Salvador Sanchez vs Roberto Castanon

On March 22, 1981, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Salvador Sánchez successfully defended his WBC World Featherweight Title against Roberto Castañón in a bout that showcased Sánchez's technical brilliance and dominance. Both fighters weighed in at the featherweight limit of 126 pounds, with Sánchez entering the ring with a record of 38-1-1 and Castañón boasting an impressive 42-1-0. Referee Davey Pearl officiated the contest, which was broadcast live on ABC Sports.

From the opening bell, Sánchez established control, methodically breaking down the Spaniard's erratic and aggressive approach. Castañón's wide, lunging punches failed to connect with precision as Sánchez displayed exceptional head movement, slipping and ducking under wild swings. By the fifth round, Castañón was bleeding from the nose, and Sánchez's jab was repeatedly finding its mark. The champion's counters punished every mistake Castañón made, gradually wearing down the challenger.

The eighth round saw Sánchez raise the tempo. A sharp right hand followed by a right-left combination visibly shook Castañón. Sánchez carried that momentum into the ninth, where a clean left uppercut and a left hook staggered the challenger again. Forced onto the ropes by Sánchez's relentless assault, Castañón absorbed several rights and a left before the bell intervened to save him from further punishment.

In the 10th round, Sánchez wasted no time. A sharp, short left hand dropped Castañón in the opening seconds. Although he quickly regained his feet, he had not fully recovered. Sánchez pressed forward with a relentless attack, landing a barrage of unanswered punches that left referee Davey Pearl no choice but to halt the contest at 1:09 of the round.

The scorecards at the time of the stoppage reflected Sánchez's dominance. Duane Ford and Joe Swessel fought 89-82 in favor of Sánchez, while Chuck Minker scored 90-81. Castañón, whose face was marked by swelling and bleeding, was thoroughly outclassed despite his resilience.

For Sánchez, this was his fifth successful title defence in just over a year, further cementing his reputation as one of the sport's most composed and technically refined champions. His ability to neutralize Castañón's wild offence while maintaining defensive sharpness and offensive precision remains a testament to his ring intelligence. Meanwhile, Castañón, though spirited, was exposed by a world champion operating on a different level.

Sánchez's record improved to 39-1-1, while Castañón fell to 42-2. His only other loss came at the hands of Danny "Little Red" Lopez two years earlier. The fight served as yet another reminder of why Salvador Sánchez was considered one of the most dominant featherweights of his era.