Lopez won his championship in 1976, while Arguello left the division in 1977 to advance. Was the window of opportunity too small? It's a shame since it could have been a classic, even if the presumption is that Arguello had a bit too much all-round and Danny was a little too hittable to win.
Would have been a brutal and fun war, but ultimately Arguello would have stopped him. Perhaps it is for the best that it didn't happen. But then again, Arguello took 13 rounds to stop Olivares, and Lopez stopped Olivares in 7 (after being down himself), so you never know exactly how these fights would play out. Lopez was a ferocious, very tough, hard-punching workhorse. Arguello was the same, but with more polish and defense. Both could be hittable, both were FIGHTERS. Arguello was taller, longer, and just overall classier, so I give him the edge. I think Lopez's tendency to attack and remain in range, and get hit, despite his power, volume, and toughness, would play right into Arguello's wheelhouse. But then again, Arguello's tendency to stand right there would be good for Lopez too. I do note that Arguello stopped Chacon, who was similar, and Chacon stopped Lopez.
I’m going Danny here. I don’t think Alexis was fully matured as a fighter at feather and wasn’t as strong as he would be at 130, which I consider his best weight. Little Red also has the height and reach to contend with Alexis and would maybe be a bit of a puzzle for an Arguello who was usually the taller, longer guy (especially at 126). Danny takes a flash knockdown early (as he often did), dust himself off and put Alexis down a couple of times in the championship rounds to pull out a decision.
This would have been an incredible bloodbath and I think a younger more unpolished Arguello might have his hands full with Lopez but I still think that Arguello pulls it off with his superior technique, plus Lopez's porous defense will eventually lead him to getting stopped by Arguello's sharper punches. Lopez give a better account of himself against a less mature Arguello but a prime Arguello utterly outclasses Lopez and rearranges his face.
Arguello by early KO. Too well rounded even at this point as well as being a far too accurate puncher. Shades of Lopez v Chacon here.
