Jan. 20, 1980: Arguello vs Castillo

It is 1980 and Alexis Arguello is a two-time world champion, already regarded as a future Hall of Famer, if not an all-time great. The Nicaraguan is the proud bearer of the WBC junior lightweight championship belt and such is his reputation that the WBC’s number one contender, Frankie Baltazar, cannot accept the offer of a title shot because manager Jackie McCoy won’t let him inside the same ring as Arguello. Suffice to say, no higher compliment can be paid a reigning champion than top contenders turning down chances to fight him.

Arguello: a champ so deadly, contenders turn down title shots.

So instead of Baltazar, it was Ruben Castillo, a featherweight, who was offered the chance to battle for Arguello’s title. Unlike Baltazar, Castillo decided a title shot is a title shot, even if it isn’t in one’s preferred weight class. The match took place in Tucson, Arizona and was carried live on ABC’s Wide World Of Sports. Castillo was undefeated in 45 fights, but he had yet to face a truly formidable contender. Considering the young Texan was moving up in weight to challenge “El Caballero del Ring,” the bookies made him a solid 5-to-1 underdog. In truth, those odds were definitely on the generous side: Arguello was at his peak and Castillo had almost no chance of winning.

Arguello winning his second world title from Alfredo Escalera in 1978.
Arguello winning his second world title from Alfredo Escalera in 1978.

But despite this, the challenger put up a valiant effort. The crowd was solidly behind the American and he gave them plenty to cheer about in the early and middle rounds as he boxed with discipline and intelligence, moving away from Arguello’s power and then countering with quick punches when the champion left himself open. He showed speed and good hustle while Alexis patiently pressured his man, landing heavy shots to the challenger’s ribs and belly when he had the chance.

Arguello fends off a game Castillo.

But if Castillo was keeping the match close, and even winning rounds, Arguello was clearly stronger and more powerful. His body attack was taking its toll and by round eight Castillo was running out of answers, not to mention stamina. In the tenth the fighter they called “The Explosive Thin Man” punished the challenger with power shots to both head and body and in round eleven a left hook to the liver put Castillo on the canvas. Clearly in agony, he bravely got to his feet but the referee wisely stopped the fight, giving Arguello his 13th championship win.

“[Castillo] fought a very good fight,” said Arguello afterwards. “He knew what to do out there. He boxed me very well. But I knew I would begin to hurt him and slow him down. I have a lot of respect for Ruben. He has nothing to be ashamed of.”

“I thought I was doing very well,” said Castillo. “I was surprised at how strong he was. Much stronger than I thought. I didn’t want this fight but the money was too good to turn down. From now on, I’m only going to fight as a featherweight.”

The challenger boxed with courage and skill, but he was in the ring with a prime Alexis Arguello and something more was required to defeat this future legend. Very soon “The Explosive Thin Man” would move up to the lightweight division to become only the sixth man in boxing history to win three divisional world titles. And only a fighter as great as Aaron Pryor could stop him from winning a fourth.        — Robert Portis 

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2 thoughts on “Jan. 20, 1980: Arguello vs Castillo

  • January 12, 2021 at 1:28 pm
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    Good article about one of my favourite fighters, Alexis the Great

    Reply
    • August 4, 2023 at 7:05 am
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      You forgot to mention the part where Arguellos manager only offered Baltazar $5,000 and two weeks notice for the fight, half of what he was getting for headlining the Olympic auditorium on his own at the time

      Reply

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