Boxing legend Arguello shoots himself
- July 2, 2009 - 4:39AM
Nicaraguan boxing legend Alexis Arguello committed suicide by shooting himself through the heart early on Wednesday, local press reports said.
The 57-year-old, a national hero who was elected mayor of Nicaragua last November, had been suffering from depression according to radio and TV station reports.
Arguello was one of the world's dominant boxers in the 1970s and 1980s reigning as WBA featherweight champion from 1974 to 1976, WBC light welterweight champion from 1978 to 1980 and WBC lightweight champion from 1981 to 1983.
He was honoured by his country last year when named to carry the national flag at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.
Nicaragua pierde una gloria del deporte nacional
Consejo Municipal lo declara Hijo Dilecto de Managua y el Gobierno decreta tres días de duelo nacional. Los restos del edil capitalino serán velados hoy y mañana en el Palacio de la Cultura para que los ciudadanos le den el último adiós
elnuevodiario.com.ni15:27 - 01/07/2009
Nicaragua y el deporte nacional están de luto. El tricampeón mundial de boxeo, Alexis Argüello, murió hoy, seis meses después de haber asumido como alcalde de Managua en representación del gobernante Frente Sandinista, que lo postuló por su popularidad y lo despide con honores. El 'Flaco Explosivo', como le llamaban los nicaragüenses, aparentemente se quitó la vida con un disparo al corazón en horas de la madrugada en su casa, ubicada en el kilómetro 12 1/2 de la carretera sur.
Extraoficialmente aseguran que Argüello fue trasladado por familiares y empleados de servicio de su residencia al Hospital Carlos Roberto Huembes con el cuerpo totalmente ensangrentado, pero al llegar a ese centro asistencial los médicos únicamente afirmaron su deceso. La Policía Nacional también confirmó la muerte de Argüello, pero está a la espera de los resultados de la autopsia.
Tras el fallecimiento del Alcalde de Managua, el Consejo Municipal declaró a Argüello Hijo Dilecto de la capital, como un homenaje póstumo a la vida de esta gloria deportiva y el Gobierno decretó tres días de duelo nacional.
Cientos de admiradores del tricampeón mundial, una caravana de motorizados, varias patrullas de la Policía Nacional, unidades de bomberos, simpatizantes del partido de gobierno y la Primera Dama de la República, Rosario Murillo, acompañaron a la esposa e hija de la máxima gloria del deporte nicaragüense durante su cortejo fúnebre. El recorrido inició en las instalaciones del Instituto de Medicina Legal y terminó en la funeraria Monte de los Olivos. Debido al reducido espacio en la funeraria, los restos del edil capitalino fueron trasladados al Palacio de la Cultura, donde hoy y mañana, hasta las cinco de la tarde, los ciudadanos podrán darle el último adiós al púgil nicaragüense.
Familiares y colaboradores cercanos a Argüello permanecieron durante toda la mañana en el interior del Instituto de Medicina Legal, IML. En el parqueo de ese centro se observó abatida a Dora Argüello, una de las hijas mayores del tricampeón mundial, y quien en los últimos años fue una de las personas que estuvo más cerca de él.
Trayectoria del 'Flaco Explosivo'
Argüello adquirió fama en 1974 cuando a los 22 años conquistó su primera corona mundial en peso pluma contra el entonces campeón mexicano Rubén Olivares, a la que le sucedieron dos títulos más en 1978 y en 1981, que lo lanzaron a la cúspide del deporte. En sus 20 años de carrera boxística, que comenzó en 1968, Argüello ganó 33 peleas por nocaut y 9 por decisión hasta su retiro en 1988, tras el cual reconoció que "cayó" en el mundo de la droga y que había intentado suicidarse dos veces, pero que se había rehabilitado con ayuda de sus familiares.
Su exitoso paso por el boxeo lo ayudó a salir de la pobreza y a acumular bienes, parte de los cuales fueron confiscados por el gobierno revolucionario sandinista (1979-90), situación que lo llevó a exiliarse en Estados Unidos, donde vivió hasta que los sandinistas abandonaron el poder.
