43 years ago

Date: 3rd October 1981

Venue: Ballys Park Place Hotel Casino, Atlantic City

Title: WBC World Lightweight Title

Promoter: Top Rank

Tv: CBS Sports Saturday

Alexis Arguello
( 67 - 5 - 0 )
Weight: 135 lbs

Ray Mancini
( 20 - 0 - 0 )
Weight: 134½ lbs

On Saturday, October 3, 1981, a highly anticipated WBC World Lightweight Title bout took place at Ballys Park Place Hotel Casino in Atlantic City. The fight featured Alexis Arguello, hailing from Managua, Nicaragua, with a record of 67-5-0, defending his title against Ray Mancini, a twenty-year-old fighter from Youngstown, Ohio, with an undefeated record of 20-0-0. Mancini was ranked No. 3 at lightweight by the WBC and was driven by the ambition to win the title his father never had the chance to compete for. Over 500 fans from Mancini's hometown attended the fight, which was promoted by Top Rank and aired on CBS Sports Saturday.

The fight began with an evenly matched display of skill and determination from both fighters. After ten rounds, the judges' scores reflected the close competition, with one judge having Arguello ahead, another having Mancini ahead, and the third scoring the fight even. Weights for the two fighters were also close, with Arguello weighing in at 135 lbs and Mancini at 134½ lbs.

In the twelfth round, Arguello managed to floor Mancini with a powerful right. However, Mancini demonstrated his resilience, returning to the fight and continuing to push the champion. The fight took a decisive turn in the fourteenth round when Arguello once again floored Mancini with a strong right. Referee Tony Perez stepped in and stopped the fight, declaring Arguello the winner by TKO at 1:44 in round 14.

Following the fight, Arguello commended Mancini, stating, "It was the best fight so far this year, my friend," and further praising Mancini's heart and predicting his future championship. Mancini remained optimistic despite his first defeat, vowing, "This isn't the end of the story. This is the standard first chapter. I'll be back."

True to his word, Mancini returned to the ring and achieved his goal of becoming a champion. On May 8, 1982, just over seven months after the fight with Arguello, Mancini won the WBA Lightweight Championship by stopping Arturo Frias in a single round.