Though he lost his two epic fights against the equally great Aaron "The Hawk" Pryor, Alexis Arguello place in boxing history has always been secure, and his lofty position as the greatest junior lightweight fighter ever by most boxing writers only demonstrates what kind of talent he was. In his remarkable 90-fight career, "The Explosive Thin Man" racked up an 82-8-0 record with 65 knockouts. A complete fighter with dynamite in both hands, Arguello waged wars with the best of his era, knocking out fellow greats Ruben Olivares and Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini, and besting Bazooka Limon. Ironically, however, it was his epic fights with Pryor which furthered his legend with the boxing public and those who were casual fight followers.

Undoubtedly, had a fight with the late great Salvador Sanchez occurred, it would have been as epic as Arguello's battles with Pryor. How would have the fight turned out? Who knows? Boxing fans were instantly deprived of this classic contest. But it never diminished what both accomplished, and in Arguello's case, only time would erode his skills. An equally remarkable man outside the ring, Arguello became a politician and recently elected mayor of his beloved Managua in Nicaragua. Charitable until the end of his life, he sought to build schools all over Nicaragua, perhaps in the hope that the city's children might get the education he so longed to have as a child himself, but as fate would have it growing up in the streets instead and having to fend off others to simply survive.

Sadly, the great Arguello apparently died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest today. Perhaps some demons still surrounded him? Truly unfortunate, nevertheless. But he will be remembered by those who love the sweet science and the sport he gave his all to.

Rest in peace, champ.

Alexis Arguello
1952-2009


In an era that produced such stellar fighters as; Roberto Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Tommy Hearns, Wilfredo benitz, Wilfredo Gomez, Salvador Sanchez, Bobby Chacon, Danny "Little Red" Lopez, Ruben Olivares , and in a sport where even the contenders held the mantel of greatness with aplomb and grace, Alexis Arguello stood as tall as any of them. In an era where great fighters fought each other for the right to be called the best, Alexis Arguello fought the best.

Arguello fought his first fight forty one years ago, August 1, 1968 in Managua, Nicaragua against someone named Cachorro Amaya, getting stopped in the first round of a scheduled four round fight. He fought his last fight on January 21, 1995 in Las Vegas, Nevada, losing a ten round decision to Scott Walker. In between those years Arguello won titles in three weight classes; Featherweight, Super Featherweight, and Lightweight. He lifted the WBA Featherweight crown from Mexican great "Rockabye" Ruben Olivares on November 23, 1974 stopping Olivares in the 13th round of their 15 round fight. He successfully defended his title several times before moving up in weight to challenge Alfredo Escalera for the WBC Super Featherweight title. The fight took place on January 1, 1978 in Escalera's home turf of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Arguello won a hard fought and exciting fight by stopping Escalera in the 13th round. On June 20, 1981 Arguello once again moved up to challenge the respected WBC Lightweight champion from the United Kingdom, Jim Watt. The fight, which took place at the Empire Pool, Wembley, London, went the distance. Arguello won the fight with a 15 round unanimous decision. It was Watt's last fight and Alexis Arguello's third title.

Arguello defended his titles against the likes of Bobby Chacon, Ruben Castillo, Cornelius Boza Edwards, Jose Luis Ramirez, Rafael "Bazooka" Limon, Andy Ganigan, Ray Mancini and so many more. He never gave anything but his best when he stepped into the ring. He was a champion in the truest sense of the world. He was also a champion with compassion. Who can forget his fight with Ray Mancini, who fighting valiantly, as much for his father as for himself, was finally stopped in the 14th round of their fight. Arguello, as much a gentleman as he was a champion, put his arm around Mancini and reminded him, that he too failed in his first bid for a world title, a 15 round decision to Ernesto Marcel of Panama. He encouraged Mancini and let him know that his day would come. That act of mercy and compassion would become his signature, his trademark.

Arguello was already an all time great when he moved up once again to
challenge the great Aaron Pryor for Pryor's WBA Junior welterweight title, for an unprecedented fourth title. On November 12, 1982, Alexis Arguello and Aaron Pryor fought their way into boxing immortality, in one of the great fights of the 1980's, a fight that would stand out in any era.

On this night it would be Aaron Pryor that would have his arms raised in victory. In the 14th round, after a grueling, exhausting and exciting fight, Alexis Arguello was knocked out, and in a sickening manner. It was painful. Up to that point it was still anyone's fight. Arguello had landed right hands that would have knocked out middleweights but Pryor was at the top of his game that night. There would be no fourth title for Arguello.

Arguello had two more fights before once again challenging Aaron Pryor for the title. His first fight after his loss to Pryor was against Vilomar Fernandez of the Bronx, New York, by way of the Dominican Republic, winning a 10 round decision and avenging an 1978 loss to Fernandez. Next up was former WBALightweight Champ Claude Noel. Noel was knocked out in the 3rd round. The second Arguello-Pryor fight ended with a 10th round KO of Arguello. Arguello retired but came back two years later to fight Pat Jefferson, knocking him out in the 5th round. His next fight was with former WBC Lightweight Champion Billy Costello. The durable Costello was stopped in the fourth round.

Arguello has been a favorite of mine from the very beginning. He was the epitome of coolness in the ring and the master of patience. He was a master counter puncher and a consumate professional. It's not enough to say that he was a great Latin fighter, he was a great fighter, a great champion. He will be missed by his fans.

I met Alexis Arguello in 1976 while training at the Main Street Gym in Los Angeles. He was training for a fight. I can't remember who his opponent was but looking at his record the only fight that shows in that time frame is a fight with Salvador Torres at the Forum in Inglewood, a fight he won by a 3rd round knockout. Arguello was only there a week or so but I had the chance to meet him, talk with and shake his hand. He was very humble, reserved and quiet.

Alexis Arguello died earlier today, the victim of a self inflicted gun shot wound. A suicide. I cannot imagine what demons drove him to such an act. Alexis was born on April 19, 1952. He was 57 at the time of his death. It is a great loss to his family and friends, his countrymen and the sport of boxing. He will always be remembered as a class act. A good guy. A man who gave his all to his sport. Even in losing, he lost like a champion, going out on his shield. He will always be a champion. He belongs to history now.

My condolences to the family of Alexis Arguello. Rest in peace Champ! You will be missed.

he lost twice to pryor.

Alexis Arguello was Great! I could not wait to see him box cause that is what he did. He Boxed with skills never seen before him and hard to find in any boxer since. He could put a man down with any hand, from any angle and anywhere he decided to hit on the other boxer's body. He was not a head hunter, case and point watch his fight with Mancini. Alexis was a Great Boxer in any day...

Alexis was one of the best fighter to walked the planet, that inspired many generations and still is a boxing model to follow and admire for his contribution to sports specially boxing.

My boyhood idol, Alexis Arguello is one of the best overall fighters I have ever seen. I only wished that Pryor hadn't had any substances in the water I can assure you Alexis would have knocked him out. I have known Alexis personally and I remember when I was five years old and he picked me up and lifted me in the air at my grandpartents house in Esteli Nicaragua. Whenever he would fight, the entire country would stop. One time I remember watching a fight at five in the morning because he was fighting Kobayashi in Japan and they were broadcasting it live.

Arguello was one of the best fighter ever. Great K.O. punch and skills. It's a shame that Pryor's Manager, Panama Lewis, got away by giving Pryor the "Mixed bottle of water". Just watch the fight, and you can see and hear the whole controversy. Arguello was simply a Gentleman inside the ring and at the same time "The Thin Explosive Man" we all knew.

