Legendary champ shoots himself

Nicaraguan boxing legend Alexis Arguello committed suicide by shooting himself through the heart early on Wednesday.

According to press reports from Managua the 57-year-old, a national hero who was elected mayor of Nicaragua last November, had been sufferring from depression.

Arguello was one of the world's dominant boxers in the 1970s and 1980s. He was WBA featherweight champion from 1974 to 1976, WBC light-welterweight champion from 1978 to 1980 and WBC lightweight champion from 1981 to 1983.

He was honoured by his country last year when named to carry the national flag at the opening cermony of the Beijing Olympics.

AP reports that an autopsy report said the bullet hit 57-year-old Arguello's heart and left lung, and concluded the probable cause was suicide.

Assistant judicial police chief Glenda Zavala said Arguello shot himself with a 9mm pistol and was already dead when relatives brought him to the hospital.

Arguello had spoken publicly of his struggle with depression, alcohol and drug use.

He retired from boxing in 1995 with a record of 82-8 with 65 knockouts.

He was perhaps best known for two thrilling battles with Aaron Pryor and fights with Ray Mancini, Bobby Chacon and Ruben Olivares.

"I'm kind of in a daze right now. I can't believe what I'm hearing," Pryor told The Associated Press. "Those were great fights we had. This was a great champion."

Nicknamed "The Explosive Thin Man," Arguello was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992, where flags were flying at half-staff in his honor on Wednesday.

In 1999, a panel of experts assembled by The AP voted Arguello the best junior lightweight and sixth-best lightweight of the 20th century.

He never lost at 59 kg and his popularity in his own country was so great that he carried the flag for Nicaragua at the Beijing Olympics.

"Not only was he one of the greatest fighters I've ever seen, he was the most intelligent fighter," said Bob Arum, who promoted some of his biggest fights. "He was a ring tactician. Every move was thought out. And he was a wonderful, wonderful person."

Arguello turned professional in 1968 and lost his first bout. He didn't lose many more, and six years later knocked out Olivares in the 13th round to win the world featherweight title.

Arguello went on to win super featherweight and lightweight titles, his 1.78m frame allowing him to move up in weight without losing his tremendous punching power.

At the time, he was only the sixth boxer to win championships in three weight classes, and was rated for a while the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

Panama's Roberto Duran, another world champion at three weights, expressed disbelief. "I can't believe it. He was my friend, my brother," Duran said.

"His death is a great loss for world boxing and a much greater loss for Nicaragua."

The retired Oscar De La Hoya said: "I felt sad receiving the news and still find it hard to believe. Alexis was my idol. When I was young, I heard so much about him and his fights and loved his style in the ring. In my opinion he was one of the biggest and most influential fighters boxing has ever produced."

De La Hoya said Arguello attended his fight against Steve Forbes in May 2008, which was De La Hoya's last victory.

"We shared some great moments together before and after the fight," he said. "Arguello was definitely a legend in the boxing world because of all the joy he brought to his fans with his unforgettable career and amazing personality."

Arguello moved up in weight again in November 1982 to challenge Pryor for the 63.5kg belt, a match billed as "Battle of the Champions." More than 23,000 fans packed the Orange Bowl in Miami, and the two waged an epic battle before Pryor knocked out Arguello in the 14th round.

"It was a brutal, brutal fight," Arum said. "That was something I will never, ever forget as long as I live. That was one of the most memorable fights I ever did."

The bout was named "Fight of the Year" and "Fight of the Decade" by Ring Magazine, but was shrouded by controversy. Pryor's trainer, Panama Lewis, gave him a water bottle after the 13th round that many believe contained an illegal substance; an accusation Pryor denied.

A rematch was ordered and they met again a year later at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. This time, Pryor knocked out Arguello in the tenth round.

"We always talk to each other about that first fight," Pryor said. "I never went into the fight knowing I could beat Alexis, I just went into the fight to beat Alexis."

Arguello announced after the fight that he would retire from boxing, but as so often happens in the sport, Arguello couldn't stay away from the ring.

He returned to win two fights in 1985 and 1986, then didn't step in the ring until 1994, when he made a brief comeback. He retired for good the next year.

"Alexis Arguello was a first-class fighter and a first-class gentleman," said Hall of Fame executive director Edward Brophy.

"The Hall of Fame joins the boxing community in mourning the loss of a great champion and friend."

Arguello returned last Sunday from Puerto Rico, where he had honoured the late baseball Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente.

His death prompted Nicaragua president Daniel Ortega to announced he was cancelling a trip to Panama for the inauguration of president-elect Ricardo Martinelli.

"We are upset," presidential spokeswoman Rosario Murillo said. "This is a heartbreaking announcement. He was the champion of the poor, an example of forgiveness and reconciliation."