What do you think?
Rate this book
Beloved Warrior: The Rise and Fall of Alexis Argüello
Boxing lost a true warrior and gentleman of the ring when the mayor of Managua, Nicaragua, Alexis Argüello, died in 2009. To millions in Nicaragua and around the world, Argüello was an iconic figure, a willing role model, and a shining light in a nation that places its sports figures on pedestals. Beloved Warrior explores the extraordinary rise, fall, and rebirth of this great fighter.
With a career that began in 1968 in Managua, Argüello overcame early losses, including a knockout in his debut. He went on to win three world titles, relinquishing them only by moving up in weight class. While boxing until 1995 and reaping luxury and fame, Argüello never forgot his people. Using his skills and power, "El Flaco Explosivo" (The Explosive Thin Man) earned his lofty status as one of the most celebrated Latin American boxers ever.
While Argüello's devotion to the sport cannot be challenged, questions about the man still remain. How did he rise from the streets of Managua to become one of the greatest fighters in the world? What happened to him after he fought Aaron Pryor, whom many considered the greatest 140-pounder in history? How was he affected by his time spent fighting against the Sandinistas? And finally, what is the story behind his mysterious death less than eight months after he won Managua's mayoral election? Despite Argüello’s notorious losses to Pryor, his remarkable career as an unforgettable fighter lives on in his fans’ memories. As Christian Giudice illustrates, Argüello’s status as a hero both in and out of the ring will forever remain intact.
With a career that began in 1968 in Managua, Argüello overcame early losses, including a knockout in his debut. He went on to win three world titles, relinquishing them only by moving up in weight class. While boxing until 1995 and reaping luxury and fame, Argüello never forgot his people. Using his skills and power, "El Flaco Explosivo" (The Explosive Thin Man) earned his lofty status as one of the most celebrated Latin American boxers ever.
While Argüello's devotion to the sport cannot be challenged, questions about the man still remain. How did he rise from the streets of Managua to become one of the greatest fighters in the world? What happened to him after he fought Aaron Pryor, whom many considered the greatest 140-pounder in history? How was he affected by his time spent fighting against the Sandinistas? And finally, what is the story behind his mysterious death less than eight months after he won Managua's mayoral election? Despite Argüello’s notorious losses to Pryor, his remarkable career as an unforgettable fighter lives on in his fans’ memories. As Christian Giudice illustrates, Argüello’s status as a hero both in and out of the ring will forever remain intact.
- GenresNonfiction
272 pages, Hardcover
First published March 31, 2012
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 13, 2026
Alexis Arguello was one of few boxers who won the championship in three different weight classes - featherweight, super featherweight and lightweight. His dedication to the sport and his gentlemanly demeanor both in and out of the sport made him a figure well respected by many. This book by boxing author Christian Giudice is an excellent account of Arguello’s life, including his shocking death in 2009.
Having read two other books by Giudice on Latino boxing legends - Roberto Duran and Hector Camacho - I expected this one to be very good and it did not disappoint. Through extensive research and many interviews, Giudice provides the reader with a fair and balanced portrayal of the boxer from Nicaragua.
It’s balanced because while Arguello’s excellence in the ring, having won 77 of 85 fights including 62 knockouts, is covered in excellent detail, his problems out of the ring are also explained very well. In addition to his extramarital affairs (he was married 4 times), his alcoholism and the mishandling of his finances , it included his support and fighting for the Contras in the Nicaraguan civil war in the early 1980’s. His subsequent support for the opposing Sandinista government later in life (who had taken all his property and forced his family into exile) is also explained as is his entry into politics. It was here where after he was elected mayor of Managua, the capital city, he was found dead in 2009 of an apparent suicide shooting to the chest. Some don’t believe it was suicided, a question still asked today. This political part of Arguello’s life is very well chronicled, a testament to Giudice’s work and dedication to tell this side of Arguello’s life.
This is in stark contrast to how so many who were involved in boxing and knew him through the sport remember him, including his opponents. They fondly recall his as gracious and kind, never having a bad word to say about anyone. Most notably, the one boxer who defeated Arguello twice, Aaron Pryor, also felt the same way despite fighting his own demons. Pryor twice stopped Arguello from obtaining a championship in a fourth weight class.
No matter who’s aspect of Arguello’s life a reader wants to learn about, this book is one of the best sources to get a good start at that goal.
Having read two other books by Giudice on Latino boxing legends - Roberto Duran and Hector Camacho - I expected this one to be very good and it did not disappoint. Through extensive research and many interviews, Giudice provides the reader with a fair and balanced portrayal of the boxer from Nicaragua.
It’s balanced because while Arguello’s excellence in the ring, having won 77 of 85 fights including 62 knockouts, is covered in excellent detail, his problems out of the ring are also explained very well. In addition to his extramarital affairs (he was married 4 times), his alcoholism and the mishandling of his finances , it included his support and fighting for the Contras in the Nicaraguan civil war in the early 1980’s. His subsequent support for the opposing Sandinista government later in life (who had taken all his property and forced his family into exile) is also explained as is his entry into politics. It was here where after he was elected mayor of Managua, the capital city, he was found dead in 2009 of an apparent suicide shooting to the chest. Some don’t believe it was suicided, a question still asked today. This political part of Arguello’s life is very well chronicled, a testament to Giudice’s work and dedication to tell this side of Arguello’s life.
This is in stark contrast to how so many who were involved in boxing and knew him through the sport remember him, including his opponents. They fondly recall his as gracious and kind, never having a bad word to say about anyone. Most notably, the one boxer who defeated Arguello twice, Aaron Pryor, also felt the same way despite fighting his own demons. Pryor twice stopped Arguello from obtaining a championship in a fourth weight class.
No matter who’s aspect of Arguello’s life a reader wants to learn about, this book is one of the best sources to get a good start at that goal.
September 4, 2018
Another great boxing read, I feel as if this could of been written better but was well researched. Great story!
March 31, 2020
AMAZING
March 24, 2013
Very comprehensive on Arguello's boxing career and in terms of interviews and quotes from his nearest and dearest. I was a little disappointed with the lack of early life coverage (the book jumped very quickly into his fight career). Overall a good and informative book.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews