Mike Tyson turned professional in 1985. The preceding decade overwhelmingly belonged to none other than Muhammad Ali. But several big names cropped from others, significantly lower divisions. Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Marvin Hagler, and Thomas Hearns were in the crowd. But one name in particular captured everyone’s fancy. It was the world champion in three-weight divisions, Alexis Arguello.
Mike Tyson, the Heavyweight great, evoked memories of Alexis Arguello, the Lightweight great
Though the great man is no longer there, the world, at least a generation of boxers, still adores him. In a recent episode of, Hotboxin’ with Mike Tyson, Ryan Garcia joined ‘Iron’ Mike and his co-host Sebastian Joseph-Day. The twenty-four-year-old Californian had visited before his historic clash with Gervonta Davis. With ten minutes left for the program to end, Tyson brought in Alexis Arguello Jr. and said, “…listen um, everyone right here, we have a man whose father inspires so many people inspired me. I met his father probably in 82 83…“
Then he discussed the fight between Alexis Arguello and his long-time trainer Kevin Rooney. The former knocked the latter out in the second round of their 1982 fight. Then he continued talking about ‘The Explosive Thin Man’ and how he used to send shivers down the spine of the opponents. Finally, addressing Arguello Jr., he said that his father was way too good, and whatever he became, his father had a significant role.
Addressing everyone, he said, “I’m saying what his father can do, but he can take it just like he can give it. He can take it too, and that’s [that’s] the sign of a great fighter, of course, you can knock people out, okay, take it.” But this time, he was choking with emotions and continued, “I am a fighter till the end. And so is this fighter’s father. That’s all we know. That’s all I know, but the world gave me so much. All I know is fighting.”
Probably, Tyson’s feelings were right in place. That was Alexis Arguello’s lasting impression on people. The International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee was much loved in his home country Nicaragua and abroad, especially in the United States.
His concern and stand for the downtrodden saw him elected as the Mayor of Managua, Nicaragua’s capital. No wonder the Ring magazine’s twentieth boxer among the greatest fighters of the last eighty years, though longer between his people, will always remain in their memory.