with practically no amateur career, and like many Mexican fighters before and after him, the early part of his professional career would serve as his amateur career.

In 1975, in his first year as a professional, Sanchez fought a total of six times.  In 1976, he stepped up his activity level and competed in nine bouts.  By 1977, when he prepared to meet Antonio Becerra for a shot at Mexico’s vacant bantamweight title, he was 18-0 (17 KOs).

The 18 year-old Sanchez was eager to win his first title and he was willing to fight anyone, anywhere.  He signed to challenge Becerra in Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico, Becerra’s hometown.  Home turf proved to be a huge advantage for Becerra.  Becerra won a twelve round split decision which many in attendance felt should’ve been awarded to Sanchez.  It was a learning experience for Sanchez, but he would soon put the loss behind him and move forward with his career.

Two fights after the Becerra loss, Sanchez made his U.S. debut when he faced off against Juan Escobar in Los Angeles, California, at the Olympic Auditorium.  Escobar, a southpaw, from Tijuana, Mexico, gave Sanchez a surprising test.  Sanchez tasted canvas in the fifth round and was almost on the floor again in the final minute of the tenth round after Escobar connected with a wild left to the head.  He hung on desperately as Escobar pummeled him but Escobar wasn’t able to put him away.  Sanchez was very lucky to have escaped with a draw as many in attendance felt Escobar had done enough to deserve the victory.

Up to that point it was evident that the young 19 year-old still had much to learn if he was ever to become a great champion.  Sanchez soon put his heart and soul into his training and his dedication and hard work began to finally pay off.

After his fight with Escobar he began to develop at a rapid pace.  From July of 1978 thru July of 1979, he averaged close to a fight a month.  By the end of 1979, Sanchez had notched thirteen victories in about a year and a half. One of those victories was a fifth round technical knockout of Felix Trinidad Sr., father of the great Felix “Tito” Trinidad.  But the most significant victory during that period was an impressive third round knockout over top 10 rated Richard Rozelle.  With that victory, the Ring Magazine placed him at number 8 in their 1979 featherweight ratings.

On February 2, 1980, Sanchez finally got a crack at the world featherweight title against hard-punching Danny “Little Red” Lopez, the popular WBC Featherweight Champion.  Lopez had a solid reputation as a very good fighter.  He owned victories over world-class competition such as David Kotey, Roberto Castanon, Mike Ayala and former champions Chucho Castillo and Ruben Olivares.  Lopez was favored to beat his young bushy haired opponent but Sanchez had other plans.  Sanchez picked Lopez apart with solid combinations and precise counter-punching.  Sanchez scored a thirteenth round TKO and became the WBC’s featherweight champion, but more importantly the world featherweight recognized champion.

Sanchez began his title reign with a tough defense against highly rated Ruben Castillo. Castillo had his moments, but the champion held off Castillo’s challenge to notch his first title defense.

Sanchez’s second title defense was a rematch with Lopez.  Lopez felt that the first fight was a fluke and he was out for revenge, but the rematch proved to be no different as Sanchez used his boxing skills and counter-punching expertise to once again stop the former champion, this time via fourteenth round TKO.

After retiring Lopez for the second time, Sanchez made four defenses, three of those against Ring Magazine top 10 rated featherweights, Patrick Ford, Juan Laporte, and Roberto Castanon.  Sanchez earned clear victories in all three of those bouts, but in his bouts with Ford and Laporte, he showed a tendency to fight down to the level of his opposition.

With six title defenses under his belt, Sanchez soon began to be recognized as one of the best fighters in the world.  He was no longer the bushy haired unknown.  He was on his way to stardom and he appeared to be in the prime of his career.  Soon he began looking for greater challenges and it didn’t take long for him to find one.

While Sanchez was solidifying his reign as the top featherweight, Puerto-Rican bomber, WBC junior featherweight champion, Wilfredo Gomez, was victimizing every junior featherweight opponent that stood in his way. Leading up to their clash, Gomez’s most impressive victory had been a victory over Mexican WBC bantamweight champion, Carlos Zarate, who was 55-0 (54 KOs) at the time of their encounter and considered to be one of the top fighters in the world.  Zarate had moved up in weight to challenge Gomez for his crown and it was thought that Zarate would have too much experience and firepower for Gomez.  In their bout, Gomez proved to be too strong and powerful as he dropped Zarate three times en route to a brutal fifth round TKO.  It was a great victory for Puerto Rico in the Mexico-Puerto Rico rivalry. After that victory, many began to call Gomez the Mexican killer.  By the time he faced Sanchez, Gomez had knocked out about a dozen Mexican fighters.  Many predicted that Sanchez would be the next victim.  On August 21, 1981, in one of the most highly anticipated featherweight matches of all-time, Sanchez, 41-1 (31 KOs), faced off against Gomez, 32-0-1 (32 KOs), in the Battle of the Little Giants.  The fight had all the makings of a classic. Both fighters were considered top pound for pound fighters, they both disliked each other, Gomez had the reputation for destroying Mexican fighters, and there existed the rivalry between their respective cultures. Despite the fact that Gomez was moving up in weight to challenge Sanchez, he came into the fight as a 2-1 favorite.

