The 147lb division is one that boasts some of the finest fighters and has a depth of thriving prospects with Golden Boy Promotions. Evan Sanchez is looking to propel his name amongst the likes of Vergil Ortiz Jr and Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis.
Sanchez, 22, holds a professional record of 8-0 (6KOs) but his story could be a very different one had it not have been for a chance encounter with Joel De La Hoya, brother of Golden Boy Promotions founder, Oscar.
When the Californian turned professional in October 2017 he and his father had set out a plan to retire from boxing by the end of 2019 if he hadn’t signed to a big named promoter by that point.
May 2019, Sanchez had just won his fifth professional fight but the frustration was beginning to take over as the welterweight hopeful had the discussion with his father to call it a day a little sooner than planned.
“Me and my dad had a gameplay, we were going to do two years,” Sanchez told proboxing-fans.com.
“If nothing happened after the two years we were going to quit boxing
“Completely quit and go in to college or do something else. The two years was coming up, it was like October, I was telling my dad, ‘hey, nothing’s happening, let’s just quit a little bit earlier. Let’s go and work.’
“I wanted money and I was desperate.”
Evan’s dad had arranged some sparring where a manager would be attending to see if the youngster had what it takes to sign with a big name promoter.
Sanchez decided to give it one last shot in the hope that this journey would see him gain his big break.
Unfortunately though the scout cancelled. Evan proceeded with the sparring session regardless where Joel De La Hoya was present on a scouting mission of his own.
“So, we went down to LA to sparring for some other manager to see us actually and he couldn’t make it for some reason.
“So, we were already in LA, so my dad was like, ‘let’s still get sparring no matter what.’ Luckily Joel was there and he saw me sparring one of the kids that he was going to sign.
“We sparred him and we did pretty well and after that Joel contacted us and he said, ‘they’re going to get someone more your weight class and we’re gonna see how you do.’
“He got someone a little heavier, 154 or something like that, we did amazing with that partner too. Then Joel was like, ‘now let’s see how you do under the lights!”
Evan made his Golden Boy Promotions debut in November 2019 with a first round stoppage and has since claimed two more victories under the promotional banner since.
Sanchez heads into his ninth professional bout next week, February 13, looking to improve on his perfect record as a part of the undercard to Joseph Diaz’s IBF Super Featherweight title defence against Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov in Indio.
Check out the full interview with Evan Sanchez below:
