BoxRec

Il Duce wrote:

Rover wrote:Didn't Arguello beat Torres in June?

That is correct sir.

Alexis walked out his Friday Night - October 29, 1976 bout with #1 WBA - Rafael Ortega
the night before. Struggling to get down to weight, Alexis waited too long to start his
intense training sessions, and he was 4 lbs. over the limit on Thursday Night.

A reschedule date was planned, but Alexis eventually opted out, and wanted to retire
and go back to school.

Though he had thought about going after the WBA Super Featherweight Champion - Hawaii-based
Filipino - Ben Villaflor - Alexis had to take a 'back seat' to Puerto Rican Featherweight - Samuel Serrano.

After Serrano defeated Ben Villafor on October 16, 1976 in Puerto Rico, and Alexis did not seem
interested in going after the WBA Super Featherweight Championship, especially in Puerto Rico,
and Samuel Serrano wasn't chasing Alexis either.

Il Duce wrote:Alexis Arguello's Manager - Dr. Eduardo Roman cut a deal with the WBA (Dr. Elias Cordova) that would have Alexis 'vacate'
the WBA Featherweight Championship, providing that Nicaraguan Featherweight - Franciso 'Toro' Coronado was positioned
as the one of the Challengers fighting for the 'vacant' title.

Of course Panamanian - (#1 WBA) Rafael Ortega and suddenly (#2 WBA) Francisco Coronado fought for the Championship
on January 15, 1977 - and in Panama.

By the way, Dr. Eduardo Roman was also the Manager of Francisco Coronado..............

Alexis was then supposed to fight WBA Super Featherweight Champion - Samuel Serrano after he made his '1st-Defense'
(Voluntary Defense) against Ecuadorian - Alberto Herrera in Ecuador in February 1977.

Alexis and Serrano were supposed to fight in Nicaragua in May 1977 - but Pepito Cordero (Manager for Samuel Serrano)
wanted a $150,000 fight purse for his fighter to go Nicaragua, plus a guarantee rematch in Puerto Rico within 6-Months
if Serrano lost.

Pepito Cordero had the 'ear' of WBA President Dr. Elias Cordova who approved of the fight contract demands of the
Champion and his Manager. Unfortunalety, there was nobody in Nicaragua who could put up that kind of money demand
without taking a 'financial bath'.

Il Duce wrote:Correction,

Yes, Samuel Serrano - Alberto Herrera in Ecuador on January 15, 1977.

And Rafael Ortega - Francisco Coronado fought on the same date in Panama, for Alexis'
WBA Featherweight Title, with Alexis in attendance.

I meant to say that a fight contract was supposed to be signed in February 1977,
after Serrano (had hopefully) defended his WBA Super Featherweight Crown against
Alberto Herrera. The Nicaraguan Contingent had 60-Days to come up with the
fight purse guarantee, otherwise Serrano could go elsewhere.

Champion - Serrano and #1 WBA-ranked Arguello were to be scheduled for a May 1977 date,
but no 'big money' fight promoter surfaced. When April 1977 came, there was no money and
Serrano's Manager - Pepito Cordero looked towards Venezuela, where Fight Manager - Ramiro
Machado had his fighter #2 WBA-ranked Leonel Hernandez waiting.

Il Duce wrote:When Alexis stepped back into the ring on February 19, 1977 - he had been inactive for 8-Months,
one his longest spans away from boxing.

His next bout Saturday - May 14, 1977 in Nicaragua was supposed to be the date for the WBA
Super Featherweight bout with Samuel Serrano. Instead, Alexis took out (KO 1) Alberto Herrera,
who had just gone 11-Rounds with Serrano in January 1977.

While Serrano had a scheduled 'Title Defense' with Leonel Hernandez on June 26, 1977 in Venezuela,
Madison Square Garden entertained to bring Alexis to New York, with the possibility of setting up a
World Lightweight Championship between Roberto Duran and Alexis Arguello, or possibly a bout
with WBC Lightweight Champion - Esteban De Jesus.

The first task, was to get Alexis some New York exposure - and set up a couple of bouts -