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By Lyle Fitzsimmons - Try as I might, I can't be as eloquent as my colleagues on this site when it comes to expressing sorrow over the passing of former three-division champion Alexis Arguello, who was found dead in his Nicaraguan home on Wednesday.
Suffice it to say, though, that one of my truest athletic heroes is gone.
As anyone in my age group can attest, Arguello was a boxing staple of Saturday afternoons in the final chapter of his storied career, dominating the lightweight division with a cool brilliance before trying – unsuccessfully – to become a four-division champion five pounds north.
This was after he'd already cleaned up at 126 and 130 pounds – winning 14 of 15 title fights.
His bouts with Jim Watt, Ray Mancini, Robert Elizondo, Bubba Busceme and Andy Ganigan were classic exhibitions of calculated violence, and his demeanor outside the ring showed that great fighter and quality human being didn't always have to be mutually exclusive.
The post-fight exchange with Mancini was particularly striking to this youngster, with the 29-year-old veteran helping steady his wobbly and dejected 20-year-old foe, praising him for a valiant effort and assuring him he indeed had the stuff of a future champion.
I was only 12 back then – but I never forgot it.
And incidentally, he was proven correct seven months later when Mancini won his first title.
Because I was also a big fan of Aaron Pryor, I didn't exactly like Arguello's chances when moving up to topple the junior welterweight kingpin, but the battle they waged at the Orange Bowl in November 1982 is still a must-watch whenever I dig through my dusty old box of VHS fight tapes.
The Barry Tompkins call of the stoppage in round 14 is equally magnificent in its intensity.
But what I remember even more so in terms of the Pryor rivalry is the second fight 10 months later, when a thoroughly beaten Arguello simply sat and accepted the count of referee Richard Steele in round 10, knowing in his heart of hearts that his best was not good enough. [details]
Suffice it to say, though, that one of my truest athletic heroes is gone.
As anyone in my age group can attest, Arguello was a boxing staple of Saturday afternoons in the final chapter of his storied career, dominating the lightweight division with a cool brilliance before trying – unsuccessfully – to become a four-division champion five pounds north.
This was after he'd already cleaned up at 126 and 130 pounds – winning 14 of 15 title fights.
His bouts with Jim Watt, Ray Mancini, Robert Elizondo, Bubba Busceme and Andy Ganigan were classic exhibitions of calculated violence, and his demeanor outside the ring showed that great fighter and quality human being didn't always have to be mutually exclusive.
The post-fight exchange with Mancini was particularly striking to this youngster, with the 29-year-old veteran helping steady his wobbly and dejected 20-year-old foe, praising him for a valiant effort and assuring him he indeed had the stuff of a future champion.
I was only 12 back then – but I never forgot it.
And incidentally, he was proven correct seven months later when Mancini won his first title.
Because I was also a big fan of Aaron Pryor, I didn't exactly like Arguello's chances when moving up to topple the junior welterweight kingpin, but the battle they waged at the Orange Bowl in November 1982 is still a must-watch whenever I dig through my dusty old box of VHS fight tapes.
The Barry Tompkins call of the stoppage in round 14 is equally magnificent in its intensity.
But what I remember even more so in terms of the Pryor rivalry is the second fight 10 months later, when a thoroughly beaten Arguello simply sat and accepted the count of referee Richard Steele in round 10, knowing in his heart of hearts that his best was not good enough. [details]
RIP
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