‘Alexis Gives Navarette Hardest Beating In Ring’

by ALEX P. VIDAL

SAN FRANCISCO, California – It was three-time world champion Alexis Arguello who gave Filipino former world superfeatherweight champion Rolando Navarette the hardest beating in his career when the two squared off for the WBC 130-lb diadem on April 27, 1980 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
“The beating was so severe that Lando was traumatized and threatened to quit boxing,” narrated Adriano Golinggan, Nava-rette’s patron in General Santos City, Philippines.

Arguello, who was found dead July 1 at his home in Managua, Nicaragua where he was incumbent mayor, tore to shreds the then 23-year-old Navarette and violently stopped him in the 5th round of a 15-round title clash at the Hiram Bithorn Stadium.

It was the “Bad Boy from Dadiangas’” first crack at the world crown and third knockout defeat.

Navarette, now 52, earned the berth to challenge Arguello on the merit of his shock 7th round TKO win over world-ranked Jerome Artis at the Blaisdell Center in Honolulu, Hawaii on March 29, 1980.

Navarette (54-15-3, 31 KO’s) went to war with the five feet and 10 inches tall Nicaraguan even if he was not the number one contender in Arguello’s division, it was learned.

NINE DEFENSES

After toppling Navarette, Arguello (82-8, 65 KO’s), nicknamed “El Flaco Explosivo”, posted nine successful defenses of his other title, WBC lightweight belt, before being wrecked in the 14th round by Aaron Pryor in the WBA light welterweight tussle in Miami, Florida.

The same Pryor, nicknamed “The Hawk”, pulverized him in the 10th round when they crossed path anew on Sept. 9, 1983 for the same title at the Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada.

He retired on January 21, 1995 after losing a 10-round decision to Scott Walker in a non-title tiff in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Sandinista Party Radio Ya reported July 1 that coroners were conducting an autopsy on the 57-year-old mayor to determine the cause of death which appeared to be a suicide. The La Prensa newspaper reported he was found with a gunshot wound to the chest, reported the Associated Press.

The Hall of Fame boxer was the top fighter of the 20th century in his weight class, according to a panel of experts assembled by The Associated Press in 1999.

CANCEL

Arguello’s death reportedly prompted President Daniel Ortega to cancel a trip to Panama for the inaugu-ration of President-elect Ricardo Martinelli.
Arguello reportedly fought against the Sandinista government in the 1980s after it seized his property and bank account, according to the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

But he joined the party to win the mayorship of the capital in 2008, though opponents alleged the vote was fraudulent.

“We are upset,” said Rosario Murillo, presidential spokeswoman, who dec-lined to give details about the death, as quoted by AP. “This is a heartbreaking announcement. He was the champion of the poor, an example of forgiveness and reconciliation.”

Born in 1952, the Hall of Fame boxer fought 14 world champions. In 1981, he became the sixth man in boxing history to win a title in three weight divisions-featherweight, super featherweight and lightweight according to the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Arguello returned Sunday from Puerto Rico where he honored the late baseball Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente. /MP