Aaron Pryor vs. Alexis Argüello

Background

Alexis Argüello had won world titles at Featherweight, Junior Lightweight and Lightweight, and sought to become the first boxer to win championships in four divisions by taking the Jr. Welterweight title. HBO had televised two of his previous fights, while Aaron Pryor, despite an undefeated record of 31 wins with 29 knockouts, had no prior telecasts on that network. Their public images contrasted sharply: Argüello was humble and widely admired, while Pryor was intimidating and received limited media coverage despite his talent and peer status with Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns.

The fight

Before the bout, a man with a weapon attempted to enter Argüello's dressing room but was stopped by members of the public; Argüello was rushed into a shower and shielded, and the man was later arrested. The fight then began, with Pryor charging recklessly at Argüello from the opening bell while Argüello stood still, parrying and countering with precise, hard straight punches. Both fighters were hurt in the first round. Pryor increased the tempo with slashing combinations, while Argüello waited for counterpunching opportunities, using his own strength and Pryor's momentum to make each blow explosive. Each round was difficult to score, with both fighters having high points. Pryor appeared to gain control in the middle rounds, but Argüello came back in rounds 9 through 11, particularly battering Pryor in round 11 and shifting momentum. Controversy then arose a second time that evening.

Aftermath

The fight was named fight of the decade by The Ring. Oddities surrounding the water bottles and Pryor's response to its use were noticed after the bout. Pryor did not undertake a drug test; his team said no one had approached them for a urine sample. A rematch was ordered and took place 10 months later.

For the rematch, Argüello fired trainer Eddie Futch, blaming him for the loss, but later apologized, calling it the biggest mistake of his life. Pryor's trainer Panama Lewis lost his license for removing padding from Luis Resto's gloves before a fight with Billy Collins Jr.; Pryor then hired Richie Giachetti, but after disagreements replaced him with Emanuel Steward. In the rematch, Pryor won by 10th-round knockout, sending Argüello to the canvas three times, though Argüello staggered Pryor briefly in the second round.

Both fighters retired afterward but later returned due to financial problems and cocaine addictions. During his comeback, Argüello knocked out former champion Billy Costello in four rounds; Pryor was largely successful but suffered the only loss of his career. A medical test later revealed Pryor had significantly lost vision in one eye, and he was denied a boxing license. Argüello entered politics in Nicaragua; Pryor became a Christian minister.

Both are in the International Boxing Hall of Fame and formed a deep friendship, meeting several times a year until Argüello's death, apparently by a self-inflicted gunshot, in 2009. Pryor died on October 9, 2016. Argüello was Nicaragua's flag carrier at the 2008 Summer Olympics. In a 2009 documentary, Luis Resto revealed that Panama Lewis would break antihistamine pills into his water for greater lung capacity, fueling speculation about whether Lewis added an unsanctioned substance to Pryor's water in the Argüello bout.