No takers? OK, FWIW, I think De la Hoya dominates early with his much quicker feet, possibly dropping Alexis along the way and certainly hurting him badly with the hook. Failing to get the stoppage he has to survive an increasing pummeling from 10 through 13 as Alexis gets a foothold and turns the tide systematically. A perfect hook out of the blue in the 14th drops Arguello as he gets slightly ragged & takes the wind out his sails. DLH takes a close-ish but clear UD after a muted 15th but comes out far more marked up.
I dont think DLH could EVER beat Arguello in a 15 rounder. But in a 12 rounder at 140, Oscar most likely wins. At 135... Arguello beats him. Regardless of the rounds.
It says a lot, to me, that De La Hoya --- such a classy fighter --- only wins a fairly competitive decision against Arguello, when they meet at De La Hoya's best weight, & Arguello's worst. What a fighter Arguello was.
Every time I want to cheer myself up after listening to the latest Sky Sports drivel masquerading as commentary, I take half an hour or so to watch Arguello beat the living snot out of Jim Watt for fifteen beautiful rounds. Works every time... MTF opcorn:
Highlights of his triumph against Ruben Olivares were on TV a few nights ago. Two brilliant fighters. Olivares really soaked it up when it got tough, but Arguello was positively a beast at Feather & Jr. Light. I picked Saddler to best him in another thread here. Very rarely would I do that with te great Feathers in history. Arguello ranks amongst all, & above most.
:::atu: God how I hate Jim Watt. I call him Mr.Dead - that vacant open mouthed expression he hits out when he's introduced at the beginning of broadcasts reminds me of Paul Whitehouse's character in the Harry Enfield show.
Arguello was jjst so awesome to watch. Nobody ever made punching look more beautiful. And watching him kick the shit out of Jim Watt is fun... I give Watt credit though, he absorbed a bruising and a half in that one
140 is the only weight I can see Oscar beating Arguello at. At 130 & 135 Alexis beats that cross dressing ass!
In fairness to De La Hoya, he had yet to mature at those weights. He was still a pretty green fighter, whereas Jr. Light & Lightweight were arguably Arguello's best two divisions. The experience factor would really hurt De La Hoya there, so it isn't simply an issue of Arguello being such the better fighter. At Jr. Welterweight, it's a great, great, bigger man, against a truly legendary, all-time smaller man. I fancy De La Hoya at this weight, but Arguello would be competitive.
