Alexis (132 lbs.) takes his his time in the 1st-Round, as at nearly 5' 10" he towers over the 5' 5" veteran 38+ year-old
Chilean - Godfrey Stevens (131 lbs.). A handful of sharp left jabs, send the one-time clever Stevens backwards.
On cue, Alexis turns it up in Round 2, and several hard punches send Godrey skidding backwards, where he lands
on the seat of his pants. Up at the '4-Count', Godrey suddenly finds the ring to small, as he does all he can to scamper
with side-to-side movement. But Alexis finally traps him at the (1:02 Mark), and lands a devastating left hook to the
body, and Godrey goes down on all-fours, where he is counted out at (1:13) of Round 2.
Following this bout, Alexis' Manager - Dr. Eduardo Roman contacted Don Fraser (Matchmaker at The Forum) in hopes of
setting up a potential WBA Featherweight Championship bout between the Champion Samuel Serrano of Puerto Rico and
Alexis. But The Forum was reluctant to put up a big fight purse, as Alexis' last bout there (June 19, 1976 against Salvador Torres)
was not a profitable promotion.
SaadOffTheDeck wrote:Run it through the computer and battle me when Serrano knocks him out.
Saad,,,,,,,,,,,,You're taking this personally....
I told you already, 'Smokin Joe' was an All-Time Great.
Now go back to watching the Joe Frazier - Jumbo Cummings 'paw-fest', or I'll send you a tape of
my old pal Leroy Diggs beating up a 34 year-old 'pudgy old man' in 1978. It will make you cry..
Then we'll chat.........
Il Duce..............................That was a joke
Thanks for reaffirming that Joe was an all time great. As soon as you admit that it's absurd to think of Michael Dokes flooring him five times in a fight you can join me in reality.
Jumbo Cummings never came close to dropping Joe. Nice example.
First bout in '10-Months' in NICARAGUA - Alexis had last fought there in the Spring of 1976 (April 10, 1976)
against Modesto Concepcion in a 'non-title' go.
On the 'WBC' side was another Puerto Rican Champion -
Alfredo Escalera, a 25 year-old - 5' 8" combination boxer-puncher, who could bomb. Alfredo with a
record of 37-7-2 (24 KO's) feared no one, and even openly challenged to fight Roberto Duran
for nothing.
Alfredo, who had won the WBC Super Featherweight Champinship back on July 5, 1975 - had
made '7' succesful Title Defenses during his 22-Month reign. But, in his most recent
'Defense' on November 30, 1976 - Alfredo was the recipient of the 'biggest gift in boxing' when
he was awarded an 'undeserved' 15-Round Split-Decision over #1 WBA-ranked Philadelphia
Super Featherweight - Tyronne Everett. It was called the 'Worst Robbery' in boxing history.
Though Alexis was now back to boxing, and campaigning as a 130 lb. Super Feathwerwight, he
was not listed in the WBC Top 10 rankings.
* WBC Champion - Alfredo Escalera
#1... Tyronne Everett (USA)
#2... Rafael Limon (Mexico)
#3... Diego Alcala (Panama)
#4... Hugo Barrazza (Colombia)
#5... Leonel Hernandez (Venezuela)
#6... Sigfredo Rodriguez (Mexico)
#7... Apollo Yoshio (Japan)
#8... Bobby Chacon (USA)
#9... Natale Vettoli (Italy)
#10. Ronnie McGarvey (USA)
Regarding WBC No. 5:
Why did Escalera fight WBA#1 Everett?
Il Duce wrote:
Saad,,,,,,,,,,,,You're taking this personally....
I told you already, 'Smokin Joe' was an All-Time Great.
Now go back to watching the Joe Frazier - Jumbo Cummings 'paw-fest', or I'll send you a tape of
my old pal Leroy Diggs beating up a 34 year-old 'pudgy old man' in 1978. It will make you cry..
Then we'll chat.........
Il Duce..............................That was a joke
Thanks for reaffirming that Joe was an all time great. As soon as you admit that it's absurd to think of Michael Dokes flooring him five times in a fight you can join me in reality.
Jumbo Cummings never came close to dropping Joe. Nice example.
True,,,,,,,,,,,,,but Leroy Diggs did in Joe's Gym in 1978. Joe was thinking of coming back after Duane Bobick got
'blasted' by Kallie Knoetzee in South Africa. If I remember correctly, I think Joe wanted to take on Knoetzee, but
wanted a tune-up first, which I belive was a 'Televison Bout' with a New York Heavyweight named - Greg Sorrentino.
Everything went 'South', and Joe put his comeback Dream aside, and on the shelf.
You may as well keep your insane ramblings on Frazier in one thread.
Those are the WBC Top 10 Ratings for February 1977.
Alfredo Escalera fought #1 WBC Tyronne Everett in November 1976. Suprisingly, the WBC (Jose Sulaiman)
did not order an immediate rematch.
Did I make an error again..........
Some Super Featherweight from Algeria was supposed to be in the WBC Top 10,
but I cannot find the name.
Maybe Jose Sulaiman recognized him, after he got his bribe...... DD
At the Algerian representative...
As for the WBA v. WBC thing, I was just confused because you said Escalera was awarded an SD over WBA #1 Everett; I thought it may have been a mistake but wasn't sure.
#1 WBA Super Featherweight ~ Alexis Arguello ~ 46-4-0 {38 KO's} - 5' 10" ~ 130 lbs.
vs.
#8 WBA Super Feathwerweight ~ Alberto Herrera ~ 47-2-0 {14 KO's} - 5' 6" ~ 129 lbs.
Alexis will face his 'first' WBA-ranked Super Featherweight in Ecuadorian - Alberto Herrera. The
30 year-old veteran southpaw from Ecuador, is a quik-fisted veteran, who had just gone
11-Rounds in a Championship Bout with WBA Champion - Samuel Serrano on January 15, 1977.
Alberto is the typical South American fighter, with generally good boxing skills, but with no real
power in his punches. Most of his wins have been built by out-boxing a host of mediocre fighters
during his 10-Year career (since 1967).
The Fight;
Alexis is here to give his loyal Nicaraguan fans a pleasureable, but quick show. At the bell, like a
Ferocious Tiger - Alexis goes right after the smaller Ecuadorian who looks frozen-with-fear. Alberto
prepares for the worst, as Alexis moves across the ring and starts firing with left hooks underneath
that almost crumble Alberto immediately in his corner.
Herrera tries to spin out, and throws a counter right, but is caught by a wide left hook that comes over
his low right jab. Herrera goes down on his left side at the (0:37 Mark). The Ecuadorian struggles to get
up at the 6-Count, but is in 'bad-shape'.
Alexis moves back in, and Herrera back-pedals across the ring and falls back into the ropes as Alexis misses
with a wild left-right. Herrera goes down, but it is not a knockdown.
After the Referee wipes his gloves, he allows the fight to continue. Herrera tries a quick left lead as Alexis
comes forward which lands. But Alexis fires back with a flurry. Then with a 'stunned' fighter in front of him.
Alexis lands a hard long right hand that catches Alberto on the left side of his head, and he goes down,
where he is counted out at 1:47 of Round 1.
Fight Purses,
Alexis Arguello..........$25,000 (180,000 Cordobas)
Alberto Herrera............$7000 (50,000 Cordobas)
Il Duce wrote:After Alexis Arguello scored a TKO 4 over Ezequiel 'Cocoa' Sanchez he was promised an August 1977
Championship Bout with WBC Champion - Alfredo Escalera.
But...........????........As usual politics.
Sigfredo Rodriguez ended up giving Escalera some tough moments late.
Il Duce wrote:I wonder after Alexis' dominating performance over Ezequiel 'Cocoa' Sanchez made
the Super Featherweight Champions and their camps worried.
'Cocoa' Sanchez, was a good fighter from the Domincan Republic. 5' 7 1/2" 133 lbs. -
durable and with very good boxing skills as a 'boxer-puncher' with a record of
22-6-4 (6 KO's). Was popular in New York, as he had several bouts there and
had built up a reputation as an exciting 'fun' fighter.
After starting his career by going 13-6-4 (1 KO's), 'Cocoa' found some renewed
confidence and 'KO-Power', by going 9-0-0 (5 KO's). And coming into this bout
with Alexis Arguello - 'Cocoa' was ranked as the #4 Super Featherweight by
The Ring Magazine.
He was also was a 'sometimes' sparring partner for WBC Super Featherweight
Champion - Alfredo Escalera. And, 'Cocoa' had also gone 10-Rounds is a losing effort
against Samuel Serrano earlier in his career.
This was expected to be a good-and-tough 10-Round bout, and a stern-test for Alexis,
as 'Cocoa' had never been stopped or floored before, and his busy style was expected
to give 'El Flacco' trouble.
Madison Square Garden (June 26, 1977)
Live Gate.......$67,143
Attendance.......7364
Alexis was supposed to get a Championship Bout with WBC Champ - Alfredo Escalera next, and
in August - but Alfredo requested additional time to rest, recover and prepare - as he had a
rougher than expected time in his 9th Title Defense with #8 WBC- Carlos Becerril back on May 16, 1977.
