48 years ago

Date: 19th June 1976

Title: WBA World Featherweight Title

Promoter: N/A

Tv: N/A

Alexis Arguello
( 44 - 4 - 0 )
Weight: 125¾ lbs

Salvador Torres
( 18 - 2 - 1 )
Weight: 125¼ lbs

On Saturday, June 19, 1976, at the Forum in Inglewood, California, Nicaraguan boxer Alexis Arguello successfully defended his WBA World Featherweight Title for the fourth time against Mexico's Salvador Torres. The fight, which was scheduled for 15 rounds, ended with a decisive knockout by Arguello in the third round. The referee was Larry Rozadilla.

Arguello, with a record of 44-4-0, weighed in at 125¾ lbs, while Torres, who held an 18-2-1 record, weighed 125¼ lbs. Despite winning the first two rounds with an aggressive approach and managing to open a small cut over Arguello's right eye, Torres ultimately succumbed to Arguello's power in the third round.

The turning point came at the start of the third round when Arguello began landing powerful right-left combinations to Torres' head. As Torres backpedalled toward a neutral corner, Arguello delivered a short, chopping right that dropped the challenger. Torres attempted to rise at the count of five but fell back to the canvas, ultimately being counted out at 1:25 into the round.

The fight's purses were set at $50,000 for Arguello and $10,000 for Torres. The event drew an attendance of 8,500 spectators. Following the match, both fighters provided their insights on the outcome.

Torres expressed surprise at the knockout, saying, "I thought I had hurt him in the second and was winning the fight. That punch just caught me by surprise." Arguello, on the other hand, acknowledged Torres' power despite pre-fight predictions and explained his decision to go on the offensive earlier than planned: "Everyone told me before the fight that Torres couldn't punch hard, but I'll tell you he can."