The pre-fight build up was an exciting event in itself. Gomez’s salsa band duked it out with the Mariachis of Sanchez’s native Mexico before and during the ring introductions.  Gomez who constantly mocked Sanchez and vowed to crush and strip him of his title, stood brash and confident in the ring as he gazed over at Sanchez with a smirk of arrogance.  Sanchez who was never one to trash talk, remained calm and collected and said that he’d let his fists do all the talking for him in the ring.

It didn’t take long for the fight to breakout.  In the first round, Gomez landed a bomb that would’ve knocked out lesser men, but Sanchez shook it off and responded by landing a bomb of his own that dropped Gomez to the canvas.  Gomez was seriously hurt and Sanchez proceeded to put him away by releasing his full arsenal.  Though Gomez was on the verge of being stopped, he showed the heart of a champion and survived the onslaught. Gomez would take a beating for the next seven rounds while fighting valiantly.  There was nothing he could do to wilt Sanchez. The nightmare ended in the eight round when a Sanchez combination almost sent Gomez through the ropes.  Gomez rose on unsteady legs but referee Carlos Padilla had seen enough.  Sanchez was awarded an eight round TKO and confirmed his status amongst boxing’s elites. Sanchez immediately became a national hero in Mexico.  In the eyes of the Mexican people, Sanchez had avenged Zarate’s loss at the hands of Gomez.  His popularity shot through the roof and many Mexicans began to tout him as the greatest Mexican fighter of all-time.  Many boxing fans contended that he was now the best pound for pound fighter in the world.

Following the Gomez victory, Sanchez defended his title against England’s Pat Cowdell and Jorge “Rocky” Garcia.  Once again, Sanchez fought down to the level of his opposition.  Sanchez had to rally late and drop Cowdell in the final stanza to win a fifteen round split decision.  His bout with Garcia would prove to be much easier.  He easily outboxed Garcia to take home a fifteen round decision.

In the ninth defense of his WBC featherweight title, Sanchez battled an unknown Ghanaian by the name of Azumah Nelson.  Nelson proved to be a stern test. Nelson’s relentless aggression gave Sanchez fits.  Sanchez managed to drop Nelson in the seventh round but Nelson kept on coming. At the start of the fifteenth round Sanchez knew the fight was close and he took the initiative to finish strong.  Sanchez finally landed the combination he was looking for and he dropped Nelson for the second time in the fight. Nelson rose but was visibly hurt.  Sanchez seized the moment and seconds later the fight was stopped.  Sanchez was awarded a fifteenth round TKO.

Sadly, that would be Sanchez’s last fight.  On August 12, 1982, three weeks after his bout with Nelson, Sanchez died in a fatal car accident at the age of twenty-three.  Boxing fans throughout the world were shocked and saddened by the news of his passing.  One person who was extremely saddened by his death was former opponent Wilfredo Gomez.  Gomez was so distressed that he was self-compelled to visit Sanchez’s gravesite and present him with flowers.  He also offered condolences to the Sanchez family and frequently kept in touch with them.  Every year there is a festival in Sanchez’s hometown to commemorate him.  Gomez has been the guest of honor nineteen times.

Though Sanchez has been gone for over twenty years, he hasn’t been forgotten.  Today, Sanchez is remembered as the young bushy haired counter-punching stylist who dominated the featherweight division during his brief two and a half year reign.  Many boxing historians consider him a top 3 all-time featherweight based on his impressive accomplishments. In his short seven-year career, he won the world title, defended it a total of nine times against a high quality of opposition (including victories over two future hall of famers in Gomez and Nelson), proved to be a clutch fighter against his top tests, and earned recognition as the best fighter in his weight class.

At the time of his death, he had many great matchups awaiting him.  Great fighters like Eusebio Pedroza, Alexis Arguello, and Julio Cesar Chavez lurked in and around his weight class.  There was also the potential for great rematches against Juan Laporte, Wilfredo Gomez and Azumah Nelson.  How would he have fared against the likes of future hall of famers Pedroza, Chavez, and Arguello?  How much greater could he have been?  Those are questions that will forever be pondered.  That is the legend of Salvador Sanchez.

Written By:  Juan Angel Zurita

By Juan Angel Zurita (June 18, 2004) - After losing his second fight to Junior Jones in 1997, Marco Antonio Barrera contemplated walking away from the sport of boxing. Staring two heartbreaking defeats in the eyes, he was disheartened by his newfound reality. He was no longer at the top.

Prior to meeting up with Jones, Barrera was on a mega-roll. He was 43-0, considered one of boxing’s best, hailed as the ‘next Chavez’, and on the fast train to Canastota. Impressive victories over Agapito Sanchez and Kennedy McKinney had the boxing world buzzing, particularly the latter, the type of action filled fight that would convert a ping-pong nerd into a diehard boxing fanatic.

But rather than hang ‘em up after the Jones setback, Barrera took a ten month break, and put the losses behind him. He’d have no regrets as he’d go on to give then undefeated 122 pound badass, Erik ‘El Terrible’ Morales, the fight of his life. And despite losing a controversial decision in 2000’s Fight of The Year, Barrera had made his point. “Don’t ever count him out.”

Soon after his grueling war with ‘El Terrible’, Barrera was targeted by the arrogant and brash featherweight ‘Prince’, Naseem Hamed, for he was perceived to be a past his prime fighter who had seen his better days. It all sounded too familiar to Barrera.

