Arguello memories…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
It’s always sad to hear about one of the greats passing away, but the emotions get conflicted when you hear it’s suicide. For today, I’m going to let that go and just remember what a great fighter Alexis Arguello was.
Arguello died Wednesday. He was 57.
Nicknamed “The Explosive Thin Man,” Arguello is a natural favorite for someone who has been given The Boneman moniker. I wasn’t around for Arguello during his prime or even his decline. No, my first taste of Arguello came through the Playstation game Knockout Kings. It was through the game I learned about him and then later the epic wars he had in the ring.
Everyone remembers the legendary battle with Aaron Pryor in Miami in 1982. I had heard such great things about the fight that I never thought it could actually live up to the billing. It did so, and then some. I don’t have a great copy (color isn’t great, sound goes in and out), but nothing could take away from that fight.
Pryor eventually knocked Arguello out in the 14th round in what is still one of the greatest fights I’ve ever seen. Pryor would also KO Arguello in a subsequent rematch.
But in reading about Arguello through the years, one thing has stood out in all the pieces: his class. In a sport devoid of it, Arguello was a class act. His final record ended up 82-8 with 65 KOs.
I don’t think we’ll see anyone touch the 70-fight plateau again (maybe not even 60) with the way the scheduling is. But it wasn’t that Arguello had 90 fights, but who they were against. From 1978-1983, almost every bout was a title contest. He had great fights with Ruben Olivares and Ray Mancini, just to name a few. And after that first Pryor fight, he was fighting three months later. Unheard of.
Arguello was the flag-bearer for Nicaragua at last year’s Olympics and was elected the mayor of Managua last year. He was found dead Wednesday morning with an apparent gunshot wound to the chest.
Thoughts and prayers go out to his friends and family.
***
Slow weekend in the fight game coming up. I was unable to attend a Matt Grice training session this week, but here’s to hoping I can still get a lengthy sit-down with him early next week before he heads to Las Vegas for UFC 100.
Grice has an interesting story that I’m giddy to learn more about and let people know next week.
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