Alex Sánchez (boxer)
Encyclopedia
Alex "El Nene" Sánchez is a retired Puerto Rican
professional boxer
.
.
After one more win that year, he took 1992 off, but came back in 1993 to post nine wins in a row before facing Orlando Malone for the WBO's world Strawweight championship. On December 22 of that year, Sánchez became a world champion by knocking Malone out in the first round at San Juan, Puerto Rico
.
He went on a European tour in 1994, retaining his title and winning a non-title bout in Spain, and retaining his title in Germany. By then, Sánchez was actively challenging Michael Carbajal into a fight. That fight, however, never came off.
In 1995, he retained his title twice, and won four non-title bouts. In 1996, he only had one fight, knocking out Jose Luis Velardez in round five.
In 1997, he started by suffering his first defeat, at the hands of Edgar Cardenas
, by a decision in ten rounds. He then beat future world champion Victor Burgos
by a decision in twelve to retain the title, in what marked the beginning of their trilogy of bouts. He closed the year by getting his long anticipated unification bout with WBC
world champion Ricardo López, but he lost the title to López when López knocked him out in round five at Madison Square Garden
.
Sánchez has been active only on and off since. In 2002, he and Burgos had their second meeting, and this time the result was a draw. But in 2003, after López had conquered the IBF
world belt and retired, the IBF declared Sánchez and Burgos their official challengers for the world crown, and this time, Sánchez lost by a knockout in round 12 at Las Vegas
.
Sánchez revealed that he had become a newborn Christian
shortly before his next fight, an attempt at recovering the WBO world Strawweight championship, held this time by Ivan Calderón
. On December 6, he lost to Calderón by a twelve round unanimous decision at Bayamón
.
On August 6, 2004, Sánchez, who had shortly before expressed to local newspapers that he hoped to become a world champion again, beat Roberto Gomez by an eight round decision, as part of a San Juan undercard highlighted by José Miguel Cotto
's win over former world champion Al Kotey.
Just over a month later, on September 11, he posted a first round knockout over Arturo Velazquez, at the José Miguel Agrelot
coliseum, also in San Juan.
On January 29, 2005, Sanchez attempted to win the WBO world Jr. Flyweight title, but he lost to champion Nelson Dieppa
of Vieques
by an eleventh round knockout. Puerto Rican boxing experts commented that the Sanchez-Dieppa fight should have been considerated for "fight of the year" in Puerto Rico.
His next fight, once again for the WBO Jr. Lightweight title that Hugo Cazares
had taken from Dieppa, was held in Ponce on August 20 of that year. After suffering an eye injury, Sanchez lost the fight by an eighth round technical knockout, announcing his retirement from professional boxing immediately after the bout.
Sanchez is now a boxing promoter in Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
professional boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
.
Boxing career
Sánchez began his professional boxing career on October 4, 1991, knocking out Carlos Figueroa in round one at Mayagüez, Puerto RicoMayagüez, Puerto Rico
Mayagüez is the eighth-largest municipality of Puerto Rico. Originally founded as "Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria" it is also known as "La Sultana del Oeste" , "Ciudad de las Aguas Puras" , or "Ciudad del Mangó"...
.
After one more win that year, he took 1992 off, but came back in 1993 to post nine wins in a row before facing Orlando Malone for the WBO's world Strawweight championship. On December 22 of that year, Sánchez became a world champion by knocking Malone out in the first round at San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
.
He went on a European tour in 1994, retaining his title and winning a non-title bout in Spain, and retaining his title in Germany. By then, Sánchez was actively challenging Michael Carbajal into a fight. That fight, however, never came off.
In 1995, he retained his title twice, and won four non-title bouts. In 1996, he only had one fight, knocking out Jose Luis Velardez in round five.
In 1997, he started by suffering his first defeat, at the hands of Edgar Cardenas
Edgar Cardenas
Edgar Cardenas is a Mexican boxer in the Bantamweight division. He is a former WBC Continental Americas Light Flyweight, WBO NABO Light Flyweight, and the IBF Minimumweight Champion....
