Remembering “El Flaco Explosivio”

By Andy Rivera

November 12, 1982 was the first and only time I cried when one of my favorite fighters was beaten. Alexis Arguello had just lost to Aaron Pryor in his attempt to be the first fighter capture a world championship in four different boxing weight divisions, a feat at that time which was considered nearly impossible.

It was a day boxing die-hards still talk about. It was also a date I won’t ever forget, it was also my birthday.

Pryor halted Arguello in the 14th round in front of a crowd believed to be over 25,000 at the Miami Orange Bowl. A fight called The Fight of the Decade by The Ring magazine.

Neither fighter was the same after their war. Even when Pryor defeated Arguello a second time ten months later, he was never the same. In losing to Pryor, I saw something where I gained even more respect for Arguello, he taught me how to lose with dignity.

After Pryor halted him, Arguello said the reason he quit in the 10th round was he knew he wasn’t the better fighter. “He was the better man tonight,” said Arguello. “I thought to myself when he put me down, tonight he was better fighter, so I bow my head to him and congratulate Pryor.”

In winning, Arguello taught me how to win with class, after knocking out a young lion named Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, whose story has been well documented in his quest to win a world title for his father, who went to World War II, not ever getting his title shot when returning from his military service.

Arguello simply told Mancini who was in tears looking at his father, “I’m sorry that this happened today, I know one day you will win a world title for your father, but I had a job to do today and I’m sorry this happened.”

Telling someone whose head you almost decapitated, that you’re sorry in such a humble manner, showed the world how much Arguello cared about people.

When I heard the news today that Arguello had taken his own life - that too hit home with me. My father had taken his life when I was 19. It was a struggle when I first realized Arguello was gone and a part of my boxing childhood would never be the same. Although the memories of him I will never forget.

Arguello was a hero to many around the world, an icon in his home country of Nicaragua, to the point that he carried the nations’ flag at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, popular enough to become Mayor of Managua the nations capital.

The fighter known as “El Flaco Explosivio” (the Explosive Thin Man), standing 5’10’’ tall and weighing from 126-140lbs. Arguello compiled an astounding 82-8 (65 knockouts) in his Hall of Fame career, fighting a who’s who of boxing. Bazooka Limon, Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, Bobby Chacon the list goes on and on.

He captured the featherweight world title by stopping Hall of Famer Ruben Olivares in the third round, ripped off Alfredo Escalera’s lip in capturing the super-featherweight world title. Arguello defeated recently indicted Hall of Famer Jim Watt to win his third world championship.

The word gentlemen, has been used to describe Arguello, but that word doesn’t seem to fit him according to former three-time world champion Danny Romero Jr.

“He was the one of the most classiest men in and of the ring, he always wore a suit when meeting the fans,” says Romero Jr. “He always did it for the fans, no sweat suits, shorts no jewellery.”

Romero’s trainer and father Danny Sr recalled how he made little Danny watch Arguello videos over and over to show him how to throw a left hook the right way.

“I had Danny watch Alexis all the time growing up,” said Romero Sr. “He threw the perfect punches, he was one of the best technical fighters of all time, I still to this day remember his war with Pryor, its a fight we always talk about and always will. He didn’t make history when lost to Pryor in his attempt to win his fourth title, but he and Pryor put their stamp on it with the War.”

Fighters today should take a long look at Arguello’s career and see what a true professional fighter is. After losing to Pryor in November, two months later he was back in the ring against tough veteran Vilomar Fernandez, only to fight two months later against former lightweight champion Claude Noel. In today’s world, fighters who come off tough battles may take nine months to a year off, but not Arguello. Like he said, it was his job.

Former two-time world champion Paulie Ayala reflected today on how Arguello showed class in and out of the ring, but was shocked when he realized he had over 75 fights at the age of 31 before he and Pryor fought.

“I was remembering when I watched him fight how many fights he had been in at such an early age,” said Ayala, “and how many wars he fought, but at the end of his career he knew it was time to quit and keep his health in tact. I can’t possibly wonder why this could happen? He will be missed.”

Many people called or text me today asking me the same thing. What do you think happened? That’s something I can’t answer, no one can.

We may never know why one our idols and boxing legends took his life, but we will never ever forget his impact in boxing - but most of all, in life.

I know I won’t.