Alexis Arguello - R.I.P.

By David Martinez/Boxing Historian

The boxing world is deeply sadden to learn the news this past week that Alexis Arguello has died. I will go on record to say that he was in my list of the 25 greatest boxers of all time.

Born in Managua, Nicaragua on April 19, 1952, Alexis started his career in 1968 and won 35 of his first 37 bouts, 29 by knockout and 11 in the first round. In his first attempt to win a world title, he lost a 15 round decision to Panamanian WBA featherweight Champion Ernesto Marcel in his home town of Panama City, February 16, 1974. He would go on to win the title later that same year, in November, a 13^th round knockout win over Ruben Olivares.

Alexis successfully defended the WBA Featherweight title four times, all by knockout, 1975-76, before relinquishing the title in June 1977. In January 1978 he won the WBC Super Featherweight Championship by knocking out Alfredo Escalera in 13^th round. He defended the title eight times, 1978-80, seven by knockout and four of them to fighters who were or would be world champions (Escalera, Bazooka Limon, Bobby Chacon, Rolando Navarrette. In 1980 he relinquished that title to move up to the lightweight division.

In 1980, he won his third world title by winning 12 of 15 rounds on all of the judges scorecards, a 15 round unanimous decision, over WBC Lightweight champion Jim Watt in London, England. He had four successful title defenses, all by knockout, with one being a spectular performance, a 14^th round knockout win over Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini. At this point in his career he was the only boxer to win three world titles and not lose any of them in the ring. He relinquished the lightweight title to move up to junior welterweight in 1982.

He would challenge undefeated Aaron Pryor for a fourth title, but lost to Pryor by knockout in his bid to win the WBA Junior Welterweight championship, and would lose again in a rematch. Alexis had two bouts after the second Pryor fight, and retired before making a “brief” comeback in 1994-95, before officially calling it a career.

He fought in four decades with a ring record of 82-8 (65 by KO) and had a amazing win record in 22 championship bouts of – 19 wins, with 17 by knockout.