Featherweight Champions Trivia Quiz

Answer: Chalky Wright

The 20-year old whiz kid from Conneticut born Gugliermo Papaleo who entered this bout with a 53-0-0 record outboxed Chalky Wright (11-4, 11-4, & 10-4-1) at New York City's Madison Square Garden 20 November 1942 for the then powerful NYSAC featherweight championship.

Answer: 4th round KO

On 29 October 1948 at New York City's Madison Square Garden the lethal punching Saddler dropped defending champion Pep once in the third and for the full 10 count in the fourth round for the belt. Saddler is one of very few fighters to have over 100 knockout victories in his career.

Answer: Petey Sarron

On 29 October 1937 at New York City's Madison Square Garden, "Homicide Hank" born Henry Melody Jackson loser of three of his first four professional bouts won his first undisputed world championship (featherweight) with a sixth round knockout of a scheduled 15-rounder against defending champion Petey Sarron. Armstrong would go on to win the world lightweight and welterweight championships within a year of this bout.

Answer: Salvador Sanchez

Sanchez, who born in Santiago Tanguistenco Mexico 26 January 1959, was just 23-years old when he lost control of the car he was driving 12 August 1982. Sanchez defeated Danny "Little Red" Lopez 2 Febuary 1980 by TKO in 13 rounds to win the WBC featherweight championship. Sanchez defeated Felix Trinidad Sr. (father of Puerto Rican superfighter, three division titist Felix Trinidad) by knockout in five rounds in 1979. Sanchez was preparing to defend his championship for the 10th time against his friend Juan Laporte. Sanchez earlier successfully defended his belt against Laporte winning a 15 round decision in El Paso Texas 13 December 1980.

Answer: Mario Miranda

Puerto Rico born New York based Juan Laporte, won the vacant WBC featherweight championship when Miranda was unable to answer the bell for the 11th round of their scheduled 15-rounder. The bout took place at New York City's Madison Square Garden 15 September 1982.

Answer: Wilfredo Gomez

Africa born Azumah Nelson gave up the featherweight belt after six successful title defenses, including two over the iron-chinned mexican challenger Marcos Villasana (their second on 29 August 1987). Panama's Ernesto Marcel retired from boxing at age 25 after his fourth sucessful title defense, the last against power punching three division titlist Alexis Arguello via 15-round decision 16 February 1974. Arguello gave up the title after his fourth sucessful title defense, against Salvador Torres KO-5 on 19 June 1976. Gomez after defeating fellow Puerto Rican Juan Laporte for the WBC featherweight title 31 March 1984 was kayoed by the powerful ring warrior, Azumah Nelson in the 11th round of their scheduled 12 round bout on 8 December 1984 in Puerto Rico.

Answer: Davey Moore

Moore who was defending the world featherweight championship (against Ultiminio "Sugar" Ramos) for the sixth time, won the belt from Hogan "Kid Bassey on 18 March 1959, was unable to answer the bell for the 11th round of a scheduled 15-rounder. He fell into a coma in the dressing room and died from head injuries sustained from the bout two days later on 23 March 1963. Moore who was born in Lexington Kentucky on 1 November 1933, was only 29-years old.

Answer: Bernard Taylor

The fleet-footed quick-handed Taylor held the stamina gifted defending WBA featherweight champion Predroza to a 15-round draw in his (Taylor) hometown of Charlotte North Carolina on 16 October 1982. One judge had Pedroza winning 147-143, another had Taylor ahead 148-144, the third and final judge had them even at 146-146 after 15 fast paced rounds.

Answer: Sandy Saddler

Saddler in a foul infested fight on 25 Febuary 1955 at New York City's Madison Square Garden, soundly defeated Davis who at the time had a 60-48-4 record. The scores were 12-3, 11-3-1 and 9-6 for the defending champion Saddler.

Answer: Clemente Sanchez

Monterrey Mexico born Clemente Sanchez knocked out Japan's Kuniaki Shibata 19 May 1972, Tokyo Japan in the third round to win the WBC featherweight title. He then lost his very next bout, a 10-round non title bout to Enrique Garcia a fighter with a 5-4-1 record.

His next bout would be a title defense against Cuba born Spain based Jose Legra. Sanchez after several attempts could not make the 126 limit (he weighted 129-lbs) and forfited the championship. The bout was allowed to take place anyway. If Sanchez won, the title would be declared vacant, However, if Legra (Who weighted 123 lbs) won, he would recieve the championship.

He stopped Sanchez in the 10th round of their scheduled 15 rounder. Sanchez, after a one year hiatus fought two more years.

He lost the final bout of his career in 1975 and retired at the age of 28. Three years later (in 1978) he passed away. He was only 31 years old.