There’s that previous Sixties question: what if they’d a struggle and no person got here? Contemplating the 1982 conflict between featherweights Salvador Sanchez and Azumah Nelson, the higher query is: what if they’d 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 might be, however long-time battle followers understand it’s at all times higher to be thankful for what you get, than to worry over what the merciless boxing gods deny you. And so, nearly 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 very top-shelf match Sanchez vs Nelson actually was. In any case, nobody exterior of Ghana knew something about Azumah, who had a paltry document of 13 bouts and was introduced in as a final second alternative for high contender Mario Miranda. Except for holding the Commonwealth featherweight title, he possessed no {qualifications} for a shot at a world championship in any way, a lot much less a bout with the person considered one of many best performers within the sport. Because of this, fewer than six thousand confirmed up at Madison Sq. Backyard that night time.
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, nearly as quick because the sports activities automobiles he liked to drive. He fought regularly, a minimum of six bouts per 12 months, 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 best possible.
Promoter Don King had not too long ago begun negotiations for an enormous 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 may take him. Having been featured on community tv in nearly all of his title wins, the American public had come to admire his precision counter-punching, granite chin and glorious stamina. To everybody’s shock, he would wish all of those attributes to beat the brave problem of Azumah Nelson in one of the 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 power, attacking with abandon and firing large photographs from all angles. The champion was a notoriously sluggish starter, besides, the ferocity of Azumah’s early forays shocked all. Setting a relentless tempo, he scored with left hooks within the opening seconds after which adopted up with arduous proper palms 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 displaying Sanchez no respect, making the champion miss after which countering with heavy photographs from both hand. The straight proper proved to be Nelson’s best weapon and thus the at all times affected person and wily Sanchez regarded 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 gained the fourth, ambushing Sanchez on the finish of the spherical with arduous rights and cruel 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 way of, 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 approach to decisively flip the tide, lastly discovered what he was in search of. Anticipating Azumah’s proper, he beat him to the mark with an ideal left hook that just about put the challenger down. A damage 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 quick, exact hook. This time the blow despatched Azumah to the canvas.
Nelson rose on the rely of six and, demonstrating the guts 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 wherein Sanchez ruthlessly dug away at Azumah’s ribs.
However the punishment appeared to don’t have 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, received 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 energy of his brawling assault, his proper palms 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.
However it 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 energy 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 talent 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 the perfect 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 palms go, however on the identical 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 palms 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 use.
Seconds later a collection of flush photographs had the challenger in serious trouble and nonetheless, he wouldn’t cease slinging leather-based, till yet one more crushing left hook buckled his legs and left him momentarily out on his ft, his palms down, his complete 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 ft and waved at Sanchez to return again, to maintain preventing, 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 palms 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 explanation why this dramatic and grueling wrestle has been largely ignored by so many within the years since. First, 1982 occurred to be a banner 12 months for monumentally thrilling clashes. An exciting contest, Sanchez vs Nelson would have simply been Struggle 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 glorious matches, there had been no expectation of an awesome 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 info, the occasion which overshadows Sanchez vs Nelson is what befell simply three weeks later. A lover of sports activities automobiles, a person and a fighter who at all times moved quick, with depth and goal, 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 loss of life 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, an important factor 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 night time was not the results of some miraculous circumstance, however as a substitute testomony to the nice Ghanaian’s expertise and tenacity, to the talents 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 night time, an astonishing exhibition of coronary heart and dedication that would solely have been withstood and overcome by a boxer of equal braveness and even larger expertise. Salvador Sanchez had already proved himself a very nice boxer, however on that summer time night time in New York Metropolis he put the ending, last 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 beneath essentially the most intense strain, who may 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 endlessly speculate as to what might need been. — Michael Carbert