He entered the Hamed bout as a 3-1 underdog as most of the boxing world didn’t believe he’d be able to cope with Hamed’s dynamite filled fists. However, he dispelled that notion by putting together a magnificent boxing exhibition. His patient counter-punching style and precise stiff jab kept the champion off balance and exposed his ‘Swiss cheese’ defense. De Ja Vu. Again, he’d made his point clear but this time more emphatically than the last. “Don’t ever count him out again.”

Riding high off the Hamed victory, Barrera strung together several defenses over game but overmatched opponents before locking horns with Morales in a rematch of their 2000 classic. This time both chose to fight more cautiously and it resulted in a close controversial decision for Barrera. Thankfully, on a bad night, he still managed to remain at the top.

Next, he easily knocked off former champions Kevin Kelley and Johnny Tapia, but grew complacent atop the featherweight mountain. He entered his November 2003 match-up with Filipino southpaw banger Manny Pacquiao as a 4-1 favorite, exhibiting the same arrogance Hamed displayed in their bout. Barrera took the young lion lightly and it cost him dearly. Off the perch again.

This Saturday from Carson City, CA, on an HBO televised card, Barrera will begin yet another climb towards the Mount Rushmore peak. In his first fight since his devastating loss to Pacquiao, Barrera will meet former 118 and 122 pound champion Paulie Ayala in a crossroads match-up of mass significance.

Ayala, who has been in with some of the toughest pugilists in the game such as Johnny Tapia and Erik Morales, won’t be showing up to lie down. He’ll provide Barrera with a stiff test, the kind that will allow us to gauge how much the former ‘Featherweight King’ has left. If Barrera doesn’t come in at the top of his game, Ayala could write the final chapter in his career.

Barrera understands that and he won’t be taking Ayala lightly. He knows how important this fight is for his career. It’s an opportunity to prove that he still has plenty of fire left deep within. Should he come out victorious, he might get his chance to redeem himself in a Pacquiao rematch later this fall.

And if we’ve all learned anything about Barrera over the years it is that we should never count him out. For if we do, he may very well have the last laugh.

Barrera/Ayala Prediction

I foresee Barrera coming out as the boxer early on using his stiff jab to set the pace. As the fight progresses, Barrera will realize he’s in against a soft puncher and will increase the aggression and begin to leave himself open leading to some exciting exchanges. Ayala will always be game, but will always be a step behind. In the end, all signs point to a Barrera victory. He’s much younger, bigger, stronger, and is desperately seeking redemption.

Barrera via decision in an entertaining scrap.

Taylor/Marquez Prediction

The supporting bout features up and coming middleweight contender Jermain Taylor up against former junior middleweight champion Raul Marquez. I’m not afraid to say it so I’ll say it again. Marquez has no business in the ring with Taylor and Taylor’s handlers should be ashamed of themselves. For all the hype he’s getting, it’s time to step into the ring with some real middleweights and justify those high divisional ratings. Taylor is a top 3 rated contender in 3 of the 4 major organizations, but he’s yet to face a true middleweight with a pulse. Oh, enough ranting. Now on to the fight.

Marquez is a southpaw, therefore it will take Taylor’s jab a few rounds to adjust and consistently find its mark. Marquez is known for busting up quickly and we’ll see much of the same here. Taylor will be too big, strong, young, you name it. Taylor will take his time and break Marquez down within 8 rounds.

Originally Published @:  http://doghouseboxing.com/Zurita/Zurita061804.htm

By Juan Angel Zurita (June 9, 2004) – A lot of new developments have taken place since the last update, which was over three months ago. Those developments have caused enough of a shakeup to compel me to put together a revised list. I will continue to update the list every three to four months or as major developments transpire. I thank those of you who’ve sent me emails in the past showing your appreciation for the work I put forth in compiling these rankings. Enjoy!

Introduction

Over the last fifty years, the tradition of Mexican boxing has flourished and Mexican fighters have had a tremendous impact upon the world boxing scene. Within the last 30-40 years, Mexican fighters have begun to garner well-deserved recognition as top fighters in the sport. Today, the rich tradition of pugilistic excellence continues and many of these fighters are considered top fighters in their respective weight classes and top fighters in all of boxing.

Note: The criteria for these rankings is based on quality of opposition, a fighter’s performance against his opposition, and a personal ‘gut’ feeling of how each fighter compares to one another.

1. Erik Morales – 46-1 (34 KOs) – Etched himself a place in Mexican boxing history by defeating Jesus Chavez for the WBC Super Featherweight crown, joining the great Julio Cesar Chavez as the only Mexican nationals to have won three titles in three different weight classes. Next, he’ll be challenging IBF super featherweight champion Carlos Hernandez in a unification match-up in late July. Should he get by the tough Salvadorian, he’ll have to defeat Diego Corrales to prove he’s the man in the division. However, Corrales, who is currently slated to make his lightweight debut against Brazilian bomber Acelino Freitas, may end up staying at lightweight. If Corrales does choose to build a home at lightweight, Morales would then have to defeat Cuban southpaw Joel Casamayor, who’s 1-1 against Corrales, in order to claim the legit top spot at super featherweight.

