by Greg Paterson | Thu. July 1, 2010
A year has passed since the untimely death of boxing great Alexis Arguello. "El Flaco Explosivo" lit up TV screens during the 70s and 80s heyday of boxing, and shared the spotlight with contemporaries; Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns.
Arguello however, was much more than an elite fighter of the era, he was a certified legend of the sport. Even more importantly though, he was a top-class human being who touched the hearts of many. His great boxing skills and loving heart were never more evident than in his historic clash with Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini. Following 14 hellish rounds of warfare, Arguello forced referee Tony Perez to halt the fight after a perfect right-cross badly hurt and dropped the young-courageous Mancini. After Mancini returned to his feet and the decision was announced, Arguello approached the young heart-broken fighter on national television. An unforgettable moment followed as Arguello hugged Mancini and consoled him.
It was then when Arguello delivered the immortal line live on CBS, "You have good-good promise and I promise if I can do something for you, let me know, please."
What made that moment even more memorable was Ray Mancini's letter to Ring Magazine a few months later. In it he praised Arguello as a champion and a man, and credited him for inspiring him to win the world championship.
That was Alexis Arguello, respect was paramount to him. A man who five minutes ago was trying to knock someone out, was now treating them like a long-lost friend.
There were two main elements that made up Arguello; the fighter, the man who tried to batter you senseless with his well placed punches, and the human-being, the one would console you even after beating you, and would take the time to speak to a fan and treat him with respect. Both were great, and played a part in his becoming an icon not only in his native Nicaragua, but around the world.
Never a flashy-flamboyant boxer, or a hard-nosed slugger, Arguello seemed to combine the best of both styles. A devastating puncher who could trade with the best of them, he would also take his time to measure his opponents, counter-punch, and set up his punches behind a straight left-jab. In this way he was similar to the great Joe Louis, a man who used science effectively to do the simplest of things – hit someone very hard.
After he lost his first world championship bout to Ernesto Marcel, Arguello would rebound to win three world titles in three different weight classes. Following the decision loss to Marcel, he was given the chance to tackle Olivares for the same title 10 months later. This time he would prove he was championship material. After falling into a points deficit Arguello rallied to stop the destructive Olivares in round 13.
Four successful title defenses followed, none going more than eight rounds. Choosing to retire on top Arguello relinquished his title, but quickly returned to the sport and captured the WBC Super Featherweight Championship from Alfredo Escalara in another unforgettable battle. It was here, the super featherweight division where Arguello made his name. He ruled over a division packed with names like Bobby Chacon, Rolando Navarette, Rafeal "Bazooka" Limon and Cornelius Boza-Edwards. This tenure as champion brought him international acclaim and a large American audience, with his fights televised by CBS and ABC.
Alexis Arguello Jr. shared memories of his father's immortal performance in the second Escalera fight with ONTHEGRiND BOXiNG, "It was a great fight, both fighters gave their hearts in that fight. My dad was cut over both eyes and Escalera was even worse for wear."
Arguello Jr. continued, "I remember my dad telling me stories about how they were exchanging words during the fight and Escalera would say, 'I'm going to kill you tonight!' and my dad said that his reply was 'Not if I kill you first.' It was a blood-bath but as soon as it was over they both hugged in admiration for each other and gained tremendous respect for one another."
Arguello's reign at super featherweight was followed by a run as WBC Lightweight Champion, a title he defended successfully four times.
Arguello would relinquish his championship belt yet again, this time to move up and challenge WBA Junior Welterweight Champion of the World Aaron Pryor, in two unsuccessful tries for his belt. These bouts are true classics and are remembered around the world by everyone who viewed them. It should be noted Arguello never lost a title in the ring, and had 16 successful defenses during his 82 (65)-8 Hall-of-Fame career.
A fight that showcased Arguello’s full pugilistic arsenal was his punch-perfect dissection of Royal Kobayashi in 1975. He started slowly - feeling Kobayashi out behind a strong jab, looking to find the range to deliver his power-punches. As Kobayashi attacked, Arguello would catch the punch well with his own glove and launch back with his own counter-punch, in the form of either a straight-right or a left-hook. Once Arguello had measured Kobayashi, he slowly began to increase the amount of pressure he was exerting upon the Japanese warrior. The long probing-jab was now replaced with a hard-accurate battering ram, followed by solid-precise power-punches, and booming hooks and uppercuts to the body. In the fifth round Kobayashi’s resistance finally gave way, and a right-uppercut to the body lifted him off his feet, sending him sprawling onto the canvas where the referee counted him out.
Everything Arguello did was superb to watch; be it a scientific dissection like the Kobayashi bout, or a hard-fought war of attrition like against Escalara (twice), Ruben Olivares or Mancini. His highlight reel KOs of Diego Alcala and Kevin Rooney were spectacular as well.
His wars though were most memorable. The courage, the heart he showed to go along with his skill attracted admirers the world over. Arguello was so determined to win and it came across in each of his bouts. However, the fights he is most famous for are the bouts against Aaron Pryor for the WBA Light Welterweight Championship of the World.
