Arguello vs Olivares: The Birth of a LEGEND...40 Years Ago

[elmersalsa]

On a Saturday night at the Inglewood Forum, Inglewood, CA, Alexis Arguello of Nicaragua challenged legendary WBA World Featherweight Champion Ruben Olivares of Mexico. It was a brutal affair of 13 exciting rounds, ended by an Arguello uppercut into Olivares' chin. At 22, Arguello becomes his country's national hero after failing the first time for the same crown against retired undefeated champ Ernesto "Nato" Marcel of Panama at Marcel's backyard. Marcel won by decision in a thrilling contest.

But this time, a more focused Arguello made it this time. After that, Arguello won 18 straight world title fights, and lost once in 42 contest until the great Aaron Pryor stopped him in Nov '82. Arguello won two more titles (WBC World Jr. Lightweight and WBC World Lightweight) and never lost his crowns

As for Olivares, he was considered fading at 27, but still dangerous for any foe. He was a two time bantam king. Shockingly, the next year in '75, he stopped WBC World Featherweight champ Bobby Chacon of Los Angeles, CA to win his fourth title in 2 rounds!

This was a night to remember for Arguello. The night he became a legend. A legend was born.

[Broomhall]

On a Saturday night at the Inglewood Forum, Inglewood, CA, Alexis Arguello of Nicaragua challenged legendary WBA World Featherweight Champion Ruben Olivares of Mexico. It was a brutal affair of 13 exciting rounds, ended by an Arguello uppercut into Olivares' chin. At 22, Arguello becomes his country's national hero after failing the first time for the same crown against retired undefeated champ Ernesto "Nato" Marcel of Panama at Marcel's backyard. Marcel won by decision in a thrilling contest.

But this time, a more focused Arguello made it this time. After that, Arguello won 18 straight world title fights, and lost once in 42 contest until the great Aaron Pryor stopped him in Nov '82. Arguello won two more titles (WBC World Jr. Lightweight and WBC World Lightweight) and never lost his crowns

As for Olivares, he was considered fading at 27, but still dangerous for any foe. He was a two time bantam king. Shockingly, the next year in '75, he stopped WBC World Featherweight champ Bobby Chacon of Los Angeles, CA to win his fourth title in 2 rounds!

This was a night to remember for Arguello. The night he became a legend. A legend was born.

Anyone on here go to any of those fights at the Inglewood? that must have been some venue to fight in.

[kikibalt]

On a Saturday night at the Inglewood Forum, Inglewood, CA, Alexis Arguello of Nicaragua challenged legendary WBA World Featherweight Champion Ruben Olivares of Mexico. It was a brutal affair of 13 exciting rounds, ended by an Arguello uppercut into Olivares' chin. At 22, Arguello becomes his country's national hero after failing the first time for the same crown against retired undefeated champ Ernesto "Nato" Marcel of Panama at Marcel's backyard. Marcel won by decision in a thrilling contest.

But this time, a more focused Arguello made it this time. After that, Arguello won 18 straight world title fights, and lost once in 42 contest until the great Aaron Pryor stopped him in Nov '82. Arguello won two more titles (WBC World Jr. Lightweight and WBC World Lightweight) and never lost his crowns

As for Olivares, he was considered fading at 27, but still dangerous for any foe. He was a two time bantam king. Shockingly, the next year in '75, he stopped WBC World Featherweight champ Bobby Chacon of Los Angeles, CA to win his fourth title in 2 rounds!

This was a night to remember for Arguello. The night he became a legend. A legend was born.

Anyone on here go to any of those fights at the Inglewood? that must have been some venue to fight in.

Went many times....I was there for the Arguello fights with Olivares and Chacon and many more

[palooka]

Tell us more, please.

The Inglewood forum seems impossibly exotic and romantic to British posters. Did people really pee into cups and throw them in the ring?

[kikibalt]

Tell us more, please.

The Inglewood forum seems impossibly exotic and romantic to British posters. Did people really pee into cups and throw them in the ring?

" Did people really pee into cups and throw them in the ring?" They did that at the Forum and also at the Olympic Auditorium.

[SenorPipino]

I also went to the Forum numerous times...Olivares-Chacon 1 and 2; Cuevas-Clark; Olivares-Castillo 2; and a slew of Zarate bouts including his shootout with Zamora.
The Parnassus era was simply the best.

Yes, Mexicans peed in cups and threw them at the Forum (known as El Fabuloso Forum de Inglewood during its 60s and 70s heyday) but it was much more prevalent at the Olympic.

You Brits certainly have a unique idea of what's exotic and romantic. Getting hit on the back of your head with a cup filled with tepid beer and urine, never struck me as a starry-eyed highlight of attending the fights.

[Broomhall]

I also went to the Forum numerous times...Olivares-Chacon 1 and 2; Cuevas-Clark; Olivares-Castillo 2; and a slew of Zarate bouts including his shootout with Zamora.
The Parnassus era was simply the best.

Yes, Mexicans peed in cups and threw them at the Forum (known as El Fabuloso Forum de Inglewood during its 60s and 70s heyday) but it was much more prevalent at the Olympic.

You Brits certainly have a unique idea of what's exotic and romantic. Getting hit on the back of your head with a cup filled with tepid beer and urine, never struck me as a starry-eyed highlight of attending the fights.

That is a good night out in South Yorkshire.

[palooka]

I also went to the Forum numerous times...Olivares-Chacon 1 and 2; Cuevas-Clark; Olivares-Castillo 2; and a slew of Zarate bouts including his shootout with Zamora.
The Parnassus era was simply the best.

Yes, Mexicans peed in cups and threw them at the Forum (known as El Fabuloso Forum de Inglewood during its 60s and 70s heyday) but it was much more prevalent at the Olympic.

You Brits certainly have a unique idea of what's exotic and romantic. Getting hit on the back of your head with a cup filled with tepid beer and urine, never struck me as a starry-eyed highlight of attending the fights.

That is a good night out in South Yorkshire.

It's how I met my wife.

[SenorPipino]

I also went to the Forum numerous times...Olivares-Chacon 1 and 2; Cuevas-Clark; Olivares-Castillo 2; and a slew of Zarate bouts including his shootout with Zamora.
The Parnassus era was simply the best.

Yes, Mexicans peed in cups and threw them at the Forum (known as El Fabuloso Forum de Inglewood during its 60s and 70s heyday) but it was much more prevalent at the Olympic.

You Brits certainly have a unique idea of what's exotic and romantic. Getting hit on the back of your head with a cup filled with tepid beer and urine, never struck me as a starry-eyed highlight of attending the fights.

That is a good night out in South Yorkshire.

Only because you probably have much better beer mixed in with the pee in South Yorkshire.
Most of the time, the swill complementing the urine at the Forum or Olympic was only Budweiser.

[SenorPipino]

I also went to the Forum numerous times...Olivares-Chacon 1 and 2; Cuevas-Clark; Olivares-Castillo 2; and a slew of Zarate bouts including his shootout with Zamora.
The Parnassus era was simply the best.

Yes, Mexicans peed in cups and threw them at the Forum (known as El Fabuloso Forum de Inglewood during its 60s and 70s heyday) but it was much more prevalent at the Olympic.

You Brits certainly have a unique idea of what's exotic and romantic. Getting hit on the back of your head with a cup filled with tepid beer and urine, never struck me as a starry-eyed highlight of attending the fights.

That is a good night out in South Yorkshire.

It's how I met my wife.