The recent death of three-division champion Alexis Arguello got me to thinking about the Nicaraguan native and bring back after an absence perhaps our most popular series-Forgotten Superstars.
Arguello held the WBA Featherweight belt, WBC Jr. Lightweight title and the WBC Lightweight strap and was never defeated for any of those belts, giving each up voluntarily and unlike so many champions today, it was to battle new contenders at higher weights, not to avoid challenges.
Arguello was a staple of American weekend boxing broadcasts for years and gained the most notice for his defenses of the 135-pound belt.
Televised knockout wins over young contenders Ray Mancini, Roberto Elizondo, Bubba Busceme and an exciting knockout over hard-punching Hawaiian Andy Ganigan cemented Arguello as an exciting puncher and made his fights must-sees for the boxing fan as well as the casual fan.
Arguello was the sixth boxer to win championships in three divisions, an achievement that has been watered down since the emergence of so many organizations and titles and attempted to be the first-ever to win four titles and could have won so easily had he challenged the journeyman WBC titlist Leroy Haley.
That was not Arguello's way as he had won the featherweight crown over the top champion in Ruben Olivares and the Jr. Lightweight crown over Alfredo Escalera, who was recognized as the top 130 pounder.
His 135 lb win over Jim Watt was not quite as sparkling, but the 135-pound division really had no standout at the time, so he didn't lose points there.
Arguello went after the divisions top gun in WBA champ Aaron Pryor in 1982 in a fight anticipated by fans worldwide and the combatants didn't let them down as Miami's Orange Bowl reeled and rocked with the changes in momentum.
In the end, it was Pryor retaining his gold with a brutal 14th round knockout that is replayed often with Pryor firing combination after combination on the helpless Arguello, who slowly sunk to the floor.
There was a rematch that had its moments too, but Arguello only lasted ten rounds this time and except for a one-punch KO of former champ Bill Costello, Arguello's spotlight days were finished.
For all the deserved attention that the Pryor fights receive, his battles against Escalera may have been even more violent and vicious.
Escalera had defended his title ten times before running into Arguello and both of those bouts left both men battered and pounded.
Arguello was at his peak at 130 defeating six future champions (stopping all six) and one fighter (Ruben Castillo) that came up short in several title chances.
Arguello seemed to have conflicts personally having been a poster child for the Sandinista government, then providing financial and physical support for the Contra rebels that attempted to overthrow the sitting government before eventually returning to the party.
As the Sandinista candidate for Vice Mayor of the Nicaraguan capital of Managua, he was elected in 2004 and then was elected mayor in November of last year.
The "Explosive Thin Man" was easily one of the top punchers in the history of the game and an all-time great.
His classic battles will never be forgotten and we salute Alexis Arguello as today's Forgotten Superstar.
Photo Credit
Ring Magazine
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