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 shortly 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 trip ever since, because the fighter they referred to as “The Schoolboy” struggled to get one other probability at a world title. Regardless of a giant 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 a giant 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 virtually 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 arms. Bobby sustained a lower 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 strong physique punches. The champion stalked Chacon and now and again landed some heavy physique photographs of his personal, however Arguello was persistently crushed 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 turned 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 all the pieces modified in spherical seven, as it may 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 depend 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 lower from spherical two right into a deep gash. Chacon was combating 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.
Stylish as all the time, Arguello gave credit score the place it was due: “Bobby Chacon is an effective fighter, very clever. I advised everybody it was going to be a tricky struggle and it was.”
“I’ve nothing to be ashamed of,” mentioned the dissatisfied challenger. “It was the lower that did me in.”
Discuss of a rematch was drowned out by the louder discuss 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 outstanding feat. With Roberto Duran having just lately departed the 135 pound division to pursue new glories within the welterweight class, most seen Alexis because the inheritor obvious at light-weight. It had been a long time since a fighter had received titles in three separate weight lessons, and at this level solely 5 boxers in your entire historical past of the game had accomplished it: Bob Fitzsimmons, Tony Canzoneri, Barney Ross, Henry Armstrong and Emile Griffith.
“Sure, I want to struggle as a light-weight,” said Arguello, “however provided that I can problem for the title instantly. If a champion is keen 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 lower was additional proof of a streak of unhealthy 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
