Marco Antonio Barrera
In 1995, Sanchez challenged WBO superbantemweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera but lost via a twelve-round unanimous decision. He also faced future champions Juan Manuel Márquez, Freddie Norwood, and Guty Espadas, Jr. but came up short in each bout. In 1998, Sanchez defeated future champion Óscar Larios via technical knockout. In 2001, he defeated Jorge Monsalvo Sánchez to win the vacant WBO Super Bantamweight title.