Arguello dead, suicide suspected

FORMER BOXING CHAMPION ALEXIS ARGUELLO DEAD

The first man to defeat Ray Mancini in a pro fight had the Youngstown man’s eternal respect

staff/wire reports

MANAGUA, Nicaragua — Alexis Arguello, who fought in one of boxing’s most classic brawls and handed Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini his first professional loss, was found dead at his home early Wednesday.

Coroners were conducting an autopsy to determine the cause of death. Sandanista Party’s Radio Ya and other local media were reporting it appeared to be a suicide.

The La Prensa newspaper reported that Arguello — elected mayor of Nicaragua’s capital last year — was found with a gunshot wound to the chest.

The 57-year-old Arguello retired in 1995 with a record of 82-8 with 65 knockouts and was a champion in three weight divisions. He was perhaps best known for two thrilling battles with Aaron Pryor and fights with Youngstown’s Mancini, Bobby Chacon and Ruben Olivares.

“It’s unfortunate, heartbreaking,” said Mancini in a telephone interview with The Vindicator on Wednesday. “I loved him. I truly loved him.”

Nicknamed “The Explosive Thin Man,” Arguello handed Mancini his first pro loss with a 14th-round knockout in a WBC lightweight title fight on Oct. 3, 1981. Mancini, who was 20 at the time, said he was actually leading the fight after 12 rounds — now the limit for title fights — before Arguello’s experience took over.

“I didn’t realize how strong he’d be,” said Mancini, who later won the WBA’s lightweight title. “He knew his experience would take over. I understood that later, once I became champion.

“People said I fought him too early in his career, but that’s not true. If I fought him too soon, I would have been blown out in one or two or three rounds.

Mancini said he patterned his career after Arguello, wanting to be an active champion — particularly since he knew his style wasn’t made for a long career — and one who embraced his roots and won or lost with class.

“When he stepped into the ring, he was very cordial and shook his opponent’s hands, then he’d go to war and afterward he’d congratulate you regardless,” said Mancini. “He was truly gracious and carried himself with dignity.

“If you looked up ‘world champion’ in the dictionary, you’d see his picture.”

Because of the intensity of their fight, Mancini said he’ll always have a connection with Arguello.

“You go that many rounds with someone, for that period of time you know him better than his wife, his girlfriend, his mother ...” Mancini said. “You know the guy inside and out. That’s the thing about fighters. The special thing.”

Arguello was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992, where flags were flying at half-staff in his honor Wednesday.

In 1999, a panel of experts assembled by The AP voted Arguello the best junior lightweight and sixth-best lightweight of the 20th century. He never lost at 130 pounds, and his popularity in his own country was so great that he carried the flag for Nicaragua at the Beijing Olympics.

“Not only was he one of the greatest fighters I’ve ever seen, he was the most intelligent fighter,” Bob Arum, who promoted some of his biggest fights, told The Associated Press. “He was a ring tactician. Every move was thought out. And he was a wonderful, wonderful person.”

Arguello turned pro in 1968 and promptly lost his first bout. He didn’t lose much more, and six years later knocked out Olivares in the 13th round to win the featherweight title.

Arguello went on to win the super featherweight and lightweight titles, his 5-foot-10 frame allowing him to move up in weight without losing his tremendous punching power. At the time, he was only the sixth boxer to win championships in three weight classes, and was considered for a while the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

He moved up in weight again in November 1982 to challenge Pryor for the 140-pound belt, a match billed as “Battle of the Champions.” More than 23,000 fans packed the Orange Bowl in Miami, and the two waged an epic battle before Pryor knocked out Arguello in the 14th round.

“It was a brutal, brutal fight,” Arum said. “That was something I will never, ever forget as long as I live. That was one of the most memorable fights I ever did.”

The bout was named “Fight of the Year” and “Fight of the Decade” by Ring Magazine, but was shrouded by controversy. Pryor’s trainer, Panama Lewis, gave him a water bottle after the 13th round that many believe contained an illegal substance — an accusation Pryor denied.

A rematch was ordered and they met again a year later at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. This time, Pryor knocked out Arguello in the 10th round.

“We always talk to each other about that first fight,” Pryor said. “I never went into the fight knowing I could beat Alexis, I just went into the fight to beat Alexis.”

Arguello announced after the fight that he would retire from boxing, but as so often happens in the sport, Arguello couldn’t stay away from the ring.

He returned to win two fights in 1985 and 1986, then didn’t step in the ring until 1994, when he made a brief comeback. He retired for good the following year.

“Alexis Arguello was a first-class fighter and a first-class gentleman,” said Hall of Fame executive director Edward Brophy. “The Hall of Fame joins the boxing community in mourning the loss of a great champion and friend.”

Arguello fought against the Sandinista government in the 1980s after it seized his property and bank account, but later joined the party and ran for mayor of the capital last November. He defeated Eduardo Montealegre, though opponents alleged the vote was fraudulent.

Arguello had returned Sunday from Puerto Rico, where he honored the late baseball Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente. His death prompted Nicaragua President Daniel Ortega to announced he was canceling a trip to Panama for the inauguration of President-elect Ricardo Martinelli.

“We are upset,” presidential spokeswoman Rosario Murillo said. “This is a heartbreaking announcement. He was the champion of the poor, an example of forgiveness and reconciliation.”