Bird of prey
All eyes on Carlos “El Gallo” Sanchez

Story & photos by Chris Cozzone

“Carlos who?” might’ve been the response of a fight fan a couple years ago, when asked about Carlos Sanchez.

Those days are over for Sanchez.

After four wins that forced fight fans to stand up and take notice, the quiet, humble mechanic-turn-pugilist who goes by the moniker “El Gallo” has quickly become a crowd favorite.

If his four-round debut in 2008 – a bang-up bout with Matt Priest – didn’t win fans, his war with Mike Rodriguez a year ago did.

And if the first two wins failed to impress – many of us still labeled him a tough-but-limited club pug – his next two fights did the trick.

Last June, Sanchez, a heavy underdog, wore down former amateur standout Arturo “Tudy” Crespin for a unanimous decision. One fight later, Sanchez scored his first kayo by becoming the first New Mexican to knock out the usually-granite-jawed Daniel Gonzalez.

Sanchez first got the bug to lace up the gloves after attending a club smoker four-and-a-half years ago.

“I went in there and just starting punching the bag,” says Sanchez. “Then I met Henry . . . .”

Even if no one else picked up on it, trainer Henry Anaya knew he had something special with Sanchez when he started training his ward at the Jack Candelaria Community Center in Albuquerque.

“He showed me a lot of potential,” says Anaya. “I figured he could be somebody in boxing.”

Though his amateur career was short-lived – Sanchez was 7-4 – Anaya says turning pro was always the goal.

“His style is better suited to the pros,” says Anaya. “After he had enough experience we turned him pro.”

The lack of a lengthy amateur career was of no concern when Anaya accepted the fight for Sanchez to take on Crespin – and it paid off.

Now, on Friday, Sanchez (4-0, 1 KO) will try to keep his record clean when he rematches Crespin (3-1, 1 KO) at Tingley, in a four-rounder at 154 lbs.

For the same reasons why he took the original fight, Sanchez accepted the rematch.

“I knew he had more experience than me,” says Sanchez. “But I have more physical power.”

Though he expects a tougher fight the second time around from Crespin, Sanchez says he has progressed enough to make the difference, and to score his fifth pro win Friday night.

“I’m not afraid to fight,” says Sanchez. “I will take whatever are offered – I just want to fight.”

Win, lose or draw against Crespin, Sanchez says there will be no third fight – “I want to fight different people,” he says. And, barring injury, he has landed a spot on the Johnny Tapia card March 6, against Lucas Galle.

“Galle is a fast fighter, but he runs,” says Sanchez. “My goal will be to show my power. I am a power puncher.”

Though success in the ring (which can be short-lived) has not personally changed him – other than encouraging him to get a rather large gallo inked on his torso – Sanchez says he feels a bit of responsibility in pleasing his fans.

“People are looking at me now,” says Sanchez. “I want to keep on winning. I want to show them that I keep getting better.

“The goal is the same as all the others. I want to be a champion. I want to go for the titles. It’s not about the money for me. Or being famous. It’s showing the people.”

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