A su regresó a Nicaragua, se dedicó a actividades privadas hasta 2001 cuando anunció su adhesión a un acuerdo promovido por el Frente Sandinista (FSLN, izquierda) y su respaldo a la candidatura presidencial de Daniel Ortega, quien perdió los comicios frente al derechista Enrique Bolaños. A raíz de su "reconciliación" con el FSLN, Argüello permitió que los sandinistas publicitaran su imagen deportiva con fines políticos, convencido de que se había unido al único partido "que podía sacar adelante" a Nicaragua, explicó en su momento.
Con el apoyo del FSLN asumió en 2004 como vicealcalde de la capital y en noviembre de 2008 fue candidato a alcalde de Managua en unos cuestionados comicios en los que fue declarado vencedor, pero la oposición denunció un fraude. "No creo que los sandinistas me estén haciendo un favor al postularme como su candidato para la comuna, al contrario están utilizándome a mí, por el cariño y el amor que le tengo a este país y encantado estoy que me utilicen", señaló el boxeador durante la campaña electoral. Argüello apareció en numerosos actos políticos junto a Ortega, a quien elogiaba públicamente como "nuestro líder", el "único presidente" y a quien dijo que nunca traicionaría.
Argüello nació el 19 de abril de 1952, en el seno de una familia muy pobre del barrio Monseñor Lezcano en Managua, donde sus antiguos vecinos lloran su pérdida.
Consternación nacional
El deceso del púgil, que deja ocho hijos, conmovió al mundo deportivo y a los nicaragüenses que lo recuerdan como un hombre "generoso y alegre" que surgió de la pobreza y nunca olvidó a su gente. Su trágica muerte ha sido "un impacto muy grande para mí, siento un dolor profundo. El era un hombre alegre, entusiasta, que siempre vivía cantando, muy generoso", aseveró conmovida la vicealcaldesa de Managua, Daisy Torres.
Entre las personalidades deportivas que llegaron al centro forense se encontraba el actual campeón de boxeo, Román "El Chocolatito" González, quien expresó su consternación por el inesperado deceso de Argüello. "Alexis es una gloria del deporte nicaragüense y un ejemplo para todos los jóvenes", manifestó González. También estuvo el árbitro del boxeo Enrique Portocarrero, quien apesarado recordó haber arbitrado al menos 30 combates durante la importante carrera profesional de Argüello.
El cronista deportivo Edgard Tijerino, también se mostró abatido por la noticia y declaró que sostenía una fuerte amistad con Argüello, a quien conoció desde sus inicios en el boxeo. "Nosotros teníamos una gran amistad, lo miraba casi a diario y me sorprendió mucho esto" manifestó Tijerino, quien aseguró que "hoy es un día triste para Nicaragua".
Por su parte, Ajax Delgado, presidente de Nica Speed, mostró su solidaridad con la familia recordando la humildad que siempre caracterizó al tricampeón mundial y expresó que Argüello "deja un gran vacío en el corazón de los nicaragüenses". La repentina muerte de Argüello también ha consternado al deporte mundial, pues era miembro del Salón de la Fama del Boxeo, deporte en el cual obtuvo los tres títulos mundiales.
(Con la colaboración de Ernesto García, Jorge H. Alemán y Matilde Córdoba)
Alexis "The Explosive Thin Man" Argüello (April 19, 1952 - July 1, 2009), was a former professional boxer who became a politician. As a boxer he was three time World champion. After his retirement from boxing, Argüello became active inNicaraguan politics and in November 2008 he was elected mayor of Managua, the nation's capital city.
Arguello is ranked 20th on Ring Magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time
Boxing career
"The Explosive Thin Man" suffered an unavenged first round TKO loss in his 1968 professional debut, but then won 36 of his next 38 bouts, which then led him to a world Featherweight championship bout against experienced WBA championErnesto Marcel of Panama in Panama. The young challenger lost a 15-round unanimous decision in Marcel's retirement bout.