Their first fight was perhaps the greatest boxing match of all time. Pryor kept a ferocious pace all night and Arguello hung with him, landing hard counter-punches and body-punches. The two gave everything and repeatedly stunned and traded with one another. This however was no unskilled slug-fest, with both combatants showing classy moves and good boxing through each stanza. Pryor had a slight lead on the scorecards going into round 14, then pounced on Arguello with brutal combinations forcing the referee to step in.
Controversy hung in the air surrounding Pryor drinking from a bottle of liquid that his infamous trainer Panama Lewis had mixed, and both fighters agreed to meet again nearly a year later. Both men were never the same again after their epic war, and Pryor won the rematch more convincingly than the first fight.
Arguello was only defeated by one other fighter after Pryor, the unheralded Scott Walker, then called it a day, closing the book on one of boxing's greatest careers.
Ted Sares, ONTHEGRiND BOXiNG Historian and award-winning writer, rates Arguello the 32nd greatest fighter ever.
In the bustling world of sports, fans often forget about an athlete's human side. Boxers in particular are seen as heroes battling, not as two men fighting. Arguello really broke this mold though, as his personality shined through in everything he did. From boxing to his elections, it was impossible not to like Arguello; his charming smile, relaxed demeanor and pure kindness.
Arguello was perhaps most well-known for his compassionate side, and the respect he showed. He exemplified sportsmanship in a barbaric sport, where trash-talking was becoming more and more prevalent. He gave respect and expected nothing back. Jim Watt, who lost his WBC Lightweight Championship to Arguello, remembers the respect and sportsmanship of Arguello well.
"What a classy guy … Boxers are great guys but sometimes there’s trash talking," Watt shared. "The first time I met Alexis was at a press conference in London; he walked over, held out his hand and said, “Pleased to meet you, Jim. How’s your family?”’
Typical Arguello.
Another time, after he had stepped off the scale for his weigh-in prior to fighting Bobby Chacon, Arguello noticed his opponent shivering as he stood in his underwear on the cold concrete floor. As a matter of duty Arguello took off his own robe and laid it on the floor so Chacon wouldn't get cold.
"He was one of the few fighters out there that didn't talk bad about any opponents," shared Arguello Jr. "He always cared about his competitor no matter if he won or lost. He had the same respect for everyone that was man enough to be a professional."
It was classy acts like these that endeared Arguello to the public.
Outside the ring Arguello was an approachable man who always had time to talk to fans and admirers. No person was insignificant and nothing was too small to receive his attention.
"I remember him as the most caring and compassionate person I've ever known," Arguello Jr. recalled. "He always wanted to help those in need, and felt that it was his responsibility to help as many people as he could."
However, this in part may have led to the unravelling of the man who was so well composed in the ring.
While much has been made of Arguello's foray into Nicaraguan politics, what can be agreed upon by all is, he had the same attitude of reconciliation toward his out-of-ring enemies that he showed his in-ring adversaries. A one-time enemy of the Sandinistas, who took up arms intending to driving them from Nicaragua, Arguello eventually found himself their candidate when he ran for - and was elected to, the office of Mayor of Managua.
Arguello can best be described as a fish out-of-water in the political arena. A man of tremendous principle and personal conviction, Arguello was destined to be a champion of the people, unfortunately his skill-set did not include the political savvy he needed to successfully navigate the shark-infested waters of politics in his homeland.
He wanted to make a difference in the lives of the poorest people and felt he could make a positive impact. Unfortunately, the Sandinista government was only using him as a figure-head and puppet, and soon stripped away what little authority Arguello had.
Arguello reportedly died from a self-inflicted gun-shot wound July 1, 2009, after power was removed from his mayoral office by the Sandinistas. A year later, there are still many who refuse to believe the proud warrior succumbed to suicide.
In any case, a legend left our world one year ago today.
Unlike so many who attain legendary status after their heart beats it's last, Arguello became an icon long before his death. He grew up in poverty and became a sporting superstar, and always remembered his roots and vowed to help others in similar situations to his own.
Few champions of the squared-circle are held in equally high regard out of the ring as they are inside of it. Arguello though was a giant among men, and neither his life as a man nor as a fighter can be understated.
"He's up there with some of the best," Arguello Jr. fondly shares. "My dad was the sixth man in boxing history to capture three titles in three different weight divisions - at a time in boxing when there were only two governing bodies; the WBC & WBA ,and they had to make mandatory defenses to the #2 and #3 ranked opponents. He also fought 15 rounds. Another thing that people might not realize is that my dad never lost his titles. He always had to relinquish his belts as he moved up in weight but he was never beaten for one of his titles."
His legacy lives on.
The examples of humanity set by Arguello were lessons in respect and honor, that the world will forever cherish. As he shared in days gone by, he desired to live in a world where, "We can all love each other."
"I would like my dad remembered for not only his ability in the ring but for the man he was out of it. He was a great champion for boxing and loved everyone that enjoyed watching the sweet science." - Alexis Arguello Jr.