So Whatever Became of Cornelius Boza Edwards After Arguello?

[acb]

Beyond what boxrec can tell me, did any of you follow his career after the Arguello fight, or at least study film of him in his post-Arguello career?

I watched this fight, very entertaining. Arguello had superior timing, Edwards was a gamer, conditioned, tough, and coming off of 9 straight KO victories at just 24 years old. This seems like the kind of fight that may turn a career around, not an over the top beating but significant after the roll he was on coming in.

As a side note, SS fan, a few weeks back there was a thread about boxers with balance. I made mention to Arguello seeming shakey on his legs in some footage I had seen and you said that when he was younger this wasn't always true. You were absolutely correct, at least in this footage at 28 years old he was very solid. Good call.

Anyways off to watch the Lakers, but will check the thread tonight.

[salsanchezfan]

............After Arguello? Well, his best years came after that fight. He went on to win the junio-lightweight crown from Limon in a highly entertaining 15-round decision, decking the iron-chinned Mexican in the process. He stopped Chacon in his first title defense when Bobby couldn't continue after the 13th round, then got pole-axed by Navarette in 5.

He probably should have moved up to 135 after that, but got a shot at Chacon's newly-won 130 pound title and barely lost a thrilling 12-round decision. 1983's fight of the year. You could tell then why he should have moved up, though. His legs started to betray him, presumably from the struggle to make 130. After then dropping a ten rounder to Rocky Lockridge, he did move up, and ran off a succession of impressive victories as a lightweight. He was easily decisioned by Camacho and destroyed in five by Jose Luis Ramirez in title tries, and that was the end of a stellar career.

[JohnThomas1]

............After Arguello? Well, his best years came after that fight. He went on to win the junio-lightweight crown from Limon in a highly entertaining 15-round decision, decking the iron-chinned Mexican in the process. He stopped Chacon in his first title defense when Bobby couldn't continue after the 13th round, then got pole-axed by Navarette in 5.

He probably should have moved up to 135 after that, but got a shot at Chacon's newly-won 130 pound title and barely lost a thrilling 12-round decision. 1983's fight of the year. You could tell then why he should have moved up, though. His legs started to betray him, presumably from the struggle to make 130. After then dropping a ten rounder to Rocky Lockridge, he did move up, and ran off a succession of impressive victories as a lightweight. He was easily decisioned by Camacho and destroyed in five by Jose Luis Ramirez in title tries, and that was the end of a stellar career.

Nice post, Boza was one of my favourite 80's fighters.

[la-califa]

Yep, one of my favorite's. All three of the Limon, Chacon fights were wars! Still can't believe he got kayoed by Navarette. Then Navarette lost it in his first defense to Bazooka Limon in another ablsolute war! Those were great days for the Jr. Lightweight Division. After that Limon was pretty much done as he put up feeble resistance, as he gave a title shot to a young up & coming kid-Hector Camacho.

[Sweet Pea]

Yeah, I'd say he did his best work post-Arguello. He looked good in the Arguello fight as was. But as was usually the case with Alexis, if he was getting outboxed early he'd turn it up another notch as the fight wore on, and end up stopping you. But Boza's wars with Chacon are probably what he's most remembered for.

I've seen the Navarette fight as well. Navarette looked excellent, I rate him quite high at his best around 130 pounds. Would've liked to have seen him against the other Pinoy power-puncher of today.

[la-califa]

& Also he is a trainer, based out of his hometown of Las Vegas. Ocasionally you can see him in a fight on TV working one of the corners.

[Lobotomy]

Corny really was a spectacularly exciting fighter. Arguello was his introduction to most American fans, and while he did succumb to Arguello's power, he also managed to be on his feet when the action ended.

For some reason, John Verderosa angered him tremendously, and Corny looked awsome in pounding The Heat out of the unbeaten ranks. His next display was in a scorching ten rounder with Roberto Elizondo, broadcast on ABC by Sal Marciano. When that one began, Boza Edwards tried to utilize movement, not wanting to become a battered warrior after too many hard fights, like Chacon and Saad Muhammad. But he quickly discovered that his legs tired quickly on that particular ring surface, so he went to the ropes against Elizondo as Arguello had done in Roberto's previous fight (an unsuccessful challenge for Arguello's lightweight title a year earlier, where Alexis fractured his jaw with that lethal counterpunching of his).

Boza Edwards countered Elizondo's aggressive body attack with blistering uppercut combinations off the ropes, and won the decision after 30 minutes of nonstop action. Melvin Paul was coming off the ropes when Corny nailed him with one of the deadliest looking right hooks I've ever seen, for the definitive one punch knockout win of his career. He was the first one to ever stop Arturo Leon, one of the most rugged journeymen of his era (whose resume is a who's who of noteworthy opponents).

In the first battle with Chacon, Corny had a hairy moment when Bobby made him dance a wild jig with one of those spectacular right hands Schoolboy was noted for. He dropped Rafael Limon at a time in Bazooka's career when his chin was starting to seem impervious.

