A thread to recognize some of the main strengths and best performances of one of the greatest offensive machines the sport has ever had.
Arguello was a master of using the right uppercut to the body. He would use as a counter to an opponent's right hand, or jab, and he tore up southpaws with that punch.
He used it on Pryor too and then followed it up with a perfect straight right to the jaw. One of the most beautiful combos I've seen. And Pryor still took it. Crazy.
The things that stand out for me about Arguello, apart from his obvious power and all-round offensive game are his judgement of distance, his balance and technical excellence in the way he threw punches. If you want to see a textbook jab, hook or cross look no further. He also had a championship temperament. He wasn't a fast starter but he was comfortable enough to feel his way into a fight, get the measure of his opponent and then gradually ratchet up the pressure. He was a great 15 round fighter.
He’s the epitome of what a textbook fighter is. Threw every punch with perfect leverage, balance, timing, and accuracy. Very straight and proper puncher. Always maintained a calm, calculating demeanor and was great at studying his opponents before going all in with brutal offense. And he had terrific stamina, which he is able to stop opponents in the late rounds. Definitely the kind of fighter that people should study.
He’s had so many memorable performances. Always loved seeing these fights from him. Just a great beautiful display.
The Leonel Hernandez and Royal Kobayashi fights are perhaps the two best examples of Arguello at his devastating peak. He was wicked fast in both those fights.
Arguello has always been a hero of mine. When I started boxing I worshipped Little Red Lopez; once I started sparring I realized pretty fast that it is more fun to watch other people fight like Little Red than it is to do it yourself. I started looking around for other role models and found Carlos Palomino and Alexis Arguello. I spent so much time in front of a heavy bag pretending to be one of those two, especially Arguello, that, the last time I was in a gym where there were people that would know such things, when I hit the bag people say that I throw punches just like Arguello. I look at Arguello a little different than most. At feather, in my mind, he was very good but very raw. He accomplished a lot and certainly was no slouch, but it was the time at 130 that made him "Arguello". And then his association with Eddie Futch.....in my mind that was the consumate example of what two professionals working together can accomplish. Arguello, for all the legend attached to his name was willing to learn, and Eddie Futch didn't tinker with the fighter, but found several subtle nuances to add to the package. And he taught him the Eddie Futch signature move; roll the right hand and come back with the right uppercut. Just brilliant how he found a way to add a new element to what was already a great weapon in the arsenal of a great fighter.
