As most of you know now the legendary boxer Alexis Arguello has passed away.
Beyond the reason of his passing which IMO will be one of those "What really happened" due to the life he lived. Politcs, drug use etc. etc. etc.
About 2 years ago I would have met you would I have traveled to the IBHF cermony. Instead what happened was a really good friend of mine said he would get me your autograph glove with your name on it. I didn't get my hopes up since things can go wrong and you just never know. A couple weeks later I talk to the friend and he tells me it's on it's way. I could not sleep for the next few days just thinking about.
You see, some people idolize Joe Louis, then theirs those who idolize Ali and so on. As fine boxing goes I idolized Alexis and to think that I would have in my posession that was signed by him was just insane for me.
The glove arrives and surprise, surprise not only is it signed by Alexis but it's also signed by another fav. fighter of mine "El Nino De La Bondonjo" Ruben Olivares. I almost fell of the edge of my bed when I saw this. As I held the glove I said one day I'll meet you and I'll take a pic. with you and the glove...
Today, I get a call from a friend of mine who's Nicaraguan and it's about 9:00 am and he tells me in his words; "Eeeey loco.. No me vaz a creer loco. No loco I'm sorry. Ya sabes no? Oh! no sabes. No loco esque te tengo some bad news. Se murio Alexis Arguello."
Man when he told me that, I knew it wasn't a joke or anything. I believed him and talked briefly I looked it up online and nothing, no news or reports. So I call him back and ask him where he saw this or read this he said his uncle called him from Nicaragua with just minutes from it happening. So as I sat there not being able to read what happened or just more things on it. I started getting teary eyed, and suddenly flashes of his fights. The right hand he lands on Pryor when Pryors head snaps back and he literally see's the people behind him, the hook he lands on Escalera, the right hand on Rooney, the body shot he lands on Mancini, the right hands he lands on Olivares who could ever forget his destruction of Kobayashi, Hernandez, Limon, Chacon, Boza and Navarrete. Just all these images of him fighting. His classic blue trunks with Alexis on the front.
I started replaying in my mind the interview he gave after the Mancini fight and his words just echoed in my head.
Once I read reports I just flat out cried. I cried, I stepped outside and just sat on the sidewalk and let out some tears. Alexis was dead and gone was one of my fav. fighters more then that a genuine person who spoke from his heart and said things as he felt. He didn't sugar coat things he was honest and sincere. He blamed himself 1st before anyone and he knew his wrong doings but he always tried to better himself and he tried to live a good life. Sometimes you get tangled into the webs of politics and in a country like Nicaragua well that web is never ending. Especially the stage in which the country is at now... But that's another story.
In my eyes to see Alexis fight was a thing of beauty. His stance, the way his thin long arm would extend and just like dynamite would explode at the point of contact. His thin long legs from which he used to creat this strength that gave us some spertacular KO's. The Explosive Thin Man, has a nickname ever graced another boxer as much as it did with him? Well I'm sure we could come up with a few that did but for my likings I'll stick with this one. Every shot he threw was committed, every hook with intentions to knock your head off and every right hand with intentions to send you to sleep.
I rate Alexis in my to top 10 always have and always will because often people forget how dominant he was during his regin and some of the things he accomplished in the ring are amazing. I think he's appreciated but at the same time I feel he is underrated by many and I truely believe that has to do with the Pryor fight but for those who have seen and know about Alexis beyond the Pryor fights know Alexis is an ATG and deserves much more credit that he gets and much more praise then what he gets. Just read my signature and see his accomplishments.
Alexis always respected his opponents and carried himself with honor to the sport.
I always wanted to meet you...
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