Jim Watt vs. Alexis Arguello
Alexis Arguello 133 lbs beat Jim Watt 135 lbs by UD in round 15 of 15
- Date: 1981-06-20
- Location: Empire Pool, Wembley, London, United Kingdom
- Referee: Arthur Mercante
- Judge: Dick Young 147-137
- Judge: Kurt Halbach 147-143
- Judge: Robert Desgain 147-143
- WBC Lightweight Title
"Alexis Arguello of Nicaragua won the WBC lightweight title Saturday night with a 15 round unanimous decision over champion Jim Watt of Scotland at Wembley Arena. Arguello was always the aggressor, putting the champion on the defensive virtually from the opening bell. In the early rounds, both boxers were cautious but Arguello consistently produced the sharper punches. Watt, as usual, relied on his jab but could not keep the challenger at a safe distance. Arguello stepped up the pace after the 5th round and, after landing a thudding left hook to Watt's body and a right cross early in the 7th, Arguello dumped the Scot on the canvas for a count of eight with a sharp left to the chin. Watt's face became distorted as the constant punishment he was taking brought swellings to his lip and near both eyes. Arguello landed all the telling punches in the last three rounds and only Watt's fierce determination kept him going to the final bell." -United Press International
- Watt also bled freely from the nose from the 8th round on and from a cut under the left eye suffered in the 10th.
Post fight comment
- "I have a car business and if I had to do an estimate on my face, I would probably write it off." -Jim Watt