Editing Alexis Argüello (section)

=== Junior lightweight ===
After a successful fourth defense, Argüello moved up in weight to challenge world [[junior lightweight]] champion [[Alfredo Escalera]] in [[Bayamón]], [[Puerto Rico]], in what has been nicknamed ''[[The Bloody Battle of Bayamon]]'' by many. Escalera had been a busy champion with ten defenses, and he had dethroned [[Kuniaki Shibata]] in 2 rounds in Tokyo. In what some experts (including ''[[The Ring (magazine)|The Ring]]'' writers) consider one of the most brutal fights in history, Escalera had his eye, mouth and nose broken early but was rallying back in the scorecards when Argüello finished him, once again in the thirteenth round.

His reign at Junior Lightweight saw him fend off the challenges of Escalera in a rematch held at [[Rimini]], Italy, as well as former and future world champion [[Bobby Chacon]], future two-time world champion [[Rafael Limón|Rafael "''Bazooka''" Limón]], [[Ruben Castillo (boxer)|Ruben Castillo]], future champion [[Rolando Navarrete]], and Diego Alcalá, beaten in only one round.

Argüello suffered many cuts around his face during his second victory against Escalera. The on-site doctor wanted him hospitalized, but Argüello had a flight to catch from [[Rome]] the next day to return to Nicaragua, and he boarded a train from Rimini. The doctor decided to travel with Argüello, and performed [[plastic surgery]] on Argüello's cuts with Argüello awake.