Alexis Arguello vs Jose Torres 'February 1, 1976'

[Rover]

After the bout,

Alexis Arguello admitted that he was having difficulty making the 126 lb. Featherweight limit, and that his
days in the Divsion were coming to an end.

There was 'talk' that Alexis may defend his WBA Featherweight Championship against Jose Torres, but this
time in Managua, Nicaragua or at The Forum in California - and in 2-Months.

Alexis Arguello, 'Jose was a tough opponent, but just because he knocked me down - doesn't mean he won
the fight. He won the 9th Round, but 'one-round' doesn't win a fight. I'm not making excuses, but I trained
hard to get down to 127 lbs., and I may have only one more fight left at Featherweight. It is very difficult
for me to even get below 128 lbs.

Jose Torres, 'I waited for my opening, and let my right hand go. You have to be patient with a boxer-puncher
like Alexis, otherwise he will tear you apart. I thought I won, because I hurt him more than he hurt me. He
can either fight me again, or fight my brother Salvador, it doesn't matter which Torres he fight's.'

Poor Salvador.

[Rover]

Sunday Night - February 1, 1976

Califia Bull Ring - Mexicali, Baja California

Capacity; 11,500 (Attendance; 8500)

WBA Feathwerwight Champion - Alexis Arguello (127 lbs.) engages in a 'non-title' bout against Mexican Featherweight
'Knockout Sensation', 21 year-old - Jose Torres (125 lbs.)

The 23 year-old, 10 month old Alexis, with a record of 42-4-0 (35 KO's) will be having his '4th' non-title bout since
winning the WBA Championship back in November 1974. The 5' 10" 'Bean-Pole' is starting to have difficulties
getting down to the Featherweight limit of (126 lbs.).

Jose 'El Misil' Torres, is a 5' 7" - ''Knockout-Artist' from Mexico, and carries a record of 24-3-0 (22 KO's) along with a
devastating right hand. Jose is the #2 Mexican Featherweight, and is ranked as the #6 WBC Featherweight, but he is not ranked
as a WBA Featherweight. Jose is a straight-up counter-puncher, who delivers quick left-rights. Jose fights with a high-
guard keeping his hands up, and counters with straight arm-punches.

On the undercard, 'Mexican' Featherweight - Rafael 'Bazooka' Limon takes on Nicaraguan 'Knock-out Artist' Vicente 'Yambito' Blanco.

The Fight,

Alexis uses his 5' 10" Height, and longer reach to keep the hard hitting counter-puncher at bay. In Rounds 1 thru 3, Alexis
has no difficulty scoring with left-rights, but Jose shows that he is 'rock-jawed', and take the punches suprisingly well
against 'The Explosive Thin-Man'.

But, in Round 4, Jose starts to move more aggressively, and scores with crisp right-hand counter-punches over Alexis'
long left arm. Alexis is not moving fluidly, and seems 'stiff-legged' as the Round ends.

In Round 5, Alexis has trouble landing a clean punch, as Jose keeps a high-guard while looking to counter-punch. Each time
that Alexis tries to deliver a left hook under-neath, Jose counters with a quick right-hand to Alexis' chin snapping his head.

In Round 6, Alexis' goes back to 'Old-School Boxing', by jabbing with stiff straight left hand punches, while keeping his
right-hand close to his head to block any counter-punches.

In Round 7, Jose moves in close to Alexis, and though Arguello lands several hard punches, Jose gets the better of the
exchanges by landing several good right-hand counters to Alexis' chin which stops him in his tracks.

In Round 8, Alexis opens up with a quick attack, and after rocking Jose with a long right hand to the head, Alexis'
unloads with a '15-Punch' assault that drives Jose into a 'neutral corner'. Alexis moves in, and rips several hard punches
to the body, but Jose absorbs them well, and surprises Alexis with a sharp left hand to the nose that draws blood.
Alexis back off, and Jose follows by landing a good left-right-left to Alexis' head as he moves in close. Jose continues
to land quick left hands over the latter part of the Round as the 'Califia Bull Ring' fans erupt.

Note; As the Bell sounds, Alexis walks back to his corner on 'stiff-pins' and a bloody nose.

Round 9, Alexis come out without too much spring in his legs, and tries to stay at center-ring in an almost 'statue stance'.
Alexis' continues to use his left jab to keep Jose at bay. Torres starts to move in, but Alexis scores with a good double left
and long-range right hand to the chin that shakes Jose. Jose then moves outside to re-group, and Alexis sensing that he
may have hurt the Mexican moves in.

As Alexis leans to throw a long left, he misses, and Jose counters with a 'crisp right hand' to the point of Alexis' chin, dropping
the Nicaraguan to his hands and knee's at the (1:49 Mark). Alexis is hurt, and takes a few seconds to clear his head, and
rises at the '8-Count'. Now with an opening, Jose moves in and attacks with straight one-two's as Alexis reals backwards to the
ropes. Jose comes in firing, and he scores with 'heavy punches' over the 'last-minute' of the Round, but he cannot find the
'finisher' as the Bell sounds.

Round 10, Jose comes out for the 'final round' looking a bit 'arm-weary', and does not have the 'fire-power' that he had in
the previous Round. Alexis, using his boxing skills, counters well by landing several decent left hands from outside, while
keeping the Mexican at bay. Jose tries to get inside, but Alexis continues to double up on the left hand despite not having
any legs left. Jose looks for the right-hand counter, but Alexis is too smart to fall into a 'trap' again, and stays at long
range over the last half of the Round.

Scorecards;
* 96-94 (6-3-1 in Rounds) - Alexis Arguello
* 96-95 (4-4-2 in Rounds) - Jose Torres
* 96-95 (5-3-2 in Rounds) - Alexis Arguello

[Rover]

Jose 'El Misil' Torres,,,,,,,,

The only fighter to fight both Alexis Arguello and Danny Lopez, and put both of them down on their 'hands-and-knee's.

Just turned (Age 21) when he fought Alexis Arguello.

Turned down a 'rematch' with Alexis Arguello in Managua, Nicaragus for April 1976 - as the 'Family Torres'
felt that there was 'no way' you could beat Alexis in Nicaragua.

Instead of Jose, older brother Salvador 'Negro' Torres took on Alexis in June 1976 at The Forum
for the WBA Featherweight Championship (Alexis' last bout at 126 lbs.)

Jose Torres fought on the undercard, against California Featherweight - Abdul Bey.

Why not fight Jose at the Forum?

[Rover]

Good Question Mister 'R',

My best guess would be that,

A) Older brother Salvador (Age 23) was stronger and a better 'all-around' fighter than Jose.
B) Salvador was the Mexican Bantamweight Champion, and was rated higher than Jose in the WBA
C) Maybe Alexis wasn't too keen on taking on the hard-punching youngster again.

Possibilty, :idea: is that Alexis was moving up in weight or was going to retire after this bout, and the WBA
Championship would be 'vacant', and possibly Jose would be one of the 'participants' for the vacant
crown if brother Salvador did not win.

Why would Salvador have been higher at featherweight especially after Jose's effort against Arguello? I'd understand his rating at bantam.

[Rover]

I 'slipped again, Salvador was the 'Mexican Featherweight Champion', not Bantamweight.

Can't answer, other then Jose was 'not' ranked in the Top 10 of the WBA Featherweights at the time he fought
Alexis in Mexicali, Baja California - in February 1976.

Brother, Salvador 'was' ranked in the Top 10 of the WBA, and was the Mexican Featherweight Champion.

Note; Jose was supposed to fight Japanese Contender - 'Sato' Tanaka, but was replaced by Abdul Bey.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q= ... a85rux14ow

[Rover]

Ha,,,,,,,,,

Salvador Torres was ranked as the #1 WBA Featherweight in June 1976.

His record as per The Forum Fight Program, was 22-2-1 (13 KO's).

Salvador, at 5' 8" was a better all-around fighter than Jose. Despite not having as many
'knockouts' as his brother, he was a sharper puncher, and much quicker also.

He fought well, until he got caught by a short crushing right hand from Alexis in Round 3.

I've read that HBO televised that fight, though I've never seen that version.

[Rover]

More corrections, after digging some more.

June 19, 1976 (Independent Press Telegram, Long Beach, California)

"Will Arguello Meet Ring Deadened"

Concern over whether Alexis Arguello will be able to make the 126 lb. Featherweight limit by the
'pre-fight' weigh-in. On-lookers at the Main Street Gym have witnessed the Nicaraguan during
his training sessions, and many have come away 'not' impressed.

California Featherweight by way of Nova Scotia - Art Hafey who has fought both Alexis and the Challenger
Salvador Torres is one who predicts that the Challenger from Guadalajara, Mexico will win.

Art Hafey, 'Alexis is a great fighter and I will not take anything away from him. But, Salvador is preparing
himself properly, and Alexis is not. I've never seen a fighter work so hard to get ready. Salvador has a
tremendous work ethic, and I've never seen him hit so hard. The Mexican fighters are very courageous
and keep coming back, even after they are hurt bad. Alexis is easy to hit, and is very slow in moving his
feet. I do not expect this fight to go 15-Rounds, and from what I've seen, Salvador looks to be the one in
much better condition.'

This fight will be broadcast throughout Mexico, Central America and Venezuela.

A controversy has developed between the officiating Judges within the Torres camp. The Challenger's Manager -
Negro Perez has approved Nicaraguan Judge - Noel Castillo, but wants a different Referee than the
WBA-appointed Panamanian.

Salvador Torres, a 23 year-old former 'truck driver', is the #7 WBA Featherweight, and has a record of 22-2-1 (17 KO's).

Art was wrong.

[Rover]

Round 2, was an 'exciting round', as Salvador really came on in the second-half of the Round.

Not too many fighters could take Alexis' punches,

Including Salvador.

Jose did, though.

[Rover]

No disgrace in getting 'One-Punch' Kayoed by 'The Explosive Thin Man' -

Salvador 'Negro' Torres did have the distinction of getting knocked out by '5' World Champions
(current or future) in his career.

* Alexis Arguello
* Ernesto Espana
* Joe Luis Ramirez
* Salvador Sanchez
* Rodolfo Gonzalez

Salvador did get to 27-4-1 (22 KO's) by the end of 1976, and was still ranked in the Top 10 of
the WBA Featherweights.

But,

[scartissue]

No disgrace in getting 'One-Punch' Kayoed by 'The Explosive Thin Man' -

Salvador 'Negro' Torres did have the distinction of getting knocked out by '5' World Champions
(current or future) in his career.

* Alexis Arguello
* Ernesto Espana
* Joe Luis Ramirez
* Salvador Sanchez
* Rodolfo Gonzalez

Salvador did get to 27-4-1 (22 KO's) by the end of 1976, and was still ranked in the Top 10 of
the WBA Featherweights.

But,

Il Duce, that last one was not the former WBC champ, but the Gato Gonzalez who came along in the late '70s. It's always confusing because not only did he have the same name at the same weight class, but also the same nickname. However, he did not possess the same talent and he never won a world title.

Scartissue

[Rover]

Scartissue.....

Yes, Rodolfo 'El Gato' Gonzalez fought Claude Noel for the 'vacant' WBC Lightweight Championship, and though favored
he fought tentatively and 'lost' to the Trinidadian.

My Error,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Good Hunting Sir.......

On another note-

On February 26, 1977 - Salvador Torres fought Ernesto Herrera in defense of his Mexican Featherweight Championship -
with the winner to face 'newly' crowned WBC Featherweight Champion - Danny 'Little Red' Lopez in early-1977.

Ernesto Herrera defeated Salvador, but Danny Lopez had 'hand-surgery' and that Championship Bout never took place.

Salvador went into a 'spin, losing his next 'two', including a '1st-Round' blow-out to Ernesto Espana in Venezuela.

That left him at 27-7-1 (22 KO's) - and he slid into 'one-time former contender /opponent status'.

Box/Rec has his birth date incorrect. Salvador 'Negro' Torres was born on 8/12/52 - and was Age 23 1/2 when he
fought Alexis Arguello in July 1976.

His manager was Adolfo 'El Negro' Perez.

Herrera wound up getting a beating from Pedroza.