Roy Jones Jr has high praise for Muhammad Ali, once stating that, ‘without him, there would be no me.’ He has included Sugar Ray Robinson on his ‘Mount Rushmore’ of boxing. However, he holds one man above both when it comes to skill.
Jones has his own claim as one of the best of all time. He achieved a historic milestone in 2003 by becoming the first former middleweight champion in 106 years to win a heavyweight title, capturing the WBA belt after defeating John Ruiz.
Throughout his career, Jones secured world championships across four weight classes – middleweight, super-middleweight, light-heavyweight, and heavyweight – and dazzled fans with his athleticism, movement and speed.
In a resurfaced interview, the now 56-year-old paid tribute to a fighter who boasted many of the same attributes: Salvador Sanchez.
“The best fighter I ever saw? Honestly? Skill-wise, it was a guy by the name of Salvador Sanchez.”
Sanchez began his professional career in 1975 at just 16 years old, and by February 2, 1980 – at age 21 – he captured the WBC featherweight crown by knocking out long-reigning champion Danny Lopez in the 13th round.
Over the next two and a half years, Sanchez defended his title nine times, posting a career record of 44–1–1 with 32 knockouts. Among those defences were decisive victories against elite foes: he beat Lopez again, outboxed and stopped the unbeaten Wilfredo Gomez, and beat future legend Azumah Nelson at Madison Square Garden.
Tragically, Sanchez’ meteoric rise came to an abrupt end when he died in a car accident on August 12, 1982, just weeks after his final title defence. He was posthumously inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1991.