Undaunted, Argüello began another streak of wins, and found himself in the ring with a world champion again, this time challenging Marcel's successor to the throne,Mexican world champion Ruben Olivares in Los Angeles. After Olivares built a small lead on the judges' scorecards, Argüello and Olivares landed simultaneous left hooks in round thirteen. Olivares's left hand caused a visible pain expression on Argüello's face, but Argüello's left hand caused Olivares to crash hard against the canvas. A few seconds later, Argüello was the new Featherweight champion of the world.
Argüello defended this title a few times, then moved up in weight to challenge world Junior Lightweight champion Alfredo Escalera in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, in what has been nicknamed The Bloody Battle of Bayamon by many. Escalera had been a busy champion with ten defenses, and he had dethroned Kuniaki Shibata in 2 rounds in Tokyo. In what some experts (including Ring Magazine writers) consider one of the most brutal fights in history, Escalera had his eye, mouth and nose busted early, but was rallying back in the scorecards when Argüello finished him, once again in the thirteenth round.
His reign at Junior Lightweight saw him fend off the challenges of Escalera in a rematch held at Rimini, Italy, as well as former world champion Bobby Chacon, former world champion Rafael "Bazooka" Limon, Ruben Castillo, and Diego Alcala, beaten in only one round.
Argüello suffered many cuts around his face during his second victory against Escalera. The on-site doctor wanted himhospitalized, but Argüello had a flight to catch from Rome the next day to return to Nicaragua, and he boarded a train from Rimini. The doctor decided to travel with Argüello, and performed plastic surgery on Argüello's cuts with Argüello awake.
Argüello then moved up in weight again, and this time he had to go to London, England, to challenge world Lightweight champion Jim Watt. Watt lasted fifteen rounds, but the judges gave Argüello a unanimous 15-round decision, thus making him only the sixth boxer to win world titles in 3 divisions, and the second Latin American (after Wilfred Benitez had become the first by beating Maurice Hope one month before) to do it. He had to face some less known challengers in this division, one exception being the famous prospect Ray Mancini (known as "Boom Boom" Mancini) who would later be the subject of a made for television movie. Mancini and Argüello engaged in a fight that was later showcased in a boxing video of the best fights of the 1980s, with Argüello prevailing by stoppage when he decked Mancini in round 14.
Battles with Aaron Pryor
After defeating James 'Bubba' Busceme by sixth round stoppage, Argüello decided to move up in weight class time again, and on November 12, 1982, he tried to become the first world champion in 4 different categories, meeting the heavier and future Hall-of-Famer Aaron Pryor, in what was billed as The Battle of the Champions in Miami, Florida. He was stopped in 14. A controversy erupted over a specific water bottle requested by trainer Panama Lewis which Pryor drank from before the start of the fourteenth. Because the newly created Miami Boxing Commission had neglected to perform a post-fight urinalysis, a rematch was ordered. This time, in Las Vegas, Arguello was KO:ed in the tenth, and stated after the fight "I'm not going to fight anymore. I quit." But he later returned to the ring for financial reasons.
Comeback and post-retirement
During the 1980s Argüello briefly fought with the Contras in his native Nicaragua, but after a few months in the jungle he retired from the war.[1] He then attempted several comebacks into boxing during the late 1980s and early 1990s and had some success, most notably a fourth round stoppage of former World Junior Welterweight Champion Billy Costello in a 1986 televised bout that put him in a position for another shot at the Junior Welterweight title. He retired for good in 1995 with a record of 82 wins, 8 losses, and 65 KO's, along with the recognition of being one of the sports most universally respected fighters among fans, experts, and boxers.
Argüello was elected to the International Boxing Hall Of Fame in 1992. In 2008 he was honored by being selected as Nicaragua's flag-bearer at the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.[2].
He remained very friendly with his old rival Aaron Pryor, and the pair saw each other several times a year until Argüello's death.
Political career
Argüello was actively involved in Nicaraguan politics with the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN)--the same party against whom he took up arms in the 1980s--and in 2004 was elected vice-mayor of Managua. Argüello ran for mayor of Managua in the November 9, 2008 elections against the candidate of the Constitutionalist Liberal Party, Eduardo Montealegre, who came in second to Daniel Ortega in the 2006 presidential election. Argüello was the winner of the election with 51.30% of the vote.[3]
Death
Alexis Argüello died around 3:00 AM local time on July 1, 2009 after he allegedly shot himself through the heart according to a report from Channel 8, National Television. The National Police have confirmed the death, but are still waiting the results of the autopsy.
