Alfredo Escalera

If it wasn't for Arguello and Everett, the Snake Man might be in Canastota today. (Alexis apparently felt strongly that Alfredo does indeed belong.) He did have a couple of nationally televised title defenses prior to Arguello (along with a non-title broadcast), and was something of a "villain" outside of PR. (Among other things, he aroused the ire of animal rights groups in the States with his penchant for wearing a snake around his neck to the ring, and at least once they successfully got him barred from making an entrance with such an adornment.) He was a colorful enough character that he may well have become a major star in the US without a peak Flaco Explosivo in the way.

Take a look at Arguello's face at the end of their rematch in Rimini. That Alexis termed it his toughest fight should speak volumes. After the Arguello rematch, Escalera porked himself up to over 200 pounds to briefly try making a go of it as a professional wrestler, then trimmed himself back into boxing shape again with a diet that nearly killed him in the process. Dual marathon beatings at the hands of Alexis, followed by that precipitous yo-yo weight gain and loss in such a brief span of time should have left him with utterly nothing, yet he was able to defeat the likes of Mad Dog Hatcher, Johnny Lira and Termite Watkins until 1983. It's not irrational to suggest he might have been able to retain the WBC SFW Title five years longer than he did without Arguello in the way. As it was, did pull off ten successful defenses, although one was a draw, and the other the Everett controversy. Keep in mind that El Salsero was still only 25 years old when Alexis dethroned him at Bayamon (forever stamping Alfredo in my mind as "The Bayamon Bleeder"), and was seemingly still improving.

 

I remember following each and every one of Escalera's title defenses, and I never missed seeing him on free tv back in the good old days..him and that snake...good stuff.

 

RC, I defer to you if Robert seeks further detail about Escalera's competitive qualities, style and execution in the ring, as you're far more of an authority on his career than I.

 

Thank you Duodenum:good, but I don't think I exceed you on any point to be honest.

 

Escalera was a crowd pleasing, eager to do battle, colorful sort whose reputation recieved a hit with that outrageous Everette fight. But in truth, AE was an honest battler who won his title emphatically against Kuniaki Shibata..and the Nippon, in truth, was probably at the end of his rope as far as his chin was concerned, after suffering so many crushing ko defeats. After that, Alfredo ran off a modest string of title defenses..his gimmick was that Boa Constrictor and the snake dance that he did. Escalera was like a bottle of cheap Scotch, when all you wanted was a drink, and you just didn't care..it was fun to drink anyway (hell of an analogy). Escalera aka The Snake Man, was a fixture in the mid to late 70's, and I remember him well, in the same vein that I remember Jorge Paez..good ring entertainment.

 

I've only seen bits and pieces of the Arguello fights, but I hear he took a prolonged, brutal beating that ranks up there with Briggs/Vitali

 

Awkward and disjointed puncher. Good, but not great IMO.

 

Yeah, I like the Arguello fights, but on the whole I can't abide by his ugly style. Not my kind of fighter.

 

He did take a shellacking, but also got through with a good amount of his own punches.It's been a while since i watched the fights, but i seem to remember he was having a particularly good period in the rematch for 3-4 rounds before having his chin horribly caved in.

 

IIRC his wife was seriously peng

 

He also beat Shibata in another one of the Jap's 'I'm hurt but I'll trade anyway and then won't be arsed to get back up' fights.

 

Bump

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Those two Arguello fights were when "Reyes" gloves became famous for causing
more cuts on the fighters.

 

A Sal Sanchez v Snake Man fight would have been a wild one.