And, WBA Super Featherweight Champion - Samuel Serrano had just defended his Championship
in Venezuela for a 'lucrative fight purse' over #2 WBA - Leonel Hernandez on June 26, 1977.
Serrano's Manager - Pepito Cordero would continue to use the WBA Officials as a shield to protect
the WBA Championship, as they suprisingly did not 'mandate' that the Champion Serrano to face Alexis.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Rover - On an Algerian note.
The #7 WBC Super Featherweight was Ould Makloufi, out of Algiers, Algeria. He fought in both Paris, France
and Algeria. He also was the African Lightweight Champion.
February 1977 - (Age 33 1/2) with a record of 45-9-2 (20 KO's).
'Teddy Brenner and Madison Square Garden bring back 'El Flacco' for another bout'
Teddy Brenner, Boxing Matchmaker for MSG has brought back, what he says is one of the
best fighters in the world today. Brenner believes that the 25 year-old Nicaraguan -
Alexis Arguello also known as the 'Explosive Thin Man' will win at least 'two' more World Titles.
Teddy Brenner, 'We have a bout lined up with WBC Super Featherweight Champion -
Alfredo Escalera for September, on the Muhammad Ali - Earnie Shavers undercard. After
that, we think we can put together a Duran - Arguello bout for 1978, if Roberto can get
by Esteban De Jesus again. Duran is having weight issues, and his days as a Lightweight
are dwindling. Escalera was supposed to fight Alexis tonight, but he's still recovering from
a cut he received in his May bout with Carlos Becerril, or so his manager says.
Alexis, with a record of 48-4-0 (40 KO's) is expected to come into the ring tonight at 132 lbs.,
which is the fight contract weight. Alexis will be facing 29 year-old veteran - Jose Fernandez,
a New York-based fighter from the Domincan Republic. Fernandez, is a cagey boxer who has a
record of 28-9-3 (12 KO's), and has a reputation as durable fighter who can dull his opponents
into a sleep-walk. Jose, is a former 1970 New York Golden Gloves Champion, and has only
lost to the best Super Featherweights, including a February 1976 Championship bout with
WBC Champion - Alfredo Escalera who stopped Jose by a TKO 13.
The Main Event will be a 15-Round bout between Wilfred Benitez and Ray Chavez Gierrero for
something called the NYSAC World Light Welterweight Championship, a MSG created Championship.
Brenner was right about Arguello.
I have the Fernandez fight; wipeout.
Jose Ferandez never had a chance, Alexis was 'primed and ready to blast off'.
He delivered vicious bombs from every angle. The only safe haven for Jose,
was to go to the canvas - where he couldn't be hit anymore.
Attendance (11,236)
Fight Purses that Night
* Wilfred Benitez.................$45,000
* Ray Chavez Guerrero.........$10,000
* Alexis Arguello..................$25,000
* Jose Fernandez..................$4000 (Ouch)
Very odd, just 'two-days' after blasting out (KO 1) Jose Fernandez, Alexis mentioned
to the Nicaraguan Press 'La Prensa' that he was contemplating retirement again.
Glad he didn't retire, though he should've after Pryor II.
Alexis definitely would've been doing a lot of "chasing" had that fight ever come off. Serrano was no speedster, though, and would've been poleaxed sooner or later.
King Carlos wrote:Alexis definitely would've been doing a lot of "chasing" had that fight ever come off. Serrano was no speedster, though, and would've been poleaxed sooner or later.
WBA Super Featherweight Champion - Samuel Serrano was supposed to defend his Title against
#1 WBA-ranked Alexis Arguello, but Serrano's Manager - Pepito Cordero offered Alexis' Manager
- Dr. Eduardo Roman 'step aside' money two weeks earlier.
The 'skinny' was that Dr. Eduardo Roman accepted $25,000 (cash), to allow Serrano to make one
more 'easy defense', before facing Alexis. Though it was thought that Alexis was going to fight
WBC Super Featherweight Champion - Alfredo Escalera, on the Muhammad Ali vs. Earnie Shavers
undercard, those negotiations had stalled.
So instead of making his '3rd' Title Defense against Alexis, Samuel Serrano got to chose the
'next' available WBA-ranked Challenger, who happened to be Japan's - Apollo Yoshio.
Manager - Pepito Cordero gets his fighter Samuel Serrano an 'easy defense' against #5 WBA - Apollo Yoshio.
Saturday - Augist 27, 1977
Roberto Clemente Stadium - Puerto Rico
Attendance; 10,200
On the undercard - 5' 10" Alexis (133 3/4 lbs.) gets also gets a safe opponent in Puerto Rican - Super Featherweight
Benjamim 'Benji' Ortiz (129 1/2 lbs.), a 26 year-old 5' 5" 'fire-plug', with a record of 21-16-0.
In a 'no-harm/no foul' fight, Alexis goes through the motions in what could be called a 'modified' gym sparring session,
as he jabs his way through 10-Rounds, in sweeping every round enroute to a shut-out decision. Alexis does not open
up with any of his heavy bombs, and only throws an infrequent hard right hand. Benji Ortiz is only there to be a
durable opponent, and stays in survival-mode for the entire 'dull' fight.
Scorecards;
* 100-90
* 100-90
* 100-91
Fight Purse - Alexis Arguello received only $5000 for this 'walk-through' bout, but did accept the $25,000 step aside
money as previously metioned.
Il Duce wrote:More on the Super Featherweight Championship Confusion Front,
Alfredo Escalera, who had been in negotiations with Alexis Arguello, opts to make another
Title Defense on Saturday Afternoon - September 10, 1977 in San Juan, Puerto Rico - and on
ABC -Television 'Wide World of Sports'
Alexis who had signed a contract with Madison Square Garden to appear on the September 29, 1977
Ali - Shavers undercard decided to stay with Teddy Brenner. Suprisingly, Arguello could have
taken the bout with Alfredo Escalera, but Alexis had a contract with Madison Square Garden.
So - Alfredo Escalera takes on #4 WBC Super Featherweight - Mexico's Sigfrido Rodriguez 28-8-1 (21 KO's),
a 25 year-old banger who just happened to be knocked out by Alexis Arguello (L KO 9) in October 1973,
and also by Alfredo Escalera (L KO 1) in March 1974. But, Sigfrido did turn it around, and came into the
bout by going 9-0-0 (7 KO's) during his recent run in 1976/1977.
At Ringside watching, will be Alexis Arguello - as Alfredo Escalera will be going for a World Record 10th
Title Defense.
A record which, interestingly enough, Serrano tied fewer than three years later. Mitchell broke it, I believe.
Alexis Arguello ~ 50-4- (41 KO's) ~ Age 25 ~ Height 5' 10" ~ Weight 134 3/4 lbs.
vs.
Jerome Artis ~ 16-1-4 (7 KO's) ~ Age 25 1/2 ~ Height ~ 5' 9" ~ Weight 130 lbs.
Alexis Arguello, in his '3rd-Bout' for Teddy Brenner and Madison Square Garden, fights on the
undercard of the Muhammad Ali vs. Earnie Shavers Heavyweight Championship.
Alexis who is ranked as the #1 WBA Super Featherweight and #3 WBC Super Featherweight, is taking
what he belives is his final tune-up bout before going after a World Title. Jerome Artis, a swift-boxing
'southpaw' fighter from Philadelphia who goes by the moniker of 'The North Philly Flash' is looking to
make a name for himself. Artis is ranked as the #9 WBC Super Featherweight, and believes that his style
of jumping in quickly, and then 'bang-and-move' with his speed will be the 'Formula' to beat the
Explosive Thin Man.
Jerome Artis was the 1972 National AAU Featherweight Champion, and holds an amateur win over
Ray Leonard. Jerome is a 'little chirpy', and states that Alexis will be one of his easier fights, as he
labels Alexis as 'slow and predictable'.
Both camps had signed to a 132 lb. weight contract, but Alexis has come in over the agree'd upon weight,
and will forfeit a portion of his fight purse to Jerome Artis.
'The North Philly Flash' was very courageous, until he got hit with a hard left hook in the 1st-Round,
then you could see the 'fear' in his eyes, as if to say 'What have I gotten myself into'.
It didn't last long in Round 2, as Alexis drove the southpaw to the canvas with a heavy barrage,
leaving Jerome looking like he definitely wanted to be elsewhere.
Upon rising and trying to continue, Jerome gave 'no effort' as he was dropped by another salvo,
and then gave Referee - Lew Eskin the look of 'I don't want to be here'. Lew Eskin stopped the
bout at 2:00 of Round 2.
Note: Alexis received a fight purse of $25,000 - but had to forfeit 10% ($2500) to Jerome Artis
for coming in (2 3/4 lbs.) over the fight contract weight.
Note: Jerome Artis received $10,000 plus an additional $2500.
Note; Teddy Brenner of MSG had promised Jerome Artis a November 1977 bout with WBC Lightweight
Champion - Esteban De Jesus if he had defeated Alexis Arguello or lasted the 10-Round distance.
No Soup For You Jerome......
I've been looking for this fight for years but can't find a copy of it.
Jerome should've demanded 20% of the purse ($5,000).
DD
