Arguello was best as a Jr. Lightweight. Youre never going to see Alexis Arguello hurt. Follow Barry on Twitter at @ClonesCyclone, @McGuigans_Gym and @CyclonePromo, Get all the boxing & MMA updates you need with our Mirror Fighting email update - sign up here. Published by the Miami Herald from Jul. Called Junior at home, he favored another nickname outside: A.J. KO: When you decided to fight Pryor the first time, you were looking to make history then, being the first fighter to ever win four titles. Alexis Arguello estimated Net Worth, Salary, Income, Cars, Lifestyles & many more details have been updated below. Alexis Arguello keeps his personal and love life private. Argello Jr. stopped for a picture with Jason Lacey, who has attended Hall of Fame weekends for about 17 years and was a fan of Argello Jr.s father. Brain scans. January 25, 1984-New York, New York: Chairman of the Board Muhammad Ali of the newly formed . I became a good athlete, but I want to be more than that. Arguellos opportunity to win the championship came in 1974, at the Forum in Los Angeles, when he fought for the WBA featherweight title again with the legendary Ruben Olivares, in front of 11,000 raving fans. Alexis was one of the best fighter to walked the planet, that inspired many generations and still is a boxing model to follow and admire for his contribution to sports specially boxing. I was 19 years old. AA: From the early part of my career. After knocking the popular Mancini out late in the fight he met Ray in the middle of the ring and told him that he loved Ray's dad, Lenny "Boom Boom" Mancini. Arguello was never the same after that and retired in 1986 after losing a second time to Pryor. Alexis Arguello has died on Jul 1, 2009 ( age 57). 2. Do you still want to go for the best? Pryors trainer, the disgraced Panama Lewis, was heard to say: Give me the other bottle, the one I mixed. Pryor was a different fighter in the 14th forcing the referee to stop the fight. Arguellos popularity was increasing, and so too was his belt collection. After his retirement from boxing, he became active in Nicaraguan politics and in November 2008 was elected mayor of his native Managua, the nation's capital city. Everything was nice, there wasnt any problem at all. Inspired to box. Arguello lost this match in a 15-round decision to Ernesto Marcel. Every man has his own life. Nov 25, 2017 - Alexis Arguello photo with letter attached to the back. Check out our alexis arguello selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our memorabilia shops. After defeating James 'Bubba' Busceme by sixth round stoppage, Argello decided to move up in weight class again, and on November 12, 1982, he tried to become the first world champion in 4 different categories, meeting the heavier and future Hall-of-Famer Aaron Pryor, in what was billed as The Battle of the Champions in Miami, Florida. Photo by: The Ring Magazine/Getty Images. Page KO: With Escalera, was that more of a professional Arguello, or were you still very young? Olivares rocked Arguello in the 12th and thought he had him. I'm not your friend!" Argello would then win 29 of his next 30 bouts over the next 5 years, including a win over Jos Legr. Even at his wedding in 2005, at a private club in Manhattan, some employees excitedly recognized his father. 01/12/2001. Add one of these high-intensity moves for each body part into your training, or try them all together for one powerful routine. 08/25/2007. AA: Yes. Czech Republic | English (US) | K (CZK), remembering account, browser, and regional preferences, remembering privacy and security settings, personalized search, content, and recommendations, helping sellers understand their audience, showing relevant, targeted ads on and off Etsy, remember your login, general, and regional preferences, personalize content, search, recommendations, and offers. Fitness Motivation. He later joined CBS Sports, producing long features on subjects like Brandi Chastain and the 1999 Womens World Cup. It was therapy for me because my parents were breaking up, he said. You make mistakes, and I make mistakes, and I made my mistake. There was a brief comeback in the mid 90s before he went into politics. However, the HBO broadcast picked up Aarons corner calling for the special mix in between rounds, creating doubt around the purity of Pryors win. To his credit, Arguello could have--but chose not to--take the sure route of claiming his fourth belt (in as many divisions) against the other bums, er champions, Costello, Mamby, Haley. It was Mancini's first loss in 21 professional bouts. Read our Cookie Policy. The crowd cheered, and the host offered him the microphone. To make 140 pounds will be a piece of cake. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The fight, which took place at the Empire Pool, Wembley, London, went the distance. It was the same way when I started training. Several said they idolized his father. Thats my opinion. Alexis Arguello, the Nicaraguan boxing legend who was found dead early Wednesday of a gunshot wound to the chest, led a demon-haunted life that he nearly ended by his own hand 25 years ago. Now boxing is the thing that I do best. Can I rise to the task, make the difference, and give what my profession asks me for? AA: In each of them. He came out like a 17-year-old, Miller reported. After defending his title 8 times, Arguello challenged the Scottish Jim Watt for his lightweight title in Wembley, London. Updates? (Dick Lewis) Alexis Arguello, the great boxing champion who was . He earned the money being a professional Boxer. Arguello was a devastating puncher and few could escape those paralyzing blows; A very talented fighter, he lost two of his first five fights and then lost only six contests over the next 18 years of actual fighting - and one of these was in his last fight . How Jennette found . In the 1983 rematch, there was little doubt about this result. After eight successful title defenses, Argello then moved up in weight again, and this time he had to go to London, England, to challenge world lightweight champion Jim Watt. Alexis Arguello's Boxing Style Breakdown. During the 1980s Argello briefly fought with the Contras in his native Nicaragua, but after a few months in the jungle he retired from the war. After a successful fourth defense, Argello moved up in weight to challenge world junior lightweight champion Alfredo Escalera in Bayamn, Puerto Rico, in what has been nicknamed The Bloody Battle of Bayamon by many. Expand. AA: No. Argello was an avid breeder of cats, and had several articles published in Cat Fancy magazine throughout the 1990s. And I do what I want to do. With time, his annoyance at fans curiosity has turned to appreciation. The location you tried did not return a result. For modern boxing fans, the name Alexis Arguello may ring bells for those who are fans of todays Roman Chocolatito Gonzalez, as it is Arguellowho is responsible for fostering the rise of the great Gonzalez. Ironically, however, it was his epic fights with Pryor which furthered his legend with the boxing public and those who were casual fight followers. Alexis defeated Watt in 15 rounds to become the sixth fighter to win titles in three divisions. Alexis Arguello was born in Managua, Nicaragua on April 19, 1952. Arguello lost the first half of the fight but was coming on strong and by rounds 12 and 13 had the upper hand. Argello Jr. interviewed the former fighter James Toney, who was called Lights Out, for a Showtime documentary. His undefeated 1992 team won the junior college national championship. His father was a shoemaker. Once you start doing it, it gets into your blood like a drug and its hard to shake. Alexis Argellos plaque in the International Boxing Hall of Fame. . Are you aware that many people see you as a hero? But you have to pay your dues. Alexis Arguello, (born April 19, 1952, Managua, Nic.found dead July 1, 2009, Managua), Nicaraguan professional boxer who was world featherweight, junior lightweight, and lightweight champion between 1974 and 1982. The doctor decided to travel with Argello, and performed plastic surgery on Argello's cuts with Argello awake. During his assignment his first time back since his fathers death he taped interviews in English and Spanish with retired champions. Boxing great Arguello commits suicide [AFP] Adrift In A Sea Of Choices [SI Vault, via USA Today], Sports News Without Fear, Favor or Compromise. Two legendary fighters squared off in a 14 Round epic battle at an iconic outdoor setting. STarting as a bantamweight, Jr. welter was 4 weight classes up from where he started. Watch. It was Pryor who prevented the Nicaraguan from winning a title in a fourth division. He lifted the WBA Featherweight crown from Mexican great "Rockabye" Ruben Olivares on November 23, 1974 stopping Olivares in the 13th round of their 15 round fight. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Truly unfortunate, nevertheless. He encouraged Mancini and let him know that his day would come. AA: Each one of them was a goal, a desire. He also has a position among the list of Most popular Boxer. Produced by Alice Fang, Elijah Walker and Ege Uz. March 16, 1986 . Turning off personalized advertising opts you out of these sales. Learn more in our Privacy Policy., Help Center, and Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy. He retired for good in 1995 with a record of 82 wins, 8 losses, and 65 KO's, along with the recognition of being one of the sports most universally respected fighters among fans, experts, and boxers. 01/08/2001. It was Watt's last fight and Alexis Arguello's third title.Arguello defended his titles against the likes of Bobby Chacon, Ruben Castillo, Cornelius Boza Edwards, Jose Luis Ramirez, Rafael "Bazooka" Limon, Andy Ganigan, Ray Mancini and so many more. A man who gave his all to his sport. KO: Did you ever consider bringing him back as your manager? Its normal in human behavior to get crazy. officials said he died by suicide in 2009, at 57. I want people to say, You look good Alexis. Thats important. Nicaragua was in political turmoil, ruled by the Somoza family dictatorship. Youre dealing with a human being that is the same weight as you, with the same brain. In 90 bouts he compiled a record of 82 victories (64 by knockout) and 8 losses. Aaron Pryor, best known for his legendary battles with Alexis Arguello, died Sunday morning at his Cincinnati home following a long battle with heart disease. 