It’s 1980 and Alexis Arguello is a two-time world champion, already considered a future Corridor of Famer, if not an all-time nice. The Nicaraguan is the proud bearer of the WBC junior light-weight championship belt and such is his fame that the WBC’s primary contender, Frankie Baltazar, can’t settle for the provide of a title shot as a result of supervisor Jackie McCoy received’t let him inside the identical ring as Arguello. Suffice to say, no greater praise may be paid a reigning champion than prime contenders turning down probabilities to struggle him.
So as a substitute of Baltazar, it was Ruben Castillo, a featherweight, who was provided the possibility to battle for Arguello’s title. In contrast to Baltazar, Castillo determined a title shot is a title shot, even when it isn’t in a single’s most well-liked weight class. The match passed off in Tucson, Arizona and was carried reside on ABC’s Vast World Of Sports activities. Castillo was undefeated in 45 fights, however he had but to face a really formidable contender. Contemplating the younger Texan was transferring up in weight to problem “El Caballero del Ring,” the bookies made him a stable 5-to-1 underdog. In reality, these odds have been positively on the beneficiant facet: Arguello was at his peak and Castillo had virtually no probability of profitable.
However regardless of this, the challenger put up a valiant effort. The gang was solidly behind the American and he gave them loads to cheer about within the early and center rounds as he boxed with self-discipline and intelligence, transferring away from Arguello’s energy after which countering with fast punches when the champion left himself open. He confirmed pace and good hustle whereas Alexis patiently pressured his man, touchdown heavy pictures to the challenger’s ribs and stomach when he had the possibility.
But when Castillo was protecting the match shut, and even profitable rounds, Arguello was clearly stronger and extra highly effective. His physique assault was taking its toll and by spherical eight Castillo was operating out of solutions, to not point out stamina. Within the tenth the fighter they referred to as “The Explosive Skinny Man” punished the challenger with energy pictures to each head and physique and in spherical eleven a left hook to the liver put Castillo on the canvas. Clearly in agony, he bravely bought to his toes however the referee correctly stopped the struggle, giving Arguello his thirteenth championship win.
“[Castillo] fought an excellent struggle,” mentioned Arguello afterwards. “He knew what to do on the market. He boxed me very properly. However I knew I’d start to harm him and sluggish him down. I’ve quite a lot of respect for Ruben. He has nothing to be ashamed of.”
“I assumed I used to be doing very properly,” mentioned Castillo. “I used to be stunned at how sturdy he was. A lot stronger than I assumed. I didn’t need this struggle however the cash was too good to show down. To any extent further, I’m solely going to struggle as a featherweight.”
The challenger boxed with braveness and talent, however he was within the ring with a chief Alexis Arguello and one thing extra was required to defeat this future legend. Very quickly “The Explosive Skinny Man” would transfer as much as the light-weight division to grow to be solely the sixth man in boxing historical past to win three divisional world titles. And solely a fighter as nice as Aaron Pryor might cease him from profitable a fourth. — Robert Portis
