On February 2, 1980, a 21-year-old Salvador Sánchez (33-1-1, 27 KOs) got a shot at the WBC and The Ring featherweight titles held by 27-year-old American boxer Danny Lopez (23-3, 20 KOs).
Sánchez came in to the fight on a 13-fight win streak with a 77% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 1 month and 18 days. Lopez was on a 18-fight win streak with a 76% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 4 months and 8 days.
Salvador Sánchez stopped the champion via TKO in the 13th round of the 15-round world-title fight, winning the first world titles of his career, and is crowned the new WBC and The Ring featherweight champion. Sánchez improves his record to 34-1-1 (28 KOs), while Lopez adds a loss to his record at 23-4.
On August 21, 1981, the 22-year-old WBC and The Ring featherweight world champion, Salvador Sánchez (40-1-1, 30 KOs), faced a 24-year-old Puerto Rican boxer Wilfredo Gómez (32-0-1, 32 KOs), in a title defense fight.
Sánchez came in to the fight on a 20-fight win streak with a 71% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 1 month and 10 days. Gómez was on a 32-fight win streak with a 97% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 2 months and 1 day.
Salvador Sánchez stopped Wilfredo Gómez via TKO in the 8th round of the 15-round world-title fight, and successfully defended his WBC and The Ring featherweight titles. Sánchez improves his record to 41-1-1 (31 KOs), while Gómez adds a loss to his record at 32-1-1.
On June 21, 1980, Salvador Sánchez and Danny Lopez met again in a rematch.
Sánchez came in to the fight on a 15-fight win streak with a 75% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 2 months and 9 days. Lopez was on a -1-fight win streak with a 74% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 4 months and 19 days.
In the rematch, Salvador Sánchez stopped Danny Lopez via TKO in the 14th round of the 15-round world-title fight, and successfully defended his WBC and The Ring featherweight titles. Sánchez improves his record to 36-1-1 (29 KOs), while Lopez adds a loss to his record at 23-5.
On July 21, 1982, the 23-year-old WBC and The Ring featherweight world champion, Salvador Sánchez (43-1-1, 31 KOs), faced a 24-year-old Ghanaian boxer Azumah Nelson (13-0, 10 KOs), in a title defense fight.
Sánchez came in to the fight on a 23-fight win streak with a 68% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 2 months and 13 days. Nelson was on a 13-fight win streak with a 76% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 25 days.
Salvador Sánchez stopped Azumah Nelson via TKO in the final round of the 15-round world-title fight, and successfully defended his WBC and The Ring featherweight titles. Sánchez improves his record to 44-1-1 (32 KOs), while Nelson adds a loss to his record at 13-1.
On March 22, 1981, the 22-year-old WBC and The Ring featherweight world champion, Salvador Sánchez (38-1-1, 29 KOs), faced Roberto Castanon, in a title defense fight.
Sánchez came in to the fight on a 18-fight win streak with a 72% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 3 months and 9 days.
Salvador Sánchez stopped Roberto Castanon via TKO in the 10th round of the 15-round world-title fight, and successfully defended his WBC and The Ring featherweight titles. Sánchez improves his record to 39-1-1 (30 KOs)
On April 12, 1980, the 21-year-old WBC and The Ring featherweight world champion, Salvador Sánchez (34-1-1, 28 KOs), faced a 22-year-old American boxer Ruben Castillo (44-1, 22 KOs), in a title defense fight.
Sánchez came in to the fight on a 14-fight win streak with a 77% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 2 months and 10 days. Castillo was on a 1-fight win streak with a 48% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 1 month and 9 days.
Salvador Sánchez defeated Ruben Castillo via unanimous decision and successfully defended his WBC and The Ring featherweight titles. Sánchez improves his record to 35-1-1, while Castillo adds a loss to his record at 44-2.
On December 13, 1980, the 21-year-old WBC and The Ring featherweight world champion, Salvador Sánchez (37-1-1, 29 KOs), faced a 21-year-old Puerto Rican boxer Juan Laporte (15-1, 8 KOs), in a title defense fight.
Sánchez came in to the fight on a 17-fight win streak with a 74% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 3 months. Laporte was on a 11-fight win streak with a 50% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 3 months.
Salvador Sánchez defeated Juan Laporte via unanimous decision and successfully defended his WBC and The Ring featherweight titles. Sánchez improves his record to 38-1-1, while Laporte adds a loss to his record at 15-2.
On May 8, 1982, the 23-year-old WBC and The Ring featherweight world champion, Salvador Sánchez (42-1-1, 31 KOs), faced Jorge Garcia, in a title defense fight.
Sánchez came in to the fight on a 22-fight win streak with a 70% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 4 months and 26 days.
Salvador Sánchez defeated Jorge Garcia via unanimous decision and successfully defended his WBC and The Ring featherweight titles. Sánchez improves his record to 43-1-1
On September 13, 1980, the 21-year-old WBC and The Ring featherweight world champion, Salvador Sánchez (36-1-1, 29 KOs), faced Patrick Ford, in a title defense fight.
Sánchez came in to the fight on a 16-fight win streak with a 76% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 2 months and 23 days.
Salvador Sánchez defeated Patrick Ford via majority decision and successfully defended his WBC and The Ring featherweight titles. Sánchez improves his record to 37-1-1
On December 12, 1981, the 22-year-old WBC and The Ring featherweight world champion, Salvador Sánchez (41-1-1, 31 KOs), faced Pat Cowdell, in a title defense fight.
Sánchez came in to the fight on a 21-fight win streak with a 72% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 3 months and 21 days.
Salvador Sánchez defeated Pat Cowdell via split decision and successfully defended his WBC and The Ring featherweight titles. Sánchez improves his record to 42-1-1