BoxRec

Mancini was around in the early 80s when the Lightweight division was filled with talent. He was a very good boxer/slugger at his best simular in style to Barry Mcguigan. Actually there are quite a few simularities between Mancini and Mcguigan... simular styles in the ring, very affable personalities out of the ring and really rather short comet like careers.
Both men also suffered the tragedy of having an opponent die after a contest. Like Mcguigan too Mancini was probably at his best before he won the title. His best performance was against ARguello, who he gave a hell of a fight before being stopped in the 14th round. I don't think Mancini was ever quite as good after that fight. Like Mcguigan he started all out slugging in his fights rather than using the more skilled approach he had used in earlier fights. After he won his portion of the title (Arguello was still champ too) every defence was a war for Mancini and thsi seemed to be exacerbated after the death of Duk Koo Kim in one of his title defences. When Bramble came along and upset Mancini there was talk of ray fighting Hertor Comatcho or Aaron Pryor but Bramble was a class fighter and took Mancini apart in their first fight.
Mancini actually fought much better in the rematch but got badly cut up again (a problem he suffered more and more with during his title reign) and lost a close decision. Basically Mancini is a case of burnout again... though he still had ability in his second fight with Bramble his problems with cuts really spelt the end.

Better to peak at an early age and win a world title, than to not win one at all.

Mancini was a very exciting fighter to watch, simply because he was so aggressive. He started great against Arguello and dominated the first 5 rounds, but he faded late and was KO'ed in the 14th. It was his first shot at the title and the contest was a real human interest story because Ray's father Lenny, also a boxer, had been promised a shot at the world title that he missed due to being drafted for WW2. Rather than appearing as the villain for temporarily ruining Mancini's dream, Arguello showed the crowd how to behave like a gracious winner. After the fight he came up to Mancini and put his arm around him and told him he would one day be a world champion, then he asked Ray about his father and added how important is own father is to him.

In comparing Mancini with McGuigan I'd say Barry was much better defensively, but they did share a pressuring type of style.

Mancini only had 34 fights, but he did manage to beat Jose Luis Ramirez, Ernesto Espana and Bobby Chacon and he came up just short of a great comeback in his rematch with Livingstone Bramble.

Mancini was way over rated....he fought with his head down looking at the mat. He punched in circles with his head down, so he wasn't even looking where he was punching most of the time. His supposed big "left hook" was just a myth. His defense was poor. When he fought a real fighter like Argello, he was destroyed. He never beat anybody of any substance.

During the 1980s Mancini was the darling of US boxing press even when he was retired.

I have to say that I liked the guy and whatever you think of him as a fighter he always gave his best. He deserves some credit for that.

He wasn't 'destroyed' against Arguello, he gave Alexis a vey tough fight and was probably ahead after the first 10 rounds... that showed that he was a very good fighter. He also beat Ramirez before winning the title... a very decent win. He may not have been the best of his era but he was still a very good fighter and not just a media creation as some seem to think. If anything Mancini is underrated these days.

His title winning effort over Frias is one of the wildest one rounders you'll ever see.

Arguello came over as a nice guy, but he sure had that killer instinct. Before and after their fight, he treated Ray like a long lost son, but when he pretty much had a battered and beaten Mancini at his mercy in the 14th round, the ref steps in and Alexis makes sure to land another pile driver for good measure.

That fight taught Ray a helluva lot about what the fight game is all about.

[quote="MightyWarrior"]
Arguello came over as a nice guy, but he sure had that killer instinct. Before and after their fight, he treated Ray like a long lost son, but when he pretty much had a battered and beaten Mancini at his mercy in the 14th round, the ref steps in and Alexis makes sure to land another pile driver for good measure.
quote]

MW

You brougth it all back to me with that description

He ddi nail him right at the end (or afetr the end if you like)

I loved to watch Ray fight back then, I still remember watching that Art Frias fight on saturday afternoon on REGULAR telvision, he broke Arts nose and ko'd him in the 2nd or 3rd round I think.....wow those were the days. Does anyone remember how they used to always show his dad..I believe his dad was an ex boxer or something and Ray wanted to win the title for him....I also remember the boxing exhibition Livingstone Bramble put on him...I used to watch that fight over and over.

ShoeShine wrote:I loved to watch Ray fight back then, I still remember watching that Art Frias fight on saturday afternoon on REGULAR telvision, he broke Arts nose and ko'd him in the 2nd or 3rd round I think.....wow those were the days. Does anyone remember how they used to always show his dad..I believe his dad was an ex boxer or something and Ray wanted to win the title for him....I also remember the boxing exhibition Livingstone Bramble put on him...I used to watch that fight over and over.

The Frias fight was actualy a one rounder, though poor old Art looked like he'd gone 15 at the end...

Ezzard wrote:
MW

You brougth it all back to me with that description

He ddi nail him right at the end (or afetr the end if you like)

I remember it well, it was the same day as Hagler/Hampsho, and I somehow manged to get both rounds right at the bookies - Hagler KO11, Arguello KO14 - which had never happened before...or since

Ray's crosstown rival was Harry Arroyo, IBF 135 champ and from Yougstown Ohio just like Ray - a lot of bad blood but somehow they never
met. Seem to recall Mancini refused him the big payday he'd no doubt make when Ray was the golden boy of Amercian TV.

MW

good for you. Do you remember how you spent yur winnings?

Wasn't Arroyo an ex-cop? I seem to remember he lost his title to Jimmy Paul... Hmm, I think that's right. Paul looked like a top fighter but it didn't seem to work out quite as palnned.

Ezzard wrote:MW

good for you. Do you remember how you spent yur winnings?

Wasn't Arroyo an ex-cop? I seem to remember he lost his title to Jimmy Paul... Hmm, I think that's right. Paul looked like a top fighter but it didn't seem to work out quite as palnned.

Probably down the pub

Yes I think you might be right about Arroyo, or maybe he became a cop after he retired. Paul was an excellent fighter, one of the best to have come out of the Kronk. I remember his break out fight, on a big show against the very flash and highly touted Alvin Hayes.
Hayes danced his way to the ring - sun glasses, backflips etc...

Paul flattened him with a pretty frightening knockout. Jimmy also beat one of the mid 80's most exciting TV fighters - Robin Blake - who seemed to be in a fight of the year every other month.

Do you remember how you spent yur winnings?



Probably down the pub

This is why you guys think Mancini was so good, you were always drunk when you watched him fight. you don't even know what you were watching!!

ringsider wrote:

Do you remember how you spent yur winnings?

Probably down the pub

This is why you guys think Mancini was so good, you were always drunk when you watched him fight. you don't even know what you were watching!!

I certainly do, he was a wonderful jab and move artist with silky skills - imagine how much money he'd have made if he were white!

That was the other guy.