Antonio Cervantes
"Kid Pambele". Elected International Boxing Hall of Fame, 1998. Named Colombia's Boxer of the Century in 2000. The
5'10" Cervantes, who turned pro in 1964, was a strong, heavy-handed puncher. In 1970 he beat Rodolfo Gato Gonzalez, a
very famous Mexican boxer of the time, by knockout in round eight. Cervantes engaged in 19 title fights with his only losses
coming at the hands of Hall of Famers Wilfred Benitez and Aaron Pryor. Cervantes went 15 rounds with Wilfred Benitez in 1976.
In his second defense, he exacted revenge against former world junior welterweight champ Nicolino Loche, stopping the former
champ in nine rounds March 17, 1973. Antonio Cervantes also scored noteworthy wins over future world champions Esteban DeJesus
and Saoul Mamby, and top contender Hector Thompson. Aaron Pryor turned pro in 1976 fighting as a lightweight. He ran
off a string of wins, but when he cracked the ratings, none of the lightweight champions wanted to fight him. So he jumped
to junior welterweight and challenged legendary Colombian Antonio "Kid Pambele" Cervantes, who had made 17 successful
defenses over the course of two reigns. In his last fight less than 6 months before the Pryor fight, Antonio Cervantes KO'd
world contender Miguel Montilla in 7 rounds. In 1982 Miguel Montilla would last into the 12th round against Aaron Pryor. Cervantes
(age 34) was pound-for-pound material, but after the 24-year-old Pryor suffered a flash knockdown, he punched and punched
and punched some more. Cervantes crumbled in the fourth round. In the 1970s, Antonio Cervantes only lost twice: To Nicolino
Locche (loss avenged) and Wilfred Benitez. Cervantes was on a 4 year, 13 bout win streak when Aaron Pryor fought him.
Pryor-Cervantes was held at the Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati. The moment meant almost as much to The Hawk's hometown
as Thomas Hearns' kayo of Pipino Cuevas, held later that same night, meant to Detroit. Pryor averaged 101 punches a round
vs. Cervantes, 109 in round 1, 115 in round 3.
Like the great American Thoroughbred racehorse Secretariat
Aaron Pryor's heart was rumored to be enlarged which contributed to his EXCEPTIONAL stamina.
Aaron Pryor has been
used as a motivational speaker for the 2006 New York Jets. Coach Eric Mangini is a huge Aaron Pryor fan and has used Aaron
Pryor's attitude and career as a source of motivation for his team. Aaron filmed a short clip saying it was "New York
Jets time."
Alexis Arguello,
“El Flaco Explosivo”, the explosive thin man, as he was called, was at 5’ 10” exceptionally tall for
a fighter who weighed under 140 pounds. As his nickname indicates he was an explosive hitter, indeed he was perhaps the most
economic and efficient puncher of the last 50 years. He fought in a boxer-puncher style similar to that of Joe Louis exhibiting
near flawless boxing fundamentals with his chin down and hands held high. Alexis threw perfect left jabs and right crosses
straight down the pipe and his left hook was a powerful force. He was a master at analyzing the flaws in an opponent’s
style and then dissecting them with fierce body punching, accurate counters and precise combinations. Arguello would patiently
stalk his opponents, take them apart and finish them off with an explosion of cascading bombs that came from a selection of
powerful punches. Arguello scored 65 knockouts in 82 career wins that came with the suddenness of a man who was struck by
a rattlesnake.
In his prime Arguello was considered nigh invincible. From Age 30-34 at junior welterweight(140 lb)
Arguello beat Kevin Rooney, Lightweight contender Vilomar Fernandez, Pat Jefferson, former WBA Lightweight champion Claude
Noel and former WBC junior welterweight champion Billy Costello. Arguello KO'd all of them in 5 rounds or less except for
Vilomar Fernandez who went the 10 round distance.
Aaron Pryor threw 130 punches in the first round vs. Arguello in
their first fight.
Aaron Pryor averaged 140 punches a round for the first 4 rounds in his second fight against Alexis
Arguello. Pryor threw 147 punches in round 1, 139 punches in round 2, 127 punches in round 3, and a amazing 150 punches in
round 4. In round 9 Pryor threw 125 punches. Pryor set a faster pace in the second fight and hurt Arguello worst than he did
in the first fight. Pryor
Arguello 2 round 1 Pryor
Arguello 2 rounds 4 & 5 Pryor
Arguello 2 rounds 9 & 10
The great Aaron
Pryor raises his W.B.A. Junior Welterweight title belt after his 10th round knockout victory over Alexis Arguello on Sep-9-1983,
in Las Vegas, NV.
The 25 year old 5' 11 Southpaw Kameda knocked out 14 of his first 15 pro opponents before fighting Aaron Pryor. Amateur
record: 71-7 with 47 KOs. Kameda was a powerful puncher. Akio
Kameda's Boxing record
A high flying Hawk.
The symbol of war and the nickname of Aaron Pryor.
hawk1
PRONUNCIATION: hôk
NOUN: 1. Any
of various birds of prey of the order Falconiformes and especially of the genera Accipiter and Buteo, characteristically having
a short hooked bill and strong claws adapted for seizing. 2. Any of various similar birds of prey. 3. A person who preys on
others; a shark. 4a. One who demonstrates an actively aggressive or combative attitude, as in an argument. b. A person who
favors military force or action in order to carry out foreign policy.
Akio Kameda held the Japanese Welterweight Title and won the Japanese Light Welterweight Title in his next
fight after Pryor. Akio Kameda 17-0-0 14 KOs / Aaron Pryor 30-0-0 28 KOs. Pryor averaged 106 punches a round vs. Kameda, 122
in round 1, and 108 in round 5. The excellent power Aaron Pryor had in both his hands, plus the incredible pace he set would
weaken his opponents and lead to a TKO or knockout victory by Pryor. Aaron
Pryor vs Akio Kameda Part 1 of 2 Jul,04,1982.
Renowned for
a perpetual motion attack, excellent power, fast hands and feet, a granite chin and seemingly endless stamina, this dangerous
cocktail made Pryor unbeatable in his prime. In his prime Aaron Pryor, the “King of Stamina,” kept his body in great
shape and tip top condition. Pryor would actually train for 30 rounds, twice the amount he was scheduled to fight.
How was Pryor able to take those incredible punches from Arguello in their first fight? Was Pryor on drugs when he fought
Alexis Arguello on November 12, 1982? Pryor took incredible shots from Antonio Cervantes and Dujuan Johnson, both of whom
could hit very hard. Also Pryor took big shots from Arguello in the second fight and was drug tested before and after that
fight and was clean. Arguello still had a very potent punch AFTER the first Pryor fight because he knocked out former WBA
Lightweight champion Claude Noel in 3 rounds and Arguello KOed former WBC junior welterweight champion Billy Costello in 4
rounds. Some people say it was impossible for Arguello to be the same fighter after his TKO by Pryor. Arguello
comes back strong after his loss to Aaron Pryor by knocking out former WBA Lightweight Champion. Arguello was knocked
out in the first round of his first pro fight. Most people forget how well Arguello was able to deal with adversity in his
career. He lost 2 of his first 5 fights, didn’t get a title shot until his 40th fight and lost that fight by decision;
yet, was still able to regroup and go on to have a great career like Thomas Hearns did after his 2 brutal knockout defeats
to Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvin Hagler. Pryor was just a phenominal fighter who was in the best shape possible when he fought
Alexis Arguello.
