It's been deservedly referred to as one of the best one-round fights ever. And it was on CBS Sports on a Saturday.
Oh, boxing. What happened?
That's a rhetorical question.
Arturo Frias showed up in the mid- and late-70's at the famed Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, generally fighting often, and went undefeated until 1981. His first loss, a majority decision verdict against former WBA Lightweight Champ Ernesto Espana in Venezuela, was also the first time he'd fought outside of Southern California.
After going back to his "SoCal" roots and rebounding with two wins, and taking advantage of a WBA Lightweight ranking that wasn't altered despite his loss to Espana, Frias challenged Claude Noel for his WBA Lightweight Championship. It was the belt initially vacated by Roberto Duran in 1979, then vacated by the annoying Sean O'Grady for not facing Noel, with the belt also having a couple of other temporary babysitters in between.
Even though he wasn't a big puncher, Frias was able to stop Noel in the eighth round of their matchup, then avenge his lone defeat to Espana by technical decision, gaining the WBA title and defending it for the first time, all in less than two months.
Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini likewise lost for the first time in 1981, except he lost to a consensus great to all-time great fighter in Alexis Arguello.
Mancini's brawling style and good punching power made him extremely fan-friendly and got him on television before too long. The Youngstown, Ohio native was 20-0 with 15 KO's going into his first loss to Arguello, who then held the WBC Lightweight title.
Mancini gave a great account of himself and pushed the much taller champ back in many rounds, but ultimately was TKO'd in round fourteen.
Just three months later, Mancini bounced back with a knockout win, then another less than two months after that.
Mancini and Frias met in the ring on May 8, 1982.
Following the opening bell, a short "feeling out process" took place with both fighters mostly jabbing.
Less than three minutes later, both fighters' faces were disasters in the making, and Frias found himself wearing a white terry cloth over his head and wondering where it all went wrong for him.
Needless to say, it took you longer to read this stuff than it took you to watch the fight itself.
Watch the videos below and enjoy.
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