02/24/2004. We see people, but we dont care about them. KO: You think youll be ready for a title shot in three or four fights? He was a three-weight world champion, having held the WBA featherweight title from 1974 to 1976; the WBC super featherweight title from 1978 to 1980; and the WBC lightweight title from 1981 to 1982. . KO: If you had to pick one fight that gave you the most satisfaction, which one would it be? This dominance helped make the Nicaraguan legend the second greatest Super Featherweight of all-time. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alexis-Arguello, Internatinal Boxing Hall of Fame - Biography of Alexis Arguello. I dont blame them. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. KO: On a nationally televised interview, you said you became involved in drugs and women during your retirement. Alexis Arguello wiki. A young fighter with aspirations to eventually achieve immortality in boxing history. Alexis Arguello training for Claude Noel fight in Atlantic City. Previous | I wouldnt have proved as much had I beaten one of the easier champions. But I felt ashamed of myself, because I didnt give 100-percent of myself, like I used to And I want to prove that I can still do it. 2. In all the accomplishments I made, I made something from nothing. After defending his title and defeating Kevin Rooney in 2 rounds, Arguello attempted to win a title in a fourth division, but was stopped by Aaron Pryor. Maybe Im one of the best they have. Arguello cried too, saying that he must. I went through brain exams, blood exams, liver exams. Anyone who ever saw Alexis Arguello slug out a 13-round victory in the boxing ring knows he had the heart of a giant too big, it seemed, to fit inside his skinny, 130-pound frame, which could pack a punch like a mule kick. Farhoods report: Its difficult not to like Arguello because hes so very human. I loved watching him fight. Argello debuted on October 26, 1968, trained by former boxer Miguel Angel Rivas. Let's check, How Rich is John, Rafael Zuiga estimated Net Worth, Biography, Age, Height, Dating, Relationship Records, Salary, Income, Cars, Lifestyles & many more details have been updated below. The Ring magazine has ranked Argello as 20th on their list of "100 greatest punchers of all time", while the Associated Press ranked him as the world's best Junior Lightweight of the 20th century. What business hes doing. Top 20, jake jr KO Magazine 1986: Larry Holmes challenges Mike Tyson to non-title bout Pt. LOWERING THE BOOM BOOM. AA: Well, boxing itself is suffering from a big problem. I know what I want, I know what Im doing. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/17/sports/fame-alexis-arguello-jr-boxing.html. I put in a performance that wasnt my best, and look how far I went. Who can forget his fight with Ray Mancini, who fighting valiantly, as much for his father as for himself, was finally stopped in the 14th round of their fight. An equally remarkable man outside the ring, Arguello became a politician and recently elected mayor of his beloved Managua in Nicaragua. [15], Argello died on July 1, 2009, after apparently shooting himself through the heart in Managua. He successfully defended his title several times before moving up in weight to challenge Alfredo Escalera for the WBC Super Featherweight title. I can't remember who his opponent was but looking at his record the only fight that shows in that time frame is a fight with Salvador Torres at the Forum in Inglewood, a fight he won by a 3rd round knockout. Arguellos older brother-in-law, Eduardo Mojico, was a world contender himself, and if it wasnt for him, maybe Arguello would never have ever boxed. In a routine background check, Roy discovers that Jeff's parents are sleepers. Who knows? Stress tests. More about Boxing Narcotics Panama World Boxing Council You can go as far as you want to go, as long as you pay the price. Revered as the "Explosive Thin Man" and the "Gentleman of the Ring," Arguello who committed suicide with a bullet . Omissions? Everything a man needed to believe in in order to feel secure, life could rub his face again and again until he understood its opposite might also be true. Arguello was the flag carrier for Nicaragua in the 2008 Summer Olympics. That was the last thing I expected, Argello Jr. said afterward. No cause was pure, no motive clean, no external thing could be trusted. Alexis Arguello has died on Jul 1, 2009 ( age 57). I was fighting 10 rounders when I met him and he became my manager. Hey, lets do something else! I truly believe he was at his best in the Junior Lightweight division where he beat some pretty tough foes, namely, Alfredo Escalera, Bazooka Limon, Chacon, Navarette, Boza-Edwards. But when Graziano offered him a professional contract, he hesitated. To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. 