Ray ‘Boom Boom’ Mancini was an up and coming young star on the boxing scene in 1981, when he signed to fight the classy and terrific WBC lightweight champion Alexis Arguello on October 3, 1981 in Atlantic City. Mancini often talked about wanting to win the title for his father Lenny, a talented fighter in his own right, whose career was cut short by World War II.
I vividly remember watching the Saturday afternoon broadcast on my black and white tv in my bedroom on CBS. Mancini started off well, and was actually winning the early rounds. He was strong and had a good chin, but as the fight entered the second half of the fifteen round distance, Arguello started to take control. A sharp two punch combination dropped Ray as the twelfth round ended, and Alexis continued to batter the young challenger in the 13th. The 14th would see the champ knock Mancini down and out, ending his dream of winning the title.
It was a valiant effort by ‘Boom Boom’, but the skills and experience of Arguello were too much for him. The champ was very gracious in consoling Ray after the fight, and it was refreshing to see. He retained his belt however, and Mancini would have to regroup.
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