Alexis Arguello: Where P4P?

I don't know off the top of my head, I've never made comprehensive P4P lists personally. But he's definitely within the top 30, methinks.

 

If you would place him between 30-40 you would be underrating him in my book to be honest, and most know how I rate pretty strictly.

Here's my top 35:

1. Ray Robinson 173-19-6
2. Harry Greb 260-21-17
3. Henry Armstrong 149-21-10
4. Sam Langford 202-47-45
5. Muhammad Ali 56-5
6. Ezzard Charles 90-25-1
7. Mickey Walker 109-22-5
8. Roberto Duran 103-16
9. Benny Leonard 183-19-11
10. Barney Ross 74-4-2
11. Willie Pep 229-11-1
12. Ray Leonard 36-3-1
13. Pernell Whitaker 40-4-1
14. Tony Canzoneri 141-24-10
15. Barbados Joe Walcott 99-32-23(supposedly more)
16. Bob Fitzsimmons 60-8-5(supposedly more)
17. Joe Gans 162-10-18
18. Joe Louis 69-3
19. Carlos Monzon 82-3-9
20. Archie Moore 185-23-11
21. Gene Tunney 81-1-3
22. Emile Griffith 85-24-2
23. Alexis Arguello 83-8
24. Carlos Ortiz 61-7-1
25. Kid Gavilan 108-30-5
26. Ike Williams 125-24-5
27. Roy Jones Jr. 52-4
28. Eder Jofre 72-2-4
29. Marvin Hagler 62-3-2
30. Jimmy Wilde 137-5-2
31. Julio Cesar Chavez 107-6-2
32. Sandy Saddler 144-16-2
33. Thomas Hearns 61-5-1
34. Charley Burley 83-12-2
35. Jose Napoles 79-7

 

Ring put him 20 in 2002. He's not out of place.

 

The dominance he showed at seperate weights. Even in his earlier days when he was clearly pre-prime in terms of experience he managed to stop legend Ruben Olivares, and that was after bouncing back from his loss to underrated great slickster Ernesto Marcel.

He then entered the SFW division, where he has to rate as the greatest of all time based on accomplishments and dominance, with his wins over fighters such as Escalera X2, Limon, Chacon, Castillo, Navarette, etc.

Afterward he once again proved his dominance at another weight class when he moved up to LW to beat the likes of Ramirez, Boza-Edwards, Mancini, Watt, Ganigan, etc.

He then moved up to conquer his 4th weight division but finds Aaron Pryor too daunting a task, as nearly every 140 pounder in the history of the division would. He still managed to pick up a rematch win over the only loss of his 130 pound days in Vilomar Fernandez, as well as Mike Tyson's legendary trainer Kevin Rooney. Even after losing to Pryor he returned after another 3 years to KO Billy Costello.

That is a pretty impressive career. I give a lot of credence to a fighter who can dominate in 3 divisions with the opposition he faced on a regular basis. I can't think of many guys I'd favor over him at 130 at his best, and he was really once of the most poised, patient fighters I've seen, with great accuracy and timing to compliment his great power. Excellent finisher as well, never neglected the body even in the moments he had an opponent hurt to the head. Always stuck with the fundamentals and never got too crazy. Again a very hard fighter to bet against over 15 rounds at his SFW peak.

 

Not too much more to add, but he was also a champion who truly acted like a CHAMPION. He had numerous personal problems & demons which he has had to face-but he gave credit where it was due, & even went overboard in doing it.

A true gentlemen. Many people dislike numerous ATG's for one reason or another, but how many boxing fans do you hear claim they hate Alexis?

 

As usual, Sweet Pea has got in ahead of me and put it better than I could have. I agree with the placing of Arguello more or less. A sensational fighter. There are times in boxing history where, even in defeat, a boxer's performance enhances their reputation (obviously not as much as a win), but Arguello's performance v Pryor was definitely one such performance (off the top of my head I think Pernell Whitaker losing to Oscar De La Hoya was another, but there are many examples). He jumped another weight division in the latter stage of his career to fight a naturally bigger KO artist with highly underrated skills and an almighty chin and put up an epic battle. A great.

 

Agreed. Pryor best light-welter ever in my opinion.

 

Alexis Arguello came out of retirement to beat Jim Watt.

 

Alexis recently met Jim at the Oscar De La Hoya - Stevie Forbes weight in.

 

Excellent Post!! At 130 I think Mayweather may have been able to out slick Alexis over 12 rounds, but PBF would not make 15. I DO NOT say that because of some belief that Floyd would have trouble fighting 15 round fights. We'll never no for sure, but I think PBF would be just fine with a 15 rounder. The problem of a 15 rounder against Alexis is that it gives the great one an additional 3 rounds to figure out how to crack Floyd's chin.

 

I've always placed Arguello in my top 25, often he just makes it into my top 20. Arguello is one of a very select group of fighters to prove his dominance over multiple weight divisions. He is amazing to watch, he was, in my opinion, unmatched in the art of punching. His execution and precision is remarkable. If he had beaten Pryor he would be top 15 without a doubt, and very easily (if not likely) a top 10. One of my top 5 favorite fighters ever.