1 to Jul. I did it for 16 years. His reign at Junior Lightweight saw him fend off the challenges of Escalera in a rematch held at Rimini, Italy, as well as former and future world champion Bobby Chacon, future two time world champion Rafael "Bazooka" Limn, Ruben Castillo, future champion Rolando Navarrete, and Diego Alcal, beaten in only one round. A few hours later, the mayor . After the Pryor rematch, Arguello was inactive in 1984 but fought 4 times from 1985 to 1995. CREATIVE. but he was rather slow and just couldnt get the job done against aaron pryor (but then again, who could get the best of aaron pryor?). 6 . This Q&A originally appeared in the January 1986 of KO Magazine. Hed justify this choice of name long before though, getting into street fights in []. Both the fighter and manager were satisfied, and all was go. Those are my titles, he said. KO: The junior welterweight division doesnt look that strong right now. AA: I won three world titles, and I knew how to communicate with the American people, and thats why the Miller Brewing Company made me one of the spokesmen. While in New York City to announce his date with Nance, Arguello spoke with Senior Writer Steve Farhood. FROM THE ARCHIVE: "THE EXPLOSIVE THIN MAN" ALEXIS ARGUELLO TRAINS BACK IN THE DAY, Alexis Arguello fought Jim Watt in London in 1981, Arguello attempted to win world titles in four weight divisions. Learn more. That made me happy and feel great. Different skills. The fight sparked controversy however, because Pryor's trainer, Panama Lewis, introduced a second water bottle which he described as "the bottle I mixed" after round 13, leading to speculation that the bottle was tainted. 01/08/2001. You have to ask yourself, Can you do it or not? But in the junior welterweight division, I wasnt the same guy, especially when I fought Pryor. There was no weight on his legs but he had a great pair of shoulders. I think it commercializes boxing more, and thats good. Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. Meanwhile, the Soviets have sent their own spy-catcher, the loner Karpov, to reel in Scuba. He said, I think you can do it, but remember the last two years you were complaining that the training was too hard and that you needed a rest.. Why not pursue boxing full time? And I learned that what I did is nothing good. He must see if Jeff is also a spy, confront the parents yet protect them, and catch his nemesis. 01/21/2002. sat across from him, crying, begging him not to do it. Arguello, as much a gentleman as he was a champion, put his arm around Mancini and reminded him, that he too failed in his first bid for a world title, a 15 round decision to Ernesto Marcel of Panama. Additionally, he held the Ring magazine and . Like a 20-year-old boys. The on-site doctor wanted him hospitalized, but Argello had a flight to catch from Rome the next day to return to Nicaragua, and he boarded a train from Rimini. [4] Argello was constantly involved in street brawls through his teenage years, but it wasn't until his sister Marina, one of Alexis' 7 siblings, married a boxer that young Alexis took an interest in the sport. The great Alexis Arguello is the greatest to have come out of Nicaragua, and is best known for his famous fights with Aaron Pryor. Escalera had been a busy champion with ten defenses, and he had dethroned Kuniaki Shibata in 2 rounds in Tokyo. AA: I think Im in a better situation now than I was then. Lets win that other title. Alexis Arguello, 'The Explosive Thin Man', is arguably the greatest super featherweight of all time. of Perhaps some demons still surrounded him? I had sparred with Jim. Randyman Thats the thing Im so ashamed of myself about. I have no doubt about it. Alexis Argello Sr. won titles in three weight classes and was named by The Associated Press as the 20th century's top junior lightweight. Today. Alexis Arguello born 19 April 1952 Managua; married several times (nine children); died Managua 1 July 2009. It was as good . A classic boxer with knockout power in either hand. At Home Workouts. KO: So, in one division you were not necessarily better than you were in another one? He asked me if I wanted to fight anymore and I said No. Then he went to the Dominican Republic to do some business, and he later settled in Miami. Right now, the junior welterweight division is in the hands of capable guys. He was popular for being a Boxer. The man lived a weird, Zelig-ian life. AA: To prove that a human being is capable of doing anything he wants. You have to come up with something. This time, in Las Vegas, Arguello was KO-ed in the tenth, and stated after the fight "I'm not going to fight anymore. frank bruno gym royal oak joshua fasted 40 days bible verse/bill hader mother/ frank bruno gym royal oak/bill hader mother/ frank bruno gym royal oak Whenever he would fight, the entire country would stop. Plums123 When the family went out to dinner, it was rare that a