During the induction weekend at the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota New York, I took the time to talk with Marvin Hagler, Alexis Arguello, Dwight Muhammad Quai, Jake Lamotta, and Gene Fullmer. Although this is a little behind, I thought the fans would still be interested in reading how some of these living legends of the sport of boxing are doing. As promised this is the third part of a four part interview.
Alexis Arguello is one of the most gracious individuals in the sport of boxing, as many of you may know one minute he’s trying to knock Ray Mancini's head off, then he’s helping him up and telling him that he loves his father. He arguably may have had the best career of anyone who has ever gotten knocked out in the first round of their first fight.
Most people forget how well he was able to deal with adversity in his career. He lost 2 of his first 5 fights, didn’t get a title shot until his 40th fight and lost that fight by decision; yet, was still able to regroup and go on to have a great career.
Arguello’s overall record stands at 82 wins, 8 losses, with 65 knockuts. He is known for dynamic punching power and his ability to pick his opponents apart with counter punching. His fights with Ruben Olivares and Aaron Pryor will be forever remember in boxing lore. Today he’s still the same gracious person that he was back in his fighting days and now he’s even getting involved in politics.
ARGUELLO: If I had the strength to make all the originations disappear, I would and make my own because people’s perception of the sport right now isn’t that good. I don’t think people really understand that this is a real sport; it’s just you and the other person one on one. The stuff that ESPN puts on is bull**** fights, I mean what I saw last night sucked, made me want to puke and I love this sport, so what do you think everyone else is thinking about it? That’s always been my problem I’m a forward guy.
You want a funny story? I work for Telemundo and this one time we working with a promoter that only tries to promote his fighters and he matches these guys up with only C class fighters, so every time he’d do that I rip him and his fighters because that’s bull****. I’d ask him, how are you going to make any ratings and create any interest in the sport when you’re putting on these lopsided fights? All of a sudden Bob Arum tells Carlos Barba: “To get rid of Alexis, or I won’t put together any fights for you.” Can you believe that piece of ****? I don’t trust him nor should anyone in the sport; he doesn’t care about making the sport better. ESPN is no better one day whoever is in charge is going to have to do something about the fights that are being put together.
FREEMAN: I agree with that, but don’t give the fighters free pass, a lot of them don’t want to face the top guys in their division and for what reason? They are scared to lose or the promoters are scared that if their guy loses then they won’t have that meal ticket anymore. Don’t let HBO and Showtime off either, both should be big enough to put aside their egos like they did with Tyson vs. Lewis, to allow the fighters that they showcase on their network to be matched up with other fighters from a different network. I understand there is the business side of it, but it’s hurting the sport as well.
Let’s move on because I’m sure you and I could bash Bob Arum, Don King and other people in the sport all day. Let’s talk about your career what’s your fondest memory?
ARGUELLO: Man I have to say this honestly each and every fight was great for me because for me to be able to perform as I did I had to go to work. I had to get up run in the morning for 2 hours, go to the gym and also get good opponents as sparring partners because I’m a big believer in that how you train is how you will fight at least when it came to me that’s how it worked. When I was in top shape I’d go to the ring and show my conditioning. I’d say the most memorable thing for me was my dedication and motivation in how I got so involved in boxing.
FREEMAN: Did you think after your first five fights that you’d end up as a Hall of Fame fighter?
ARGUELLO: I didn’t know right at the time, but what I did know is that I wanted to be great and had the will and drive to get better. I think I went on a nice winning streak of about 20 fights until I fought Jorge Reyes and he stopped me in 6 rounds after I punched myself out. I almost had that son of a ***** out in the fourth round myself but I knew that I would learn from every fight no matter what happened.. That’s something I wish I could instill in the fighters today, to learn from every fight even if it’s a one round knockout or if it’s a 12 round spilt decision, learn from it.
FREEMAN: You are know as the gentleman of the sport but was it something you had to work on going from trying to knock this person out to helping him up?
ARGUELLO: It was a natural process, because when we go to the ring we are human beings, but once you feel the punches and the competition that’s when the beast comes out and takes hold of us. Then that switch comes on, live or die, something like the best will win; it’s hard to explain but it's like are you willing to go for it.
There were moments, like when I fought Alfredo Escalera who was a real tough guy in there, but my condition and my hunger to win were above anything that he brought to the table that night and it was like that for most of my career except when I got to Pryor (Laughing). It’s a lot about the individual and it’s really up to you, how much you dedicate to the fight and how hard you are working and that’s where the outcome will come. Of course after the fight you want to make sure that you're okay and so is the other guy, it’s a brotherhood in there, so you want to make sure everyone is okay after the war is over.
FREEMAN: Would you describe yourself as a tactician or a puncher?
ARGUELLO: Actually punching is a mistake; a heavy hitter will cut you with one shot. I believe more in precision, when you have the capability, like when you see a mosquito fly and you're able to hit it, you're able to hit it with a couple of short sharp shots… it’s a beautiful thing.
