Alexis Arguello vs Julio Cesar Chavez (135lbs)

Chavez was made for Arguello ... Alexis by KO ..

 

I'd say Arguello, as he was the better overall boxer, while Chavez was a slugger.

 

2 of my top 4 favorite fighters of all time. I'd pick Arguello at his best weight (130 IMO), but I'd pick Chavez at 135. These are tough, tough guys, both decisions.

 

Probably Arguello at 130.

I'm not sure Chavez was made for him though, especially at 135, as he would be trying to make it an inside fight rather than a close to mid-range fight like Pryor did, where Arguello was able to have success. Alexis was a hell of a body puncher himself, but I don't know how his lanky frame would hold up on the inside with Chavez. Let's not forget Chavez's granite chin either, so I don't think a KO call holds too much water.

Would be a hell of a fight, over 12 I see it going to a decision either way.

 

Luv em both but gotta take Chavez.

 

At this weight I would favour Chavez.

 

This fight would be required viewing for any novice who dreams of becoming a technician. Arguello and Chavez were both fundamentally very sound warriors who fought with deliberation more than speed, patience, and single-mindedness. Both went to the body very well and were in consistently supreme condition.

Arguello was 5'10, Chavez 5'7. That makes a big difference. Chavez had real trouble with another tall technician in the "Surgeon" Frankie Randall and we all know the trouble De La Hoya caused him -even as an amateur.

The power edge goes to Arguello. He had that "knock-you-dead" power. He was not fast, but he compensated for the lack of speed you see in other LWs with precision. Arguello would time his man as he came up from a weave and he'd gauge any patterns -like where and how you tended to slip his jab... then he'd place the punch where the man was going to be and "bang" went the echo in the unfortunate cranium. Arguello couldn't time the frenetic insanity of Pryor, nor do I think he'd time the extremely versatile and agile Duran. Would he be able to time the deliberate Mexican here? Damn right.

Chavez would need to get inside and make a fight of it, but even then he would be battling on even terms. He is not the whirling dervish that Pryor is, nor does he bring the fire, multi-angled, and agile relentlessness that Duran would bring. Pryor and Duran are fire -but Chavez is like Arguello -ice.

Arguello strikes me as the one who would be favored to control the pace from the outside and match Chavez everywhere else.... Arguello in a close but clear UD.

 

I'd take Chavez at lightweight. While Arguello was a terrific boxer/puncher who moved reasonably well, he doesn't have the sufficient movement that Taylor and Whitaker had to out-box Chavez. Arguello's hands were quick, but nowhere near Taylor's. And his handspeed at lightweight was probably comparable to Whitaker's at welterweight.

Chavez would hunt down the taller Arguello and look to pound him inside. IMO Arguello's height and reach would bother Chavez as he was coming forward. He's got the measure of Chavez at long range with the jab, but I'm not sure he's got the ring generalship to keep him there for most of the fight. Arguello as good as he was up close isn't getting the better of Chavez in the pocket.

 

You don't think Arguello's better power could deter Chavez on the inside, who was always there to be hit?

 

Nope. Not enough to throw him off his task and discourage him.

 

Very difficult call. Arguello's sharp shooting gives him a close decision.

 

I disagree too.

Arguello was not known for hand-speed and it wouldn't be comparable at his best to Sweet Pea's when Pea was on the crackpipe. But it wouldn't matter as much as you're making it out to be anyway. Precision... and Chavez could be timed.

The prospect of Chavez "hunting down" Arguello is unlikely. Arguello wouldn't be moving. He'd be maneuvering -to catch Chavez coming in and to find the windows when Chavez opened up.

Arguello was not on wheels but he was absolutely great and was a ring general only in tighter formation. And you are underestimating Arguello's swat. He could punch like hell.

 

Rosario hit as hard as Arguello at lightweight and he could not discourage Chavez or throw him off his game. While I respect that Rosario and Arguello are quite a bit apart technically, the whole part of Arguello's power damaging Chavez aint happening. IMO thats Arguello's problem, he doesn't have the movement to outbox Chavez. He does have the timing as you said, but he'd need the blazing hands to go with his accurate timing while maneuvering; shifting side to side laterally within range. And Arguello was straight-up and down; rigid. Chavez wasn't purely an inside animal. Even though he was short at 5' 7" he did make the most of it at long range when required.