fan didnt interrupt it for an autograph or photo. I get a little offended about it. I dont want to take anything away from Pryors quality, hes a great champion, but I think it could have been a different story if Id prepared myself the way I used to. ak1sequemce All rights reserved. So much seemed incomprehensible. I didnt know what I know now. ", "SecondsOut Boxing News - Thomas Hauser - Reflections on Lewis-Tyson", "Controversial boxing trainer Panama Lewis still hoping for another chance", "The Final Chapter: Pryor-Argello I Panama Lewis and the Black Bottle", "Alexis Arguello to bear Nicaraguan flag in Beijing Olympics", "Nicaragua pierde una gloria del deporte nacional El Nuevo Diario", "Sports News & latest headlines from AOL", BoxingInsider.com Biofile interview with Alexis Arguello, Aladdin Freeman's BraggingRights Interview With Arguello 2004, "Son in Fight of Alexis Arguello's Life - FanHouse", "Nicaragua boxing legend Alexis Arguello and the mayoral curse", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alexis_Argello&oldid=1135638999, International Boxing Hall of Fame inductees, World super-featherweight boxing champions, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles lacking in-text citations from December 2016, Pages with login required references or sources, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 25 January 2023, at 22:46. AA: Its in 100-percent good condition. But I did want the title the same way then like I want the fourth title now. Marcellus And I can hold my hand on my heart and say it will never happen to me again. You could have looked for an easier way. He went on to knock out great champions like Alfredo Escalera, Bobby Chacon, Rafael Bazooka Limon, Ronaldo Navarrete and Ray Mancini, all of whom would win titles afterwards. He fought his last fight on January 21, 1995 in Las Vegas, Nevada, losing a ten round decision to Scott Walker. He died on July 1, 2009 in Managua, Nicaragua. After winning his first 3 fights "The Explosive Thin Man" suffered an unavenged fourth-round KO loss, followed by another split decision loss. Argello had a troubled childhood, growing up in abject poverty in Managua. I was like, No, I dont want the mic.. Like I said, every man has hard times in his life. Thats what is missing in this world. On June 20, 1981 Arguello once again moved up to challenge the respected WBC Lightweight champion from the United Kingdom, Jim Watt. The time off served him well, allowing him to improve his skills. A decent way. Even in losing, he lost like a champion, going out on his shield. The whole story is worth a read. What do you think about the junior welterweight division right now? Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. An autopsy is pending, but Nicaraguan media are calling his death a suicide. I couldve turned into a bad guy. Thanks for signing up! Lowest rated, The Last Great Fight: The Extraordinary Tale of Two Men and How One Fight Changed Their Lives Forever, GRANDES PELEAS VOL. None of it was enough, and now the former triple-crown champion is back, seeking to become the first fighter in boxing history to win four different world titles. None of it was enough, and now the former triple-crown champion is back, seeking to become the first fighter in boxing history to win four different world titles. KO: What is your desire? Theres Pryor, who may not be the same fighter he was when he fought you. Alexis Arguello1952-2009In an era that produced such stellar fighters as; Roberto Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Tommy Hearns, Wilfredo benitz, Wilfredo Gomez, Salvador Sanchez, Bobby Chacon, Danny "Little Red" Lopez, Ruben Olivares , and in a sport where even the contenders held the mantel of greatness with aplomb and grace, Alexis Arguello stood as tall as any of them. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. On November 12, 1982, Alexis Arguello and Aaron Pryor fought their way into boxing immortality, in one of the great fights of the 1980's, a fight that would stand out in any era.On this night it would be Aaron Pryor that would have his arms raised in victory. Collections; Project #ShowUs; . I want to be a good human being. Were human beings. A three-weight world champion with 62 KOs in 82 fights, Arguello was arguably the most dangerous boxer ever in the ring from 126lbs . He looked at the boy for a long time. Alexis Arguello prefers not to tell the details of marital status & divorce. But Im over that. KO: Does it concern you that so many fighters who fought for many years, like you, get a little punch drunk when theyre older? You were hurt and beaten into retirement. But when fame is automatically attached to the name, expectations are heightened, especially in a sport where dozens of namesakes have tried to emulate their celebrated fathers, one punch at a time. At 5ft 10in, Arguello was tall for his . The hall of fame . callitdownthel ine75 It's a testament to the great fighter that he was and the gentleman that he is jmiz
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