For Those Who Love Alexis Arguello

he was then just a shadow of his former self.

 

Alexis Arguello is my all time favorite. I loved watching him. I thought it was high drama waiting for him to step on the gas and close the show. I just watched him on Legends of the Ring on Versus. They showed the Escalera rematch, and the Boza-Edwards fight. They also had some commentary from Ray Mancinni. He was what? Only the 4th guy to win titles in 3 divisions. He was the first Latino to do it, and the first to ever successfully defend titles in 3 divisions. When he stepped up to 140 he could have gone after Mamby and beat his ass, but said he wouldn't consider himself the real champ unless he beat Pryor. Aaron Pryor fought an aging and ring worn version of El Flaco Explosivo with over 80 fights on his resume', fighting 2 divisions above his best weight. Without Arguello, Pryor would be little more than a footnote in boxing history.

Alexis had a lazer guided jab, an incredible right hand, good uppercut with either hand, and a highly under-rated and often over looked left hook. He tended to fight very economically. He even said he believed accuracy was far more important than volume. He was a knock out artist, not a guy looking to get a decision. His timing was incredible as well as his ability to exploit an opponents weaknesses and mistakes. For those who doubt Arguello's body punching ability, they need to watch more tape. He dismantled Escalera by varying his attack back and forth between the head and body, same thing with Boza-Edwards. With Mancininni it was a left hook followed by an uppercut to THE CHEST that marked the beginning of the end.

For me, the second Pryor fight was a sad affair. It was obvious early in the fight that The Exploding Thin Man was never going to explode again. His legs betrayed him, he couldn't land the left hook, his jab was not what it had once been, et, et. It broke my heart to watch the once great warrior sit on the deck and take the 10 count.

Alexis Arguello is an all time great in and out of the ring, and a true champion in the very best sense of the word.:deal

Boo

 

My favorite aspect or Arguello is that he fights in the championship rounds, down or up. He doesnt ***** around by running away and feeling confident he has the fight in the bag the man shows up to fight for 15 rounds.

 

:good which is why a few of us take him over PBF at 130 and 15 rounds....cause we all know PBF sits down in the later rounds

 

arguello is 5 levels above both julio diaz and freitas mate. arguello fighting over his best weight against pryor (in his prime one of the best pressure fighters there was) was able to fight effectively for 13 rounds against a bigger man, who had a style's advantage over him. at 135 lbs where he still had good power, i'd lean on arguello winning a fight with diaz.

 

Nobody who fought between 126 and 135 in recent years has faced anything remotely resembling Arguello. Alexis at his best was nearly always in control of the action. Calm, level headed, and extremely patient, great chin, a heart the size of Rhode Island, and the ability to bring a fight with a world class opponent to an end at any moment; just make one false move, and it's over. The doubters just need to watch something besides Arguello/Pryor.

Boo

 

Kostya IMO was faster, more powerful and stronger. Still a tough matchup.

I would like to see an Arguello vs Duran at 135!

 

Alexis knocksout Juan Diaz inside 3 rounds. Alexis style is all wrong for Juan.

 

great fighter and a class act

 

That'll be some violence.:yep

I'd have to go with Duran, Arguello has a shot though definitely.

 

gruesome fight for sure:hey

i'd also pick duran, but i't wouldn't be a walk in the park for him.

 

Good point. I have many of his fights (aprox 30) and He did fight during the whole fight in all of them. Whether he was ahead or behind, didn't matter, he used to push the gas in the last 3 or 4 rounds and tried to get the KO.

 

Alexis is a true great and a true champion the guy is total class.

 

This is one of the greatest fights that never happened! Even though Alexis is my all time favorite, I'd have to go with Duran UD or late stoppage. Alexis would have a shot at knocking duran out late in the fight, but I do not think he could win any other way. Plus, as great as AA was at 135, he was a bit past his best.

Boo

 

It was 10 months the first fight. He was past his prime in the first as well. Your statement though that Pryor wouldn't have made it out of the fight if not for the black bottle was pretty ridiculous. Both were tired.