At 135, Ortiz may have been just a bit too smart to play Arguello's game. I can see him jabbing Arguello and not attacking him, refusing to let Arguello untrack that brutal Right of his (see Ortiz/Joe Brown. It made for a boring fight, but Ortiz won round after round after round because Brown couldn't get him with the counter right) Then again, if Ortiz does try to be more aggressive, he lacks the firepower IMO to beat Arguello, who would win the judges points just by landing much harder punches. I think Carlos, being a smart fighter, would opt for the boring strategy and befuddle Alexis enough and frustrate his offensive options enough to take a close decision where a nonplussed Arguello may say he felt as if he wasn't even in a fight. Boring, unsexy but effective nonetheless
Great post, Cdogg (welcome back!)....but I dunno about Ortiz-Brown - Old Bones was 36 or so by then and smaller (with less height/reach) than Arguello....and not as quick to pull the trigger and react by then. I dunno...I can see your scenario playing out - Ortiz is a master craftsman and could move, side-step and combine boxing with brawling to good effect to make Arguello re-set often... BUT he'd be reaching quite a bit to get that done - and taller, longer fighters like Busso and Laguna gave Ortiz some problems. Ortiz was very methodical....I wonder if that hurts him down the stretch when Arguello REALLY turns up the heat and hits the high gear....especially with that 1-2. I can see Alexis taking this one down the stretch. Hard one to call. Peace.
certainly possible, donny (and thanks for welcoming me back!) I gave Old Bones the benefit of the doubt because he was the undisputed champ at the time, and regardless of his jorneyman-like pre and post-title career, he had been a dominant champion who had won in every possible way in defending the crown. Still, point conceded, someone was going to knock him off sooner or later. I think I was just more impressed with how easily Ortiz managed it, the fight was hideously one-sided. Still, strong points about Arguello, his great height and that late surge. Defintley a possibility he could win