2. Juan Manuel Marquez – 42-2-1 (33 KOs) – In his last fight against Filipino whirlwind Manny Pacquiao, Marquez overcame a three knockdown first round nightmare and fought his heart out to salvage a draw and hang on to his IBF/WBA titles. What he accomplished was a near impossible feat, something out of a ‘Rocky’ script. With his valiant performance, Marquez proved to the world that his name belongs alongside fellow Mexican superstars, Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales. But though he proved his mettle and solidified his pound for pound quality as a fighter, neither he nor Pacquiao accomplished their ultimate goal of attaining featherweight supremacy. A rematch would put the debate to rest and it appears to be the route both fighters will soon be taking. Marquez has vowed to be better prepared the next time out as the element of surprise has now been removed.

3. Jose Luis Castillo – 50-6-1 (45 KOs) – Castillo’s prime Julio Cesar Chavez-type performance over Juan Lazcano showed the boxing world that he still has plenty left in the tank. He proved to be the stronger and more resilient fighter as he pounded Lazcano’s face until he resembled the Elephant Man’s kid brother. With the victory, many now consider him the man to beat at 135. The man who many felt deserved the first of two fights against P4P King, Floyd Mayweather Jr., is now in pole position in the lightweight division. He could attempt to unify against fellow compatriot Julio Diaz or wait for the winner of the mega lightweight clash between Acelino Freitas and Diego Corrales. Another option would be to move up to the deep, sizzling hot junior welterweight division where he’d be physically more comfortable. If he decides to go that route, he’d be a major player there also.

4. Marco Antonio Barrera – 57-4 (40 KOs) – Recouping from his KO loss to Pacquiao, the Barrera Express is looking to make one last run as he prepares for an upcoming battle against former super bantamweight champ Paulie Ayala. The comeback bout should lend some insight as to how much the Mexican legend has left. While some believe he took Pacquiao too lightly and would fair much better in a rematch, others believe it’s time to hang ‘em up. It’s really hard to say at this point, but we should soon have our answer.

5. Oscar Larios – 51-3-1 (35 KOs) – For the last several years, Larios has been a road warrior, pounding out a handful of impressive victories in Japan. Rated number one at junior featherweight by many boxing experts, he continues to look for that one big fight that will put him on the map and he may not have to look too far to find it. In his own division there lies a great challenge in the form of an undefeated, power-punching Dominican named Joan Guzman. If that fight doesn’t take place there are plenty of enticing match-ups at featherweight that Larios would love to partake in. The best Larios has to offer may be yet to come.

6. Rafael Marquez – 31-3 (28 KOs) – The younger brother of featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez, Rafael has established himself as one of the top bantamweights in the world. This power-punching bantamweight made his mark by twice defeating Mark ‘Too Sharp’ Johnson and previously undefeated IBF bantamweight champion Tim Austin. In his last two fights he notched a convincing decision against the always durable, tough former champion Mauricio Pastrana, and destroyed IBF #1 contender Pete Frissina in two rounds. There are several top contenders that pose a threat to him, but as of right now he’s the clear favorite against everyone in the bantamweight division.

7. Antonio Margarito – 30-3 (21 KOs) – With wins over Antonio Diaz, Danny Perez and former WBA Welterweight Champion Andrew ‘Six Heads’ Lewis, Margarito has established himself as a top three welterweight. Sadly, the top names in his division don’t seem to be in a rush to fight him, therefore he’ll more than likely have to move up to junior middleweight in search of the big fights. It’s a shame as most feel he’d have a great shot at upsetting undisputed welterweight champion Cory Spinks.

8. Jorge Arce – 36-3-1 (27 KOs) – Thanks to his participation as a contestant on Mexico’s Big Brother program, a popular reality television show, the talented, power-punching WBC junior flyweight champion is now one of the most recognizable faces in Mexico. An entire program was dedicated to him leading up to his defense against Joma Gamboa, and Arce didn’t disappoint as he blasted out his overmatched opponent in two lightning quick rounds. His last bout proved to be a success as well as he knocked out tough veteran Mel Cob Castro in a rematch of their 2003 encounter, a bout which proved to be much more difficult than Arce had anticipated. Now that he’s left no doubt against Castro, Arce has plenty of potential tests against the other titlists in his division, but we shouldn’t hold our breaths waiting for those match-ups to take place. The word ‘unification’ seems taboo in the lower weight classes these days.

9. Julio Diaz – 30-2 (22 KOs) – After he was knocked out by Juan Valenzuela a few years ago, it was thought that Diaz would amount to zilch. Diaz didn’t give up though. He believed in himself, worked his way back up the rankings, and proved his critics wrong by defeating Courtney Burton via KO to earn his first title shot. When the title shot finally arrived, Diaz shined with an impressive twelve round decision over tough veteran Javier Jauregui to capture the IBF lightweight title. Today, with the IBF strap firmly wrapped around his waist, major league match-ups loom on the horizon. But despite his renewed success, he’d still be an underdog against dangerous top lightweights Jose Luis Castillo, Acelino Freitas, Diego Corrales and Juan Lazcano. However, if Diaz has taught the boxing world anything, it’s that he should never be counted out ever again.

10. Jesus Chavez – 40-3 (28 KOs) – Put together a valiant performance against Erik Morales and never backed down from the challenge. He should be back strong as a bull when he recuperates from the shoulder injury suffered in that bout. He’d love another crack at ‘El Terrible’ but will probably have to sit and wait for the time being. ‘El Matador’ isn’t finished yet.

11. Fernando Montiel – 28-1-1 (22 KOs) – Many had high hopes for this young, talented, skilled boxer. He choked the first time he stepped up to the big leagues by dropping a close decision to Mark ‘Too Sharp’ Johnson. Montiel was reluctant to mix it up early and allowed Johnson to build up a big lead on the scorecards. He rallied late in the fight, but it was too little too late. If he learns from the Johnson fight, he could go on to become one of the best fighters in the super flyweight division. We know he has the talent, but we’ll soon find out if he’s matured as a fighter.

12. Martin Castillo – 26-1 (16 KOs) – Several years ago Castillo looked like a sure bet to become a world champion. The skill and potential is still there, but not the world title. Since his heartbreaking technical decision loss via cuts to Felix Machado in early 2002, Castillo has won five fights in a row to put himself in title contention once again. Now it’s just a matter of securing a title shot.

Others: Marco Antonio Rubio, Javier Jauregui, Diego Morales, Juan Valenzuela.

A FEW KEY OBSERVATIONS

* Marquez/Pacquiao 2 is an extremely difficult fight to call. Many experts feel that Marquez will easily outbox Pacquiao now that he’s learned Pacquiao is a one-dimensional left-handed stalker, but you can bet the house that Freddie Roach will add several new tricks to Pacquiao’s arsenal.

* If Jose Luis Castillo can go on a tear at 135-140, we may see Mayweather/Castillo 3 someday.

* Someone give Oscar Larios a huge fight already. Throw him in with one of the featherweight elites. Let’s give this tough little hombre the opportunity to show his stuff.

* Rafael Marquez should consider moving up to 122-126. That’s where the real action is at. Unification match-ups in his division aren’t likely to take place. The other champs are comfortable defending at home overseas.

Originally Published @:  http://doghouseboxing.com/Zurita/Zurita060904.htm

By Juan Angel Zurita (May 3, 2004) – It took Winky Wright almost 10 years to finally land a superfight against one of the 147-154 pound superstars.  Year after year he had to watch De La Hoya, Mosley, and Trinidad rake in the big money while garnering mass recognition.  Just when he thought he was on the cusp of superstardom, he dropped a controversial decision to Fernando Vargas, the more marketable HBO action fighter.  It would take him almost five years after that loss to finally get another crack at the big time.  That’s the problem with being a fighter who is a high-risk/low-reward proposition.  None of the big names will fight you unless they really have to.  Just ask Juan Manuel Marquez, the reigning IBF/WBA Featherweight Champion. 

Both Wright and Marquez share similar career parallels. Marquez was kept out of the big picture for what seemed like an eternity while fighters like Naseem Hamed, Marco Antonio Barrera, and Erik Morales all shared the division’s wealth. Hamed unashamedly avoided him for 22 straight months when Marquez was his mandatory and Barrera and Morales never uttered his name. When he finally landed an HBO spot, he too dropped a controversial decision. Four years later, Marquez landed a much bigger fight on HBO against Derrick Gainer. After pulling out of their bout a several times, Gainer finally climbed into the ring with Marquez only to mistakenly show up for a track meet instead of a unification match. Unfortunately, none of Marquez’s HBO appearances have had a significant impact on increasing his stock, but that has had more to do with the styles he’s been paired up against. Marquez has twice had the misfortune of facing the most difficult breed to deal with, stylistic nuisances, slick, mobile, speedy southpaws.

Fortuitously, this Saturday Marquez will be facing featherweight kingpin, Filipino idol, Manny Pacquaio, an action fighter with a style more well-suited for Marquez’s counter-punching technique. As he enters the biggest fighter of his 11 year career, Marquez is extremely confident of his chances and has vowed that his belts will stay in Mexico. However, though considered a formidable opponent, Marquez is perceived as a mere stepping stone by many. Proof lies in the fact that HBO and Pacquiao have already begun to look ahead at a possible Erik Morales clash for later in the year. But much like Wright killed all talks of Mosley/Trinidad, Marquez aims to replicate the feat.

Insulted by the lack of respect he’s been shown, Marquez would love nothing more than to prove to the boxing world that he’s no walkover. And he has a point. He’s the naturally bigger fighter and possesses power of his own. That’s not exactly the type of fighter that should be taken lightly. Wright, who isn’t known for his power, held a natural size advantage against Mosley and it proved to be a key factor in their fight. The same could hold true here.

When all was said and done, Wright showed the boxing world why he was one of the sport’s most avoided fighters by easily outclassing the highly-regarded Mosley. Marquez hopes to soon share a similar fate, as his monumental opportunity to shine has finally arrived.

Originally Published @:  http://www.doghouseboxing.com/Zurita/Zurita050304.htm

By Juan Angel Zurita (April 4, 2004) - Some fighters have to persevere and work much harder than others to accomplish their goals, and IBF/WBA Featherweight Champion, Juan Manuel Marquez is the perfect example. Throughout his career he’s had to overcome several setbacks and show great patience and determination along the way. While title shots were constantly falling on the laps of less talented fighters, Marquez quietly continued his ascension to the top of the featherweight division. In 2003, he finally seized the opportunity and showed the boxing world what he’s capable of when he picked up the IBF and WBA Featherweight Titles by defeating respectable former champions, Manuel Medina and Derrick Gainer.