In spite of the losses to Aaron Pryor..who was just too big and strong for Alexis...this man was all class. Case in point is his fight against then up and coming Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini. After knocking the popular Mancini out late in the fight he met Ray in the middle of the ring and told him that he loved Ray's dad, Lenny "Boom Boom" Mancini. Alexis' story is classic in boxing where he just moved up one weight class too many in challenging "The Hawk". The fight has gained infamy over Pryor's Manager Panama Lewis asking for a different water bottle, asking for "the one I mixed"...fueling speculation at the time of Pryor's alleged drug use...as I recall he did fight like a man possessed. If a fighters greatness is predicated on the ferocity of his opponents then Arguello truly is a great one.

great fighter,classy person.

i feel sorry for anyone who is caught on the recieving end of arguello's right cross (the hardest punch in the featherweight division, along with sandy saddler). enormous heart, flawless technique, and frightening power is wut made alexis arguello a legend. but he was rather slow and just couldnt get the job done against aaron pryor (but then again, who could get the best of aaron pryor?). alexis arguello is one of the best featherweights in history.

Skilled Gentleman, tried his best against to win his 4th title against Pryor, but pryor was just 2 much

Arguello was very good-but overrated as fights with Boom Boom Mancini-which he won-and Aaron Pryor-which he lost-prove.

Sharpest strait right Ive ever seen. Perfect punch setup, sold every feint and then punished. Moved opponents around the ring with his ring savvy. Not the fleetest of foot but made up for it with constant steady pressure. An all time great.

Typical Sth American tough and durable fights with Pryor were fantastic. Top 20

Great hard-nozed skilled fighter. I loved watching him fight.

A classic boxer with knockout power in either hand. Extremely accurate puncher and wonderful tacticion in the ring.

Arguello was best as a Jr. Lightweight. In an era of great fighters, he ko'd Limon, Chacon, and Boza-Edwards in 1.5 years. STarting as a bantamweight, Jr. welter was 4 weight classes up from where he started. Too big a jump.No wonder he could not bring his punch with him vs. Pryor. The fight was basic: he could not hurt Pryor, and Pyor hurt Arguello. And Pryor was an all time great at Jr. Welter.

Tough bastard huh?

didn't duck nobody...ain't like duran NO WHAT ..wuss...read the history why should i repeat what others have wrote

Arguello began as a tough bantamweight in the late 60's/early 70's but quickly moved up to feathwerweight and challenged the great Ernesto Marcel, losing a close 15 round decision in the champs backyard. In 1974, he defeated my boyhood boxing idol, Ruben Olivares, to capture the first of three world championships. I truly believe he was at his best in the Junior Lightweight division where he beat some pretty tough foes, namely, Alfredo Escalera, Bazooka Limon, Chacon, Navarette, Boza-Edwards. As lightweight king, he KO'd hard-hitting Andrew Ganigan and Ray Mancini, proving his punching power had not diminished as he moved up in weight. His first bout against Aaron Pryor was the most dramatical boxing match I ever saw...and yes, it was disheartening to see Arguello against the ropes from the barrage of punches unleashed by Pryor. To his credit, Arguello could have--but chose not to--take the sure route of claiming his fourth belt (in as many divisions) against the other bums, er champions, Costello, Mamby, Haley. It's a testament to the great fighter that he was and the gentleman that he is...

a classic and truly great fighter; if you had to build your own fighter in the garage of desire, you'd start with Joe Frazier's heart and left hook but you'd want to toss in a wholelotta this man's skill. Ring generalship would have become known as Arguelloian the opponent if it wasn't so damned hard to say .... his fights with Pryor are indeed all-timers, but he didn't duck .....

His fights with Aaron Pryor are forever etched in my mind. He didn't have the necessary intangibles to push through to greatness, but he was very, very good.

He was a champion for a long time, as his skills/speed diminished, his power seemed to increase, this allowed him to continue to win, but he was being hit more often and harder than during his prime. No Mas! was not his code...

This guy was tough. He could dish out and take one hell of a beating. Terrycloth boxer shorts were his signature. That is all I can say about Alexies.