Youth takes on experience in upcoming Sanchez-Paez bout

Dean Juipe

Thursday, April 29, 1999 | 11:36 a.m.

By the time Augie Sanchez made his professional debut in 1996, Jorge Paez had already fought 70 times as a professional.

Now Paez, at 33 years old, is 62-12-4 in a career that dates from 1984.

Sanchez, meanwhile, at the age of 21 is 21-1 against a fairly lackluster group of opponents. But, ready or not, he's fighting Paez May 8 at the Las Vegas Hilton on the undercard of the Erik Morales vs. Juan Carlos Ramirez main event.

"I still feel like a little kid in this game," Sanchez said. "I mean, I'm just a youngster compared to Paez. But I'm going to go out and do what I have to do.

"I feel it's time to get him out of the sport."

While every fight is a big one for Paez at this stage of his career, this is by far the biggest fight to come Sanchez's way. Boxers periodically have to step up in class, but going 10 rounds at the in-between weight of 128 pounds with a former IBF champion is a huge stride for the Las Vegas native.

"I've got respect for Paez, but I'm not intimidated by him," Sanchez said this week at Barry's Boxing Gym, where he both works and works out. "I know it's a big step for me -- it's even my first 10-rounder -- but I just don't think he can beat me."

There's a subplot or two going on here as well. While Top Rank seemingly has been looking to cut its ties with Sanchez and has allowed him to fight on other promoters' cards, it also has him under contract through May 9.

Needless to say, Top Rank is unlikely to renew Sanchez's contract if he loses to Paez.

"I really think Top Rank wants me to win this fight and win over Paez's fans," Sanchez said. "At least that's what I think now. At first I didn't know why they wanted me to fight him, unless they were just trying to get him a win.

"If that's what they think, that's OK too, because maybe that means they're overlooking me."

He calls his relationship with Top Rank amicable, albeit without much socializing.

"There's no communication between us," he said. "But I like Top Rank. They never did anything wrong to me."

That's a fairly mature point of view for a young man who was signed amid considerable hoopla but has since seen his career do the bob and weave. Sanchez was 186-11 as an amateur and won a Junior Olympics gold medal as well as a national Golden Gloves championship. He was virtually on the same page as another hotshot amateur, Floyd Mayweather, who also signed with Top Rank.

Mayweather has since gone on to become the WBC junior lightweight world champion. Sanchez, however, was all but dumped by Top Rank after losing by first-round knockout to unheralded Edgar Garcia last year in Los Angeles.

He has bounced back to win five consecutive fights.

"I really feel that loss helped me," Sanchez said. "I'm more focused now than I was back then. I've moved on and I don't take anything for granted."

He also has a new trainer and that's Subplot No. 2.

While his father, Juan, trained him throughout his amateur days and well into his pro career, Pat Barry is now serving as Sanchez's trainer.

Father and son don't dwell on the subject.

"I really don't talk to my dad about boxing," Sanchez said. "But I know he took me as far as he could. I just feel he couldn't train me with the professional style I need to know."

It'll take Sanchez's best effort to handle Paez, who has fought a long list of worthy opponents such as Oscar De La Hoya, Pernell Whitaker, Rafael Ruelas, Freddie Pendleton, Genaro Hernandez and Angel Manfredy. Paez has won three straight since Manfredy knocked him out, plus he retains a certain marketability within the Hispanic community.

It's remarkable that his fight with Sanchez is up as 6-to-5 pick 'em at the Hilton sports book, although that may be more of a sign of the book's conservative nature than anything else. Realistically, even with his wear and tear, Paez will step into the ring against Sanchez as the favorite in the crowd's eyes.

"Yes, on paper it looks like there should be a much bigger betting spread," agreed Top Rank matchmaker Bruce Trampler. "But we've booked Paez's last few fights and it seems to me that he and Augie's careers might be intersecting at just the right time for Augie."