Though it appeared Marquez was headed towards an all-Mexico showdown with fellow countryman Marco Antonio Barrera for the right to claim featherweight supremacy, Manny Pacquiao, the Filipino bomber, derailed those plans when he shockingly dismantled Barrera in November of 2003. The unexpected turn of events led Marquez to believe that he’d once again have to wait before being presented with the opportunity to prove that he is the King of the Featherweights. After all, in the past, Prince Naseem Hamed avoided him, Derrick Gainer postponed their bout several times, and Marco Antonio Barrera rarely uttered his name. Why would Pacquiao be any different?

Marquez didn’t have to wait too long to get his answer.

On May 8th, 2004, Marquez will meet Pacquiao in the defining fight of his career. At 30 years of age, it’s now or never for Marquez. With a win, he catapults himself to superstardom and on to much bigger fights that could potentially make him a great fighter. With a loss, he joins the long list of talented fighters who weren’t able to perform at the “Big Show”. The pressure couldn’t be more intensified for the fighter known as “Dinamita”. But Marquez wouldn’t have it any other way. The situation he finds himself in at the moment is one he’s been seeking his entire career. More inspiring is the fact that it appears his younger opponent is overlooking him, his sights set on a July blockbuster matchup with superstar Erik “El Terrible” Morales.

“I know this is going to be a difficult fight, not only for me, but for Pacquiao too. If he’s already thinking about a bigger fight with Erik Morales he is going to pay for it on May 8th. I feel I should get some respect from him since I’m the champion. If he is going to underestimate me, that will be his downfall. Believe me, I’m more ready for this fight because I know it is the most important of my career,” Marquez told Bernardo Osuna of Telefutura in a recent interview.

Apparently, Pacquiao and many of his supporters seem to believe that Marquez is stylistically similar to Barrera and expect him to wilt in the same manner. However, anyone who is genuinely familiar with Marquez would know that couldn’t be further from the truth. Even Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer, acknowledged that Marquez is a much more complex challenge. “Tougher, fresher, and different,” were the words he used to describe him.

Marquez isn’t the least bit content with the thought of being perceived as a meager stepping stone for HBO’s newly contracted fighter. Seeking respect he vehemently vows to capture it come fight night.

“Believe me, I’m more ready for this fight because I know it is the most important of my career. As a Mexican, I felt bad for Marco Antonio Barrera, but I am not seeking revenge for him. What I want is for all of Mexico to be proud of me and to give them victory on May 8,” said Marquez.

It’s been a frustrating journey for the power-punching technician, a journey that will soon take a more prosperous path or come to an abrupt ending. A difficult task lies ahead, but Marquez promises to be up for the challenge. Salivating at the thought of a career defining victory, he knows that only a handful of fighters have ever found themselves in a fight as significant as this one. The long, arduous, road finally leads to May 8, in Las Vegas, Nevada, the defining moment of his career. For Marquez, it truly is now or never.

Originally Published @: http://doghouseboxing.com/Zurita/Zurita040204.htm 

By Juan Angel Zurita (March 3, 2004) - Over the last fifty years, the tradition of Mexican boxing has flourished and Mexican fighters have had a tremendous impact upon the world boxing scene. Within the last 30-40 years, Mexican fighters have begun to garner well-deserved recognition as top fighters in the sport. Today, the rich tradition of pugilistic excellence continues and many of these fighters are considered top fighters in their respective weight classes and top fighters in all of boxing.

Note: The criteria for these rankings is based on quality of opposition, a fighter’s performance against his opposition, and a personal “gut” feeling of how each fighter compares to one another.

1. Erik Morales - 46-1 (34 KOs) – Etched himself a place in Mexican boxing history by defeating Jesus Chavez for the WBC super featherweight crown, joining the great Julio Cesar Chavez as the only Mexican nationals to have won three titles in three different weight classes. Bob Arum, Morales’ promoter, has already announced that he’ll be challenging IBF Super Featherweight Champion, Carlos Hernandez, in a unification matchup this summer. Should he get by the tough Salvadorian, he’d have to defeat the winner of Casamayor/Corrales 2 in order to gain recognition as the cream of the crop in the super featherweight division.

2. Juan Manuel Marquez - 42-2 (33 KOs) – Perhaps the best kept secret in boxing a few years ago, Marquez boasts some superb boxing skills and solid power. Since his controversial loss to Freddie Norwood, he’s racked up thirteen wins, with all, but one of those ending inside the distance. In his last fight, Marquez unified the IBF and WBA featherweight titles when he defeated Derrick “Smoke” Gainer. Unfortunately, Marquez wasn’t able to display his arsenal of tools due to the fact that Gainer thought he was in a marathon. Now that Barrera has been dethroned by young buzzsaw, Manny Pacquiao, Marquez/Pacquiao is the matchup fight fans are clamoring for. With the victory, Marquez would solidify himself as the best fighter in his weight class, and would make a strong case for himself as the top fighter from South of the Border.

3. Marco Antonio Barrera - 57-4 (40 KOs) – The Barrera Express was finally derailed when he ran into a younger, hungrier, stronger fighter in Manny Pacquiao. At 29 years of age, with over sixty pro bouts, and almost 15 years of ring wear, did Barrera finally get old overnight? Did he lose the Eye of the Tiger? Or does Pacman just have his number? A rematch with Pacman or a shootout against fellow countryman, Juan Manuel Marquez, are the logical next options for the Mexican legend.

