WHILE the music world lost the King of Pop with the death of Michael Jackson, the boxing world also lost an equally svelte icon in Alexis Arguello, also known as the “Explosive Thin Man.”

Arguello held the featherweight, superfeatherweight and lightweight belts and retired with a fantastic record of 82-8 with 65 knockouts.

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He was quite tall for the divisions he fought in, and while most people remember his bouts with Aaron Pryor the most, my fondest boxing memories of him are his lightweight bouts with Rey “Boom-Boom” Mancini and Andy Ganigan.

Arguello wasn’t particularly fast, but he packed a hard punch and was quite methodical inside the ring. Like a well-oiled machine, he knew how to place his punches perfectly and loved to stalk his opponents and bring the fight to them.

MANCINI. The gallant Mancini- known for his big heart and big punch- started strong, firing off short jabs and hooks.

But the “Explosive Thin Man” was unperturbed. Using his 5’10” lanky frame to full advantage, he would advance behind a thudding jab followed by beautiful combos.

It was a closely fought battle and Mancini definitely had his moments. In the 14th round, with his face badly swollen and bruised, the tiring Mancini got caught with a left hook. He attempted to clinch but the wily Nicaraguan would have none of it.

He ducked under Mancini’s flailing arms and delivered another smashing hook on Mancini’s jaw and followed it up with a right for good measure, ending the latter’s hopes of taking away his WBC lightweight belt.

GANIGAN. Three bouts later, Ganigan couldn’t do any better. The “Hawaiian Punch” was coming off a spectacular second round demolition of the indomitable Sean O’Grady and carried a fearsome record of 30 knockouts in 34 wins with only 3 losses, coming into the fight.

In the first canto, he managed to deck Arguello with one of his patented left straights.

Looking more stunned than hurt, Arguello was up before the referee picked up the count.

Ganigan swarmed all over him but “El Flaco Explosivo” kept his composure. The supremely-conditioned Arguello began to take over the fight with his superior jab and reach.

In the fifth, Arguello nailed the bleeding Ganigan with some wicked body shots up close. The latter fell down like he’d been stabbed and was unable to continue.

By the way, as a side note, although he was born in Hawaii, Ganigan was as Filipino as chicken adobo. He fought a bit like Manny Pacquiao too, with his southpaw style and whirlwind attacks.

In an article in Sports Illustrated, the legend Arguello had this to say about Ganigan:

“My God, what a style, I’ve never seen one like that. He starts with a right hand; he starts with a left. But he doesn’t jab much or too well. And like me he’s a counter-puncher. I must counter a counter-puncher.”

Ganigan also made it to the Ring magazine’s top 100 punchers list, ranking at 97, while his conqueror Arguello ranked 20th.

And by the way, there was another Filipino in that ring during the fight: Referee Carlos Padilla.

LAST ROUNDS. It’s on my good buddy Stephen Villamor and his pretty daughters Amor and Julie who are all celebrating their birthdays this week and also on Chemin and Marie Teves, who recently exchanged “I dos.”

Cheers!

(jingo_quijano@yahoo.com)