Alexis Arguello biography
Alexis Arguello, (born April 19, 1952, Managua, Nic.—discovered useless July 1, 2009, Managua), Nicaraguan skilled boxer who was world featherweight, junior light-weight, and light-weight champion between 1974 and 1982.
Arguello, who grew to become an expert fighter in 1968, fought solely in his homeland till 1974, when he went to Panama to hunt the World Boxing Association’s featherweight title. Arguello misplaced this match in a 15-round determination to Ernesto Marcel. Later that yr, nonetheless, he claimed the WBA title by advantage of his Thirteenth-round knockout of Ruben Olivares. After 4 profitable title defenses at featherweight, Arguello moved as much as junior light-weight and knocked out Alfredo Escalera within the Thirteenth spherical of their 1978 match to achieve the World Boxing Council’s (WBC’s) championship title in that division.
At the height of Arguello’s boxing profession, political points in Nicaragua got here to a head. In 1979 civil battle in Nicaragua culminated within the overthrow of the Somoza household, and the Sandinista regime took over the nation; Arguello’s property and checking account had been seized. One of his brothers was killed preventing the Sandinistas, and Arguello, who was dwelling within the United States, went to Nicaragua and fought briefly on the facet of the Contras.
He returned to the United States to proceed his boxing profession and, after eight junior light-weight title defenses, moved as much as the subsequent weight division; by defeating Jim Watt on a 15-round determination in 1981, he grew to become WBC light-weight champion. Following 4 victories by knockout in 1981 and 1982, matches together with his title on the road, Arguello subsequent tried to win the WBA’s model of the junior welterweight title, however he failed, shedding championship matches by knockout to Aaron Pryor in 1982 and once more in 1983. Arguello retired after the second Pryor combat however got here again a number of occasions for transient intervals, lastly quitting boxing for good in 1995. In 90 bouts he compiled a document of 82 victories (64 by knockout) and eight losses. Arguello was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastoa, N.Y., in 1992.
Arguello retired to Nicaragua however had problem in adapting to life exterior the ring. After his profession ended, he battled each melancholy and drug dependancy earlier than turning to politics and changing into mayor of Managua in 2008.