(Photo by Getty Images)
In 1982 Arguello would yet again move up a weight class and attempt to become the first fighter to win titles in four different weight classes as he challenged Aaron "Hawk" Pryor in what would turn out to be one of the more infamous battles in the history of the sport.
In a close and hotly contested bout controversy arose in the corner of Pryor when trainer Panama Lewis would request that Pryor drink out of 'black bottle.' Lewis could be heard calling for "the one he mixed."
Seeing as though water is the only liquid allowed to be consumed by the fighter during a bout and there's no need to mix water with more water many cried foul. The future hall-of-famer Pryor would go on to get the TKO win in the 14th.
The local boxing comission in Miami where the bout was held did not perform a post-fight urinalysis leaving many questions about the bottle and tactics of Lewis unanswered.
A year later the two would meet again, this time at Ceasar's Palace in Las Vegas, NV. Once again it would be a brutal contest with Argullo once again being stopped. This time in the tenth. After the fight a dejected Arguello would go on to say that he was done with the sport.
Unfortunately for him, his finances kept that from becoming a reality as he laced up the gloves again two years later in 1985. He would stop Pat Jefferson in the fifth round and then four months later take care of Billy Costello in the fourth.
The Explosive Thin Man was elected into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992 along with Max Schmelling and Ken Norton among others.
Two years after being inducted Alexis would again return to the ring for a brief comeback as he won a majority decision over Jorge Palomares and in 1995 dropped a unanimous decision to Scott Walker in what would be the final fight of a legendary career which officially stands at 82-8.
In retirement Arguello was able to remain a familiar face in his country of Nicaragua as he was active in the political arena with the Sandinista National Liberation Front. In 2004 he was elected as Vice-Mayor in his hometown of Managua.
Just last November he ran for Mayor against longtime politician Eduardo Montealegre. In true Alexis Arguello fashion he would get the win in a hard fight taking just over 51 percent of the votes.
Last year the country honored the great champion as they made him their flag-bearer in the opening ceremony of Beijing's 2008 Summer Games.
Things seemed to be looking good for the boxer turned Mayor.
Until reports came out on this week that he had been killed from a gunshot wound to the heart which some are now speculating was self-inflicted. Results from the autopsy have not yet been released.
With the shocking passing of The Explosive Thin Man, Arguello, people will remember him as the legendary three division champion he was. Some will always recall him against Aaron Pryor and the 'black bottle' incident. Others will remember the smiling mayor of Managua.
But everyone will remember him as a gentleman.
Questions or comments can be mailed to: brianoblake@yahoo.com
7 Comments
Loading more comments...
This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete