By Miles Mitchell.
Three-time world champion and International Boxing Hall of Famer Alexis Arguello was one of the many former champions on hand for last weekend's induction ceremony for the 2002 International Boxing Hall of Fame class.
Arguello lost to Aaron Pryor in his two attempts to win a then unprecedented fourth world title in four weight classse at the time.
His battles with Pryor and title winning KO win over Hall of Famer Ruben Olivares, bouts with Bobby Chacon, Ray Mancini and Jose Luis Ramirez solidify Arguello's position as one of the greatest fighters to prowl the Featherweight, Super Featherweight and Lightweight divisions. Arguello had several interesting comments regarding the state of the sport and the development of today's fighters.
Miles Mitchell: Alexis, how do you feel you'd fare if you were in your prime against today's best fighters?
Alexis Arguello: Without losing respect to fighters like Kosta Tszyu, like Roy Jones Jr, Tito Trinidad, Oscar De La Hoya, it's a different time. Us, guys like Hagler, Leonard they were different fighters. They could adjust themselves to any style and look good, perform good. These fighters, today's fighters they tend to just follow one pattern and they do not have mixture in their style. They fight 12 rounds, we fought 15 rounds.
MM: So what you're saying is that now, either you're a boxer or a puncher, not necessarily a boxer-puncher like a guy like Marvin Hagler was?
AA: Well we used to change mid-fight. If a particular style wasn't working or a guy was giving you problems. You adjust, you change. Today, they know one way to fight and that is what they do. I feel guys like Hagler and Leonard and myself were able to make these changes and move and do different things in the ring. Some of it is because some want so much, so quickly, They fight for titles early and do not develop fully before they fight for a title and are featured on television.
MM: Do you think that's because of networks that they do not fully develop? What I mean by that is, do you think that HBO and or Showtime matches these guys with fighters which allow them to look their best against certain types of fighters?
AA: I would not say it is the networks which promotes this, but it is what happens. Look at Tito Trinidad and his loss to Hopkins. He could not deal with a guy moving side to side, in and out, feinting, moving, jabbing him. He had so many fights but he never face many guys who fight like that.
MM: And he couldn't fight going backwards.
AA: Exactly, He didn't do anything if he wasn't moving forward. The jabbing, the side to side moving bothered him, He could not adjust.
MM: Which was foreshadowed by De La Hoya years before, except Hopkins was big and strong enough to hurt Tito.
AA: Exactly. But the fighters now who are going to challenge for world championship fights, you have to go mature, you have to go into the fight physically and mentally able to handle yourself as a good champion. And that's what one of the mistakes.
MM: A guy like David Reid for instance.
AA: That's specifically the case. David Reid, it was too soon they put him in with a tough guy. MM: But there's guys like Oscar De La Hoya and Fernando Vargas, who win titles in their 13th, 14th or 17th fight.
AA: Yes. You see soon their demise still. Look, how long ago did De La Hoya win his gold medal? 1990?
MM: 1992.
AA: Alright, 1992. That was 1992. In 2000 he was almost shaky. See what I mean? But different than in our day. There were fighters who were stayed there for 8, 10 years, 15 years and we kept going. It's a lot of difference. That's my opinion. I understand though. Today they want to see big fights but they're hurting the sport. Honestly, they are hurting the sport and that's my personal opinion. You have to give the respect to the sport. Respect the sport. It's a sport that I gave so much help toward, it develops our lives and career and we have to keep the sport up to what it is. It's a vehicle to get kids off the streets, out of poverty. It gives them the incentive to try to be world champions in a good way. That's my point.
MM: Thank you Alexis, thank you for your time. It's been a pleasure and honor to speak with you.
AA: Thank you, you are very welcome.
