Alexis Arguello, 57, Former Boxing Champ, Found Dead of Apparent Suicide with Gunshot Wound to the Chest

Former boxing champ Alexis Arguello, 57, was found dead in his home in Nicaragua early this morning. The La Prensa newspaper reported the Arguello, who was elected mayor of Managua last year, was found with a gunshot wound to the chest. Arguello retired in 1995 with a record of 82-8 with 65 knockouts and was a champion in three weight divisions. He was best known for two thrilling battles with Aaron Pryor and fights with Ray Mancini, Bobby Chacon and Ruben Olivares. Me, I am not a boxing fan, but my father loves the sport and pointed the news to me about Arguello.

Arguello "The Explosive Thin Man," was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992, where flags were flying at half-staff in his honor Wednesday. According to media reports, in 1999, a panel of experts assembled by The Associated Press voted Arguello the best junior lightweight and sixth-best lightweight of the 20th century. He never lost a fight at 130 pounds, and his popularity in his own country was so great that he carried the flag for Nicaragua at the Beijing Olympics.

Arguello will be remembered for his courageous fight against the Sandinista government in the 1980s, especially after it seized his property and bank account. He later joined the party and ran for mayor of the capital last November. He defeated Eduardo Montealegre, though opponents alleged the vote was fraudulent.