Bobby Chacon had been an in a single day sensation in California, a well-liked younger fighter attracting large crowds to the Inglewood Discussion board and the Olympic Auditorium. However as rapidly as he raised hopes and attracted followers, he allow them to down, shedding his first world title simply three months after successful it when he was stopped by Mexican legend Ruben Olivares in June of ’75.
It had been a rocky experience ever since, because the fighter they referred to as “The Schoolboy” struggled to get one other probability at a world title. Regardless of an enormous non-title win over Olivares in August of ’77, losses to Rafael “Bazooka” Limon and Arturo Leon held him again. However he had earned this shot at Arguello’s WBC tremendous featherweight championship by rebounding with 5 wins, and an enormous crowd set the turnstiles spinning on the Discussion board, everybody hoping to see Chacon get to the highest of the mountain once more.
But when Bobby was the extra widespread fighter, there was no query as to who was the underdog on this match, as Alexis Arguello was each a distinguished titlist and a really harmful puncher. Sure, he had suffered a non-title loss to artful Vilomar Fernandez in July of 78, however that was the one setback of late, as Arguello had established himself as one of many sport’s greatest champions with convincing victories over the identical fighters who had given Chacon a lot hassle: Olivares, Leon and Limon. Add in two large wins over former champ Alredo Escalera and also you had an elite-level pugilist with nearly impeccable credentials. Few thought Chacon had the required energy and fortitude to take the title from “The Explosive Skinny Man.”
However for six rounds Chacon made fools of the odds-makers. Exhibiting the braveness and expertise which had earned him such an enthusiastic following on the west coast, the challenger, regardless of being 5 inches shorter, boxed with authority, making the champion miss repeatedly, “The Schoolboy” countering with sharp proper palms. Bobby sustained a minimize over his proper eye within the second spherical, nevertheless it didn’t seem to trouble the challenger as he jousted with clean effectivity, successful rounds with a pointy jab, the counter proper, and stable physique punches. The champion stalked Chacon and occasionally landed some heavy physique photographs of his personal, however Arguello was persistently overwhelmed to the punch.
Chacon’s efficiency reminded ringsiders of his dominant knockout win in 1974 over present featherweight champion Danny Lopez as “The Schoolboy” caught to his game-plan and neatly refused to go toe-with-toe with the highly effective Arguello, as a substitute slipping the champion’s photographs to land his personal. The champion knew he was behind and his frustration grew to become evident in spherical six when, uncharacteristically, he intentionally struck the challenger after the bell. The plain foul introduced a rain of boos from the pro-Chacon crowd.
However every part modified in spherical seven, as it might when one faces a fighter with legit one-shot knockout energy. A wonderfully timed proper uppercut despatched Chacon staggering throughout the ring. He dropped to a crouch and took an eight rely and when motion resumed Arguello pinned Bobby to the ropes and unleashed a livid barrage. Some punches landed, some missed, however the fusillade turned the minimize from spherical two right into a deep gash. Chacon was preventing again gallantly by the top of the spherical, however his face was lined in blood. Between rounds the ringside physician ordered the struggle stopped and it went into the books as a seventh spherical TKO.
Elegant as all the time, Arguello gave credit score the place it was due: “Bobby Chacon is an effective fighter, very clever. I instructed everybody it was going to be a troublesome struggle and it was.”
“I’ve nothing to be ashamed of,” stated the upset challenger. “It was the minimize that did me in.”
Speak of a rematch was drowned out by the louder speak of Arguello stepping as much as the light-weight division and going after a 3rd divisional world title, one thing which, at the moment, represented a exceptional feat. With Roberto Duran having not too long ago departed the 135 pound division to pursue new glories within the welterweight class, most considered Alexis because the inheritor obvious at light-weight. It had been many years since a fighter had gained titles in three separate weight courses, and at this level solely 5 boxers in your complete historical past of the game had finished it: Bob Fitzsimmons, Tony Canzoneri, Barney Ross, Henry Armstrong and Emile Griffith.
“Sure, I wish to struggle as a light-weight,” said Arguello, “however provided that I can problem for the title instantly. If a champion is prepared to struggle me, then I’m prepared.”
In the meantime, many had been questioning if the solar had set on Chacon. He was solely twenty-seven, however that nasty minimize was additional proof of a streak of dangerous luck that had dogged “The Schoolboy” ever since he misplaced his title to Olivares in ’74. Little did anybody know, however essentially the most superb wins for each fighters nonetheless lay forward.
— Michael Carbert