Former boxing champ, Managua mayor Arguello dead
MANAGUA, Nicaragua – Alexis Arguello, who fought in one of boxing's most classic brawls and reigned supreme at 130 pounds, was found dead at his home early Wednesday.
Coroners were conducting an autopsy to determine the cause of death. Sandanista Party's Radio Ya and other local media were reporting it appeared to be a suicide.
The La Prensa newspaper reported that Arguello — elected mayor of Nicaragua's capital last year — was found with a gunshot wound to the chest.
The 57-year-old Arguello retired in 1995 with a record of 82-8 with 65 knockouts and was a champion in three weight divisions. He was perhaps best known for two thrilling battles with Aaron Pryor and fights with Ray Mancini, Bobby Chacon and Ruben Olivares.
"I'm kind of in a daze right now. I can't believe what I'm hearing," Pryor told The Associated Press. "Those were great fights we had. This was a great champion."
Nicknamed "The Explosive Thin Man," Arguello was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992, where flags were flying at half-staff in his honor Wednesday.
In 1999, a panel of experts assembled by The AP voted Arguello the best junior lightweight and sixth-best lightweight of the 20th century. He never lost at 130 pounds, and his popularity in his own country was so great that he carried the flag for Nicaragua at the Beijing Olympics.
"Not only was he one of the greatest fighters I've ever seen, he was the most intelligent fighter," Bob Arum, who promoted some of his biggest fights, told The Associated Press. "He was a ring tactician. Every move was thought out. And he was a wonderful, wonderful person."
Arguello turned pro in 1968 and promptly lost his first bout. He didn't lose much more, and six years later knocked out Olivares in the 13th round to win the featherweight title.
Arguello went on to win the super featherweight and lightweight titles, his 5-foot-10 frame allowing him to move up in weight without losing his tremendous punching power. At the time, he was only the sixth boxer to win championships in three weight classes, and was considered for a while the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
He moved up in weight again in November 1982 to challenge Pryor for the 140-pound belt, a match billed as "Battle of the Champions." More than 23,000 fans packed the Orange Bowl in Miami, and the two waged an epic battle before Pryor knocked out Arguello in the 14th round.
"It was a brutal, brutal fight," Arum said. "That was something I will never, ever forget as long as I live. That was one of the most memorable fights I ever did."
The bout was named "Fight of the Year" and "Fight of the Decade" by Ring Magazine, but was shrouded by controversy. Pryor's trainer, Panama Lewis, gave him a water bottle after the 13th round that many believe contained an illegal substance — an accusation Pryor denied.
A rematch was ordered and they met again a year later at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. This time, Pryor knocked out Arguello in the 10th round.
"We always talk to each other about that first fight," Pryor said. "I never went into the fight knowing I could beat Alexis, I just went into the fight to beat Alexis."
Arguello announced after the fight that he would retire from boxing, but as so often happens in the sport, Arguello couldn't stay away from the ring.
He returned to win two fights in 1985 and 1986, then didn't step in the ring until 1994, when he made a brief comeback. He retired for good the following year.
"Alexis Arguello was a first-class fighter and a first-class gentleman," said Hall of Fame executive director Edward Brophy. "The Hall of Fame joins the boxing community in mourning the loss of a great champion and friend."
Arguello fought against the Sandinista government in the 1980s after it seized his property and bank account, but later joined the party and ran for mayor of the capital last November. He defeated Eduardo Montealegre, though opponents alleged the vote was fraudulent.
Arguello had returned Sunday from Puerto Rico, where he honored the late baseball Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente. His death prompted Nicaragua President Daniel Ortega to announced he was canceling a trip to Panama for the inauguration of President-elect Ricardo Martinelli.
"We are upset," presidential spokeswoman Rosario Murillo said. "This is a heartbreaking announcement. He was the champion of the poor, an example of forgiveness and reconciliation."
___
AP Sports Writer Dave Skretta in New York contributed to this report
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