Remembering Latino Legend: Alexis Arguello

Being the father of three, half-Hispanic children, I always stress to my children the importance of knowing their roots and those of the numerous trailblazers of the same ethnicity who helped to pave the way for them in various professions.

Having said that, I must say that it is important to remember - and research - the distinctive careers and achievements of these legendary pioneers, no matter what field they have accomplished their achievements in.

One Hispanic athlete whose accomplishments are definitely worth remembering, is beloved boxing champion, Alexis Arguello.

I know that I still remember many of Arguello's memorable performances as though they had only occured yesterday. However, time does fog the memory many times, which is why I am writing this piece on Arguello inn the first place.

Having said that, here is everything you've ever wnted to know about Arguello, one of the world's greatest fighters - not to mention one of his sport's classiest competitors of all-time.

Argüello was born on April 19, 1952 in Nicaragua and although his career got off to a rocky start when the "Explosive Thin Man" suffered a first round knockout loss early in his career he quickly avenged that loss and compiled an impressive string of wins that led him to a world Featherweight championship challenge against experienced veteran Ernesto Marcel in Marcel's home country of Panama.

Although the young challenger lost a 15-round unanimous decision, Argüello began another streak of wins, and found himself in the ring with another world champion once again, this time challenging Marcel's successor to the throne, Mexican world champion Ruben Olivares in Los Angeles.

After Olivares built a small lead on the judges' scorecards, Argüello and Olivares landed simultaneous left hooksagainst each other in the 13th round. Olivares's left hand caused a visible pain expression on Argüello's face, but Argüello's left hand caused Olivares to hit the canvas, making Argüello the new Featherweight champion of the world.