Alexis Argüello vs. Ray Mancini, billed as Lightweight Lightning at Bally's, was a professional boxing match contested on October 3, 1981, for the WBC lightweight title.
Background 20-year old undefeated prospect Ray Mancini had risen up the lightweight ranks and become legitimate title contender in the proceeding months in 1981. First by winning the NABF lightweight title from Jorge Morales in May and then successfully defending the title in July against fellow lightweight contender and future world champion José Luis Ramírez.Unbeaten Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini of Youngstown, Ohio won..., UPI article, 1981-05–16, Retrieved on 2025-10-20 Following his victory over Ramírez, Mancini signed on to face reigning WBC lightweight champion Alexis Argüello.Ray Mancini won a 12-round unanimous decision over Jose..., UPI article, 1981-07–19, Retrieved on 2025-10-20 Argüello had won the title the previous month from Jim Watt, becoming a world champion in three divisions, and had subsequently agreed to face the winner of the Mancini–Ramírez fight.Arguello Captures Title, N.Y. Times article, 1981-06–21, Retrieved on 2025-10-20Mancini Winner, Stays Unbeaten, N.Y. Times article, 1981-07–20, Retrieved on 2025-10-20
Argüello, a veteran of 75 fights and having 15 consecutive title fights, came into the bout as a 3–1 favorite, but nevertheless affirmed that he would not take Mancini lightly, opining that it would be the "toughest fight of my career."World Boxing Council lightweight champion Alexis Arguello, who is...., UPI article, 1981-09–26, Retrieved on 2025-10-20
Fight details The fight was a close one with Mancini getting off to a fast start, taking most of the early rounds on the judge's scorecards. However, after the fifth round, Argüello rebounded and took the next several and following the tenth round, the two fighters were practically neck and neck, with Mancini holding leading on one scorecard, Argüello leading on another and the two tied on the third. With the fight still in the balance, Argüello would seize control of the fight in the closing seconds of the 12th round when he caught Mancini flush with a big right hand that sent Mancini to his right knee for the fight's first knockdown. With Mancini surviving the knockdown and convincing his corner to allow him to continue, he would go back out for the 13th round, Argüello would dominate the round, leading to Mancini's manager Dave Wolf to nearly throw in the towel before being stopped by the head trainer Murphy Griffith. Then, about halfway through the 14th round, Argüello stunned Mancini with a left-right-left combination before landing a big right hook that sent Mancini down again. After the knockdown, referee Tony Perez immediately waved the fight off, giving Argüello the victory by technical knockout at 1:44 of the 14th round.Arguello Stops Mancini in 14, N.Y. Times article, 1981-10–04, Retrieved on 2025-10-22
Fight card Confirmed bouts: Weight Class Weight vs. Method Round NotesLightweight135 lbs.Alexis Argüello (c)def.Ray Mancini TKO14/15Super Middleweight168 lbs.Alex Ramos def.Fermin GuzmanTKO6/10Featherweight126 lbs.Kenny Mitchell def.Carlos BejaranoPTS8Cruiserweight190 lbs.Randy Stephens def.Fred BrownTKO2/8Welterweight147 lbs.Jeff Passerodef.Evaristo PrimeroTKO3/8
Broadcasting Country Broadcaster CBS
References