At Light Welterweight who takes this? I would back arguello over 15 rounds but in 12 rounds it might be different? any thoughts on this Latino war!
When Arguello fought Pryor the first time, I felt Pryor was dominating the majority of the rounds with superior work rate, but every now and then Arguello would land something big and change the complexion of the fight. Same thing could happen here. Chavez didn't have the hand speed and the mobility of Pryor in my opinion, at least not at this weight, but he was strong enough and put his punches together well enough to impose his will. Alexis will have his moments, he may even hurt Chavez a few times during the fight, but I see it taking a bigger puncher than Arguello to put Chavez down for a 10 count. Chavez by decision. 12 or 15. Close but clear.
At JW Chavez would outwork and outfight Arguello, especially on the inside... He might not be as fast as Pryor but fast enough(underrated speed) and more accurate, and his workrate was on par with Pryors too... He would also target Arguellos body more than anyone ever has... Arguello had great power but Chavez chin was at least as good... Cant see Arguello winning this at JW, he would make it close and have his moments but see Chavez puling away late in the fight over 15 he stops Arguello over 12 he wins a close decision.. At JL i might pick Arguello as he was better at that weight and Chavez still hadnt quite hit his peak..
I always felt Arguello would've taken Chavez. I think he brings a bit too many tools for Chavez to overcome.
Chavez by late round stoppage in a brutal war. I'll favor Alexis at 130lbs, but at 135lbs and 140lbs i'll have to favor Julio.
Below 140 Arguello decision. I always chuckle when people bring up Arguello of the Pryor fights, but what many don't know is that Alexis was slightly past it and fighting at the highest weight in his career at that time. Take the prime Arguello of say the Escalera fight and he was something else. Chavez was a beast, just about the perfect pressure fighter but Arguello's skillset was just off the chain, he had incredible variety and was just about the complete fighter and that's the difference here. Arguello threw every punch with such ease and precision. He also had this whipping, vicious right hand which he landed on the solar plexis, this shot would catch JC Chavez as he came in.
You can't put 10-15lbs on Arguello of '78 and throw him in a fantasy fight at Junior Welterweight. That's not how this works. If the match-up is at JW, you take the best two versions that campaigned at that specific weight and come to your conclusions that way. Just as Arguello wasn't at his best at JW, neither was Chavez, but at least he had a greater body of work there. All we really have to go by with Arguello is the two Pryor fights.