4. Rafael Marquez - 31-3 (28 KOs) – The younger brother of Featherweight Champion, Juan Manuel Marquez, Rafael has established himself as the top bantamweight in the world. This power-punching bantamweight made his mark by twice defeating Mark ‘Too Sharp’ Johnson and previously undefeated IBF Bantamweight Champion, Tim Austin. In his last two fights, he notched a convincing decision against the always durable, tough, former champion, Mauricio Pastrana, and destroyed IBF #1 contender Pete Frissina in two rounds. There are several top contenders that pose a threat to him, but as of right now he’s the clear favorite against everyone in the bantamweight division.

5. Oscar Larios - 50-3-1 (35 KOs) – Larios is considered by many as the best junior featherweight in the world. “Chololo,” as many call him, owns solid victories over Israel Vasquez and Willie Jorrin. In 2003, he traveled to Japan several times and successfully defended his WBC Junior Featherweight title. In his next defense, he’ll once again travel to Japan. Tussles against Manny Pacquiao and Paulie Ayala would be great to watch and will hopefully come to fruition in the near future.

6. Antonio Margarito - 30-3 (21 KOs) – With wins over Antonio Diaz, Danny Perez, and former WBA Welterweight Champion, Andrew “Six Heads” Lewis, Margarito has established himself as a top welterweight. Now that Ricardo Mayorga has lost his undisputed welterweight title to Cory Spinks, Margarito has a legitimate claim as the division’s #1 contender. Struggles with weight may lead him into the junior middleweight division where there will be plenty of intriguing matchups for him to choose from.

7. Jose Luis Castillo - 49-6-1 (45 KOs) – Since his two narrow decision losses to Floyd Mayweather, JR., Castillo’s career has been at a stalemate. Word has it that he’s set to challenge highly rated Juan Lazcano for the soon to become vacant WBC Lightweight title. Lazcano would be a very tough fight, but Castillo would be favored to win.

8. Jesus Chavez - 40-3 (28 KOs) – Put together a valiant performance against Erik Morales, and never took a step backwards. He’ll be back strong within 4-6 months after his shoulder heals. With his strength and determination, he could easily become a two-time champion. ‘El Matador’ may not be finished yet.

9. Jorge Arce – 35-3-1 (26 KOs) – Thanks to his participation as a contestant on Mexico’s Big Brother program, a popular reality television show, this talented, power-punching WBC Junior Flyweight Champion is now one of the most recognizable faces in Mexico. An entire program was dedicated to him leading up to his last title defense against Joma Gamboa, and Arce didn’t disappoint as he blasted out his overmatched opponent in two lightning quick rounds. But his next match won’t be as easy. He’ll be in tough in a rematch against Mel Cob Castro, a tough veteran, who gave him fits the last time out.

10. Fernando Montiel - 27-1-1 (21 KOs) – Many had high hopes for this young, talented, skilled, boxer. He choked the first time he stepped up to the big leagues by dropping a close decision to Mark ‘Too Sharp’ Johnson. Montiel was reluctant to mix it up early and allowed Johnson to build up a big lead on the scorecards. He rallied late in the fight, but it was too little too late. If he learns from the Johnson fight, he could go on to become one of the best fighters in the super flyweight division. We know he has the talent, but we’ll soon find out if he’s matured as a fighter.

11. Martin Castillo – 25-1 (15 KOs) – Several years ago Castillo looked like a sure bet to become a world champion. The skill and potential is still there, but not the world title. Since his heartbreaking technical decision loss via cuts to Felix Machado in early 2002, Castillo has won 5 fights in a row to put himself in title contention once again. He’s currently the #1 contender for the WBA Super Flyweight strap owned by Alexander Muñoz. If Castillo’s skin can hold out long enough, he may finally go on to win his first world title.

12. Cruz Carbajal - 24-11-1 (20 KOs) – No one ever said that you have to have a pretty record to be a top fighter. Carbajal’s record, as bad as it may appear, is very deceiving unless closely analyzed. He wasn’t too consistent at the beginning of his career, but lately he’s been on a roll racking up wins against Hugo Dianzo, Mauricio Martinez, and Danny Romero. He currently has his sights set on top bantamweight, Rafael Marquez. Again, don’t let the record fool you. He’d be a live underdog in that matchup.

Others:  Javier Jaregui, Diego Morales, Manuel Gomez

A Few Key Observations

Erik Morales’ victory over Jesus Chavez was somewhat impressive considering the fact that he dropped Chavez twice in the second, won 8-4 on my scorecard, and captured his third world title in his third weight class. It wasn’t pretty at times, but he accomplished the feat and that’s all that matters. Props to both fighters for giving it 110% despite suffering injuries in their bout.

After watching Morales struggle a bit against Jesus Chavez, I couldn’t help, but wonder how he’d fair against #2 Juan Manuel Marquez. I know I’m in the minority, but I feel Marquez may be the best Mexican fighter in the world. The problem is that he hasn’t had that defining fight to justify my opinion. I’m crossing my fingers that he and Pacquiao climb into the ring together this summer. That would be Sanchez/Gomez in 04’.

