Alexis Arguello was El Flaco Explosivo, The Explosive Thin Man, for a reason – 62 knockouts, 3-weight world champion, and one of the most clinical finishers in boxing history. In this boxing breakdown, I go through 5 fearsome factors of Alexis Arguello’s fighting style, with simple boxing techniques and boxing training drills you can use straight away.
FACTOR 1: STANCE AND GUARD POSITION
Arguello stood tall, upright and and flat-footed, chin tucked and elbows tight to the ribs.
He favoured power over mobility.
Being 5’10” as a featherweight is a major advantage, and he used that height to great effect.
He never leaked openings, his guard was super-tight and he used blocks to true master level.
Simple, efficient and biased towards power at every stage.
FACTOR 2: UPPERCUT SPECIALIST
Arguello is the most uppercut-heavy boxer I think I’ve ever seen.
He throws as many uppercuts as other boxers throw jabs.
It is unreal.
Uppercuts are incredibly difficult to defend, and Arguello uses them not only to hurt the opponent, but also to generate other openings – head and body.
The most technically difficult punch to throw, and Arguello made it look easy.
FACTOR 3: EXCELLENT LEFT HOOK
Arguello’s left hook was short, compact and heavy, driven by pushing off the front foot and turning the hip, not swinging the arm.
He timed shorter boxers as they attacked, used no retraction, and delivered high power in the blink of an eye.
Have a look at how little space he needs to generate power.
FACTOR 4: SUPERB RIGHT HAND
Straight, fast and piston-like – one of the straightest right hands in the lighter weights.
The thing is, Arguello would vary the angle of the right hand.
He would release the arm early in the hip rotation to generate an angle, the punch impacting on the left hand side of the opponent’s jaw.
He would leave the arm release late in the rotation to drive it straight down the pipe, landing on the point of the chin.
On it’s own, or off the jab for a blistering one-two, one of the finest exponents of the right hand you will ever see.
FACTOR 5: LETHAL BODY PUNCHER
This for me is what made him truly fearsome.
He used clever routes to the body – jab and right hand to the head, hook to the body off a high guard.
He would target the liver with brutal precision, a truly debilitating punch to suffer.
He would also drive that right uppercut into the solar plexus, almost generating a bolo-style punch.
So many of Arguello’s opponents suffered with the body shots he through, real fight-ending capability.
What’s Your Thoughts?
What do you think? You enjoy the Arguello style? Anything you think I’ve overlooked?
What about other fighters? Anyone you would like me to cover in a video like this?
Let me know in the comments below.
Cheers
Fran
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