I’d take precision any day over power; as far as being tactical you know you have to see what’s going on in there and also understand that for every punch that you or your opponent throws there’s always a counter shot or two which you have to be ready to fire or defend. I was good at doing both and so that’s where the tactical part comes into play. Some nights it was about being tactical, other nights it was about looking for shots and setting up the big shots with combos
Alexis Arguello is one of the most gracious individuals in the sport of boxing, as many of you may know one minute he’s trying to knock Ray Mancini's head off, then he’s helping him up and telling him that he loves his father. He arguably may have had the best career of anyone who has ever gotten knocked out in the first round of their first fight.
Most people forget how well he was able to deal with adversity in his career. He lost 2 of his first 5 fights, didn’t get a title shot until his 40th fight and lost that fight by decision; yet, was still able to regroup and go on to have a great career.
Arguello’s overall record stands at 82 wins, 8 losses, with 65 knockuts. He is known for dynamic punching power and his ability to pick his opponents apart with counter punching. His fights with Ruben Olivares and Aaron Pryor will be forever remember in boxing lore. Today he’s still the same gracious person that he was back in his fighting days and now he’s even getting involved in politics.
ARGUELLO: If I had the strength to make all the originations disappear, I would and make my own because people’s perception of the sport right now isn’t that good. I don’t think people really understand that this is a real sport; it’s just you and the other person one on one. The stuff that ESPN puts on is bull**** fights, I mean what I saw last night sucked, made me want to puke and I love this sport, so what do you think everyone else is thinking about it? That’s always been my problem I’m a forward guy.
You want a funny story? I work for Telemundo and this one time we working with a promoter that only tries to promote his fighters and he matches these guys up with only C class fighters, so every time he’d do that I rip him and his fighters because that’s bull****. I’d ask him, how are you going to make any ratings and create any interest in the sport when you’re putting on these lopsided fights? All of a sudden Bob Arum tells Carlos Barba: “To get rid of Alexis, or I won’t put together any fights for you.” Can you believe that piece of ****? I don’t trust him nor should anyone in the sport; he doesn’t care about making the sport better. ESPN is no better one day whoever is in charge is going to have to do something about the fights that are being put together.
FREEMAN: I agree with that, but don’t give the fighters free pass, a lot of them don’t want to face the top guys in their division and for what reason? They are scared to lose or the promoters are scared that if their guy loses then they won’t have that meal ticket anymore. Don’t let HBO and Showtime off either, both should be big enough to put aside their egos like they did with Tyson vs. Lewis, to allow the fighters that they showcase on their network to be matched up with other fighters from a different network. I understand there is the business side of it, but it’s hurting the sport as well.
Let’s move on because I’m sure you and I could bash Bob Arum, Don King and other people in the sport all day. Let’s talk about your career what’s your fondest memory?
ARGUELLO: Man I have to say this honestly each and every fight was great for me because for me to be able to perform as I did I had to go to work. I had to get up run in the morning for 2 hours, go to the gym and also get good opponents as sparring partners because I’m a big believer in that how you train is how you will fight at least when it came to me that’s how it worked. When I was in top shape I’d go to the ring and show my conditioning. I’d say the most memorable thing for me was my dedication and motivation in how I got so involved in boxing.
FREEMAN: Did you think after your first five fights that you’d end up as a Hall of Fame fighter?
ARGUELLO: I didn’t know right at the time, but what I did know is that I wanted to be great and had the will and drive to get better. I think I went on a nice winning streak of about 20 fights until I fought Jorge Reyes and he stopped me in 6 rounds after I punched myself out. I almost had that son of a ***** out in the fourth round myself but I knew that I would learn from every fight no matter what happened.. That’s something I wish I could instill in the fighters today, to learn from every fight even if it’s a one round knockout or if it’s a 12 round spilt decision, learn from it.
FREEMAN: You are know as the gentleman of the sport but was it something you had to work on going from trying to knock this person out to helping him up?
ARGUELLO: It was a natural process, because when we go to the ring we are human beings, but once you feel the punches and the competition that’s when the beast comes out and takes hold of us. Then that switch comes on, live or die, something like the best will win; it’s hard to explain but it's like are you willing to go for it.
There were moments, like when I fought Alfredo Escalera who was a real tough guy in there, but my condition and my hunger to win were above anything that he brought to the table that night and it was like that for most of my career except when I got to Pryor (Laughing). It’s a lot about the individual and it’s really up to you, how much you dedicate to the fight and how hard you are working and that’s where the outcome will come. Of course after the fight you want to make sure that you're okay and so is the other guy, it’s a brotherhood in there, so you want to make sure everyone is okay after the war is over.
FREEMAN: Would you describe yourself as a tactician or a puncher?
ARGUELLO: Actually punching is a mistake; a heavy hitter will cut you with one shot. I believe more in precision, when you have the capability, like when you see a mosquito fly and you're able to hit it, you're able to hit it with a couple of short sharp shots… it’s a beautiful thing.
I’d take precision any day over power; as far as being tactical you know you have to see what’s going on in there and also understand that for every punch that you or your opponent throws there’s always a counter shot or two which you have to be ready to fire or defend. I was good at doing both and so that’s where the tactical part comes into play. Some nights it was about being tactical, other nights it was about looking for shots and setting up the big shots with combos
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