Rafael Marquez looked devastating against IBF #1 ranked contender Pete Frissina, but Frissina didn’t even look like he deserved to be Marquez’s sparring partner. Despite the awesome performance, Rafael still looks extremely vulnerable. He can be hit and that’s not a good thing when you have a questionable beard. If he doesn’t listen to his trainer and start boxing more like his older brother, he’ll soon hear the words, “The former IBF Bantamweight Champion of the World….”

Originally Published @: http://www.doghouseboxing.com/Zurita/Zurita030304.htm

By Juan Angel Zurita (October 1, 2003) -  Growing up in a Mexican-American family in Southern California exposed me to many things. Rice, beans, tortillas, menudo, ceviche, piñatas, Chapulin Colorado, El Chavo Del Ocho, and rancheritas were only a few of the many experiences that I had while growing up in such a household. Sports were also a big thing in my family. As a kid growing up into a teen, I have many memories of my abuelito watching baseball/soccer games whenever I’d go over for a visit. However, I particularly recall the times when he was glued to the television watching boxing.

I don’t recall there being a die-hard boxing fanatic in the family, but for some reason the presence of the sport always existed throughout the household. It was just part of our culture.

Around the age of 10, I began to hear my grandfather and uncles raving about this new Mexican kid that was beginning to make a name for himself in the sport. That fighter’s name was Julio Cesar Chavez. Chavez would eventually become the fighter that would lure me, my family, and our whole culture back into the sport of boxing.

Mexican/Mexican-Americans have never been so boxing crazy than when Chavez was in his prime. It was a huge event whenever Chavez was in a big fight. I remember hearing neighbors, people at the grocery stores, barbers, and many others getting worked up about Chavez’ upcoming fights. I definitely had the best of both worlds, as I was exposed to the Mexican/Mexican-American boxing craze in San Diego, CA, 5 minutes from the San Diego/Tijuana border crossing (San Ysidro border crossing to be exact).

Today, the Chavez glory years are long gone, but Mexican boxing lives on. Mexicans and Mexican-Americans continue to make up a large chunk of the boxing fanatic population. Fighters like Rodolfo Chango Casanova, Jose Toluco Lopez, Baby Arizmendi, Jose Becerra, Miguel Canto, Vicente Saldivar, Carlos Zarate, Alfonso Zamora, and Ruben Olivares helped paved the background for Mexican boxing. Salvador Sanchez, Julio Cesar Chavez, and Ricardo Lopez have since solidified its impact on the sport. Today, Oscar De La Hoya, Fernando Vargas, Erik Morales, and Marco Antonio Barrera, continue to carry the torch.

Boxing’s continued popularity amongst Hispanics, particularly Mexicans, can be witnessed at today’s biggest boxing matches. Outside of the heavyweight division, if two non-Hispanic fighters are set to battle in a “superfight”, attendance is usually poor. It doesn’t matter if two very good fighters are facing each other. Ricardo Mayorga vs. Vernon Forrest is a recent example of a significant bout that didn’t draw as well as it should have. Even proven name fighters such as Shane Mosley, Floyd Mayweather Jr., and Kostya Tsyzu struggle to fill the arenas and attract fans to watch their fights.

Due to boxing’s decline in popularity since the 80′s, many of the matchups which do include Mexican and Mexican-American superstars, don’t sellout, but significantly do better in ticket sales and in television ratings when compared to other matchups which don’t include this combination. Today, If you ask a boxing fanatic that has been to a handful of fights, he or she will attest that fights which include Mexican/Mexican-American superstars are almost always the most electrifying, exciting, and overall the most enjoyable. It’s the enthusiasm and pride of the Mexican/Mexican-American fan base that creates this unreplicable element. Some past and recent examples of bouts which have produced this element, include any major Mexican/Puerto-Rican rivalry, Chavez/Taylor, Chavez/Haugen, Barrera/Morales, and Barrera/Hamed.

Personally, not many feelings compare to the energetic rush that I experience during a boxing match with an arena filled with other Mexican/Mexican-American boxing fans. When I hear the rancherita ring walk music or when I see the beautiful green, white, and red, something inside of me explodes. It’s a very powerful feeling. It’s pride, fervor, and machismo wrapped up into one feeling. One has to experience it to understand it. Goosebumps don’t even compare.

I guess the reason many of us feel this way is because boxing is a sport that allows us to show off our tremendous pride. Outside of soccer, Mexicans don’t really excel in any other sport. What better sport to excel in than one that allows a whole culture to exercise its culture’s machismo? For Mexican/Mexican-American boxing fans, it is very important that our ring warriors proudly represent our people and our culture. It allows us to identify with something positive, something victorious.

It goes without saying that Mexicans and Mexican-Americans have always done well for themselves in the sport of boxing, but in the last 20-25 years there has been a huge outbreak in terms of the level of talent that has developed. Could this be the reason why many Mexicans and Mexican-Americans remain interested in the sport? I tend to believe that it has more to do with our love for the nature of the sport.

We continue to love this sport because it represents us with an unrivaled passion. No other sport makes us feel this great about ourselves. Not many sports bring an entire culture together. Boxing is the exception.

On those big fight nights when a fellow “Raza” is representing, it allows us to be a part of something special and borderline mythical. This is Mexican/Mexican-American boxing. We wouldn’t trade it for the world.