, by a decision in ten rounds. He then beat future world champion Victor Burgos
Víctor Burgos
José Víctor Flores Burgos is a professional Mexican boxer in the Flyweight division. Víctor is the former IBF Light Flyweight Champion.http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Victor_Burgos He also has a Nephew Juan Carlos Burgos, who is a Featherweight Prospect.-Pro career:Burgos' career has been marked...
by a decision in twelve to retain the title, in what marked the beginning of their trilogy of bouts. He closed the year by getting his long anticipated unification bout with WBC
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
world champion Ricardo López, but he lost the title to López when López knocked him out in round five at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
.
Sánchez has been active only on and off since. In 2002, he and Burgos had their second meeting, and this time the result was a draw. But in 2003, after López had conquered the IBF
International Boxing Federation
The International Boxing Federation or IBF is one of four major organizations recognized by IBHOF which sanction world championship boxing bouts, alongside the WBA, WBC and WBO.- History :...
world belt and retired, the IBF declared Sánchez and Burgos their official challengers for the world crown, and this time, Sánchez lost by a knockout in round 12 at Las Vegas
Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is an approximately stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada; adjacent to, but outside the city limits of Las Vegas proper. The Strip lies within the unincorporated townships of Paradise and Winchester...
.
Sánchez revealed that he had become a newborn Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
shortly before his next fight, an attempt at recovering the WBO world Strawweight championship, held this time by Ivan Calderón
Ivan Calderón (boxer)
Iván Calderón Marrero is a Puerto Rican professional boxer. As an amateur Calderón represented Puerto Rico in international competitions and attended the 2000 Olympic Games in Australia. On May 3, 2003, he won the World Boxing Organization's minimumweight championship when he defeated Eduardo...
. On December 6, he lost to Calderón by a twelve round unanimous decision at Bayamón
Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Bayamón is a municipality of Puerto Rico located on the northern coastal valley, north of Aguas Buenas and Comerío; south of Toa Baja and Cataño; west of Guaynabo; and east of Toa Alta and Naranjito. Bayamón is spread over 11 wards and Bayamón Pueblo...
.
On August 6, 2004, Sánchez, who had shortly before expressed to local newspapers that he hoped to become a world champion again, beat Roberto Gomez by an eight round decision, as part of a San Juan undercard highlighted by José Miguel Cotto
José Miguel Cotto
José Miguel Cotto Vázquez is a Puerto Rican professional boxer. He is the brother of the four-time World Champion boxer Miguel Angel Cotto...
's win over former world champion Al Kotey.
Just over a month later, on September 11, he posted a first round knockout over Arturo Velazquez, at the José Miguel Agrelot
José Miguel Agrelot
Giuseppe Michael Agrelot , better known as José Miguel Agrelot, was a comedian, radio and television host and media icon in Puerto Rico...
coliseum, also in San Juan.
On January 29, 2005, Sanchez attempted to win the WBO world Jr. Flyweight title, but he lost to champion Nelson Dieppa
Nelson Dieppa
Nelson Dieppa is a Puerto Rican professional boxer. As an amateur, he represented Puerto Rico in international events including the 1991 World Amateur Boxing Championships, 1991 Pan American Games and the 1992 Summer Olympics. Dieppa debuted as a professional on February 13, 1993, when he defeated...
of Vieques
Vieques, Puerto Rico
Vieques , in full Isla de Vieques, is an island–municipality of Puerto Rico in the northeastern Caribbean, part of an island grouping sometimes known as the Spanish Virgin Islands...
by an eleventh round knockout. Puerto Rican boxing experts commented that the Sanchez-Dieppa fight should have been considerated for "fight of the year" in Puerto Rico.
His next fight, once again for the WBO Jr. Lightweight title that Hugo Cazares
Hugo Cázares
Hugo Fidel Cázares is a southpaw professional boxer in the Super flyweight division. He is the former WBA Super Flyweight champion and WBO Light Flyweight champion...
had taken from Dieppa, was held in Ponce on August 20 of that year. After suffering an eye injury, Sanchez lost the fight by an eighth round technical knockout, announcing his retirement from professional boxing immediately after the bout.
Sanchez is now a boxing promoter in Puerto Rico.
See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- List of Puerto Rican boxing world champions