Salvador Sanchez vs Pat Ford

Salvador Sánchez defended his WBC featherweight title for the third time against Patrick Ford on September 13, 1980, at San Antonio's Freeman Coliseum. Both fighters weighed in at 126 pounds. Sánchez, with a record of 36-1-1, faced the undefeated Ford, who stood at 16-0-0.

Ford, standing 5'10" with a significant reach advantage, utilized his jab effectively in the early rounds, disrupting Sánchez's rhythm. Ford's left uppercut drew blood from Sánchez's nose in the third round, highlighting his early dominance.

Despite the early setbacks, Sánchez adapted by closing the distance, targeting Ford's body, and landing uppercuts that began to shift the fight's momentum. The judges scored the bout as follows: Arlen Bynum 145-141, José M. Escalante 145-145, and Ramón Berumen 148-139, resulting in a majority decision victory for Sánchez.

This victory marked Sánchez's third successful title defence, further solidifying his status in the featherweight division. Ford's performance, though valiant, was his first professional loss, bringing his record to 16-1-0.