With Limon, Navarrete, Boza Edwards and Camacho, the early 1980s were something of a southpaw golden age, as well as glory days for the super featherweight division. Chacon, Navarrete, Limon and Boza Edwards always guaranteed excitement.

[booradley]

& Also he is a trainer, based out of his hometown of Las Vegas. Ocasionally you can see him in a fight on TV working one of the corners.

He was working some kid's corner on wednesday Night
fights last night.

[Nobudius]

Boza went on to become a staple of 80's boxing....ahhaa.... to be able to watch TERRIFIC fights without PPV. Lobotmy's post brought back some fond memories. He is another fighter that would be making lots of $$ today.

Alexis really crippled Boza to the body from this fight, if I remember correctly. Just devastating work, & a great example of how patient Alexis was as a fighter. A patient, thinking fighter with power is a deadly combination.

[Lobotomy]

Boza went on to become a staple of 80's boxing....ahhaa.... to be able to watch TERRIFIC fights without PPV. Lobotomy's post brought back some fond memories. He is another fighter that would be making lots of $$ today.Hey, thanks for the affirming feedback! I don't consider myself much of a poster, but when I've managed to jog somebody else's recall of specific details, then I truly feel I've done about as well as I can. Boza Edwards probably did make a tidy sum while he was competing. He boxed at a time when televised exposure made him much more of a household word to the general public than most boxers are today.

When Corny fought Navarrete, I was shopping in a high end department store, and their bout was being displayed on a huge projection screen set for sale. A whole bunch of shoppers were gathered around to gawk at the technology, and watch the action. Men, women, boys and girls of all ages knew the participants involved. It's difficult for me to imagine such a collection of people doing that today for a boxing broadcast in public.Alexis really crippled Boza to the body from this fight, if I remember correctly. Just devastating work, & a great example of how patient Alexis was as a fighter. A patient, thinking fighter with power is a deadly combination.Not only was his bodywork ruinous, but he kept knocking Boza Edwards woozy with head shots. Just when it looked like Corny was going to fall, Arguello slipped to the deck himself, enabling Boza Edwards to finish the round on his feet. (Micky Duff stopped it between rounds.)

Just as with Joe Louis, the conventional wisdom with Arguello was to stick and move. But that only worked for Vilomar Fernandez the first time around, and then largely because that was scheduled for ten rounds. (If Alexis had gotten him in a 15 rounder like Duran did, then he too would have eventually caught Vilomar downstairs. Still, Fernandez outmaneuvered Arguello inside a small ring in a masterful display of mobility, quickness, intelligence and skill, although he was just starting to tire at the end.)

The 15 round distance was integral to the patient success of Arguello, Sanchez and their ilk. I've often wondered how successful they would have been in an era that rewards doping while penalizing patience and strategy.

In the poll on who the greatest 130 pounder of all time is, the caliber of Arguello's challengers and achievers in that division could heavily tilt those results in his favor. Boza Edwards, Limon, Chacon, Navarrete, Escalera twice, and then 47-0-0 Ruben Castillo make for a pretty impressive resume. Alexis had problems with Marcel and Olivares at 126, and difficulties with Vilomar Fernandez and Jose Luis Ramirez at 135, but 130 was all his.

[Nobudius]

I remember when I started RECORDING some of those fights in 80's. Was a big, big, deal-those VHS recorders.

Boza, Bazooka, Chacon, & others certainly made that particular era memorable- but Arguello clearly was a cut above them. Always admired Arguello's professionalism-there was something very "noble" in the way he carried himself as a champion. He went after Pryor rather than merely get a "belt" to make history. I will always remember that.

[sthomas]

Glad to hear Boza Edwards is still around the game. He was a great exciting fighter and fun to watch, you always knew you'd be getting a great fight when his name was on the card.

[jowcol]

Alexis really crippled Boza to the body from this fight, if I remember correctly. Just devastating work, & a great example of how patient Alexis was as a fighter. A patient, thinking fighter with power is a deadly combination.

I'd read somewhere that Boza literally crapped his pants in this fight! :yikes
Anyone else have any info?

[mr. magoo]

He was working some kid's corner on wednesday Night
fights last night.

Yes, Boza Edwards has been a boxing trainer for at least the past 20 years now, maybe longer. I remember around 1989-1990, he was training a prospect who regularly appeared on ESPN named Kelcie Banks. Not sure, if the kid ever went anywhere, but Edwards seems to still be in the business of training young fighters.

[gfielder]

A guy I work with used to know Cornelius in the 70's before he went to las vegas. I was wondering if anyone knew where he could be found these days as this guy is going to las vegas and wants o try and track him down.

[The Morlocks]

Beyond what boxrec can tell me, did any of you follow his career after the Arguello fight, or at least study film of him in his post-Arguello career?

I watched this fight, very entertaining. Arguello had superior timing, Edwards was a gamer, conditioned, tough, and coming off of 9 straight KO victories at just 24 years old. This seems like the kind of fight that may turn a career around, not an over the top beating but significant after the roll he was on coming in.

As a side note, SS fan, a few weeks back there was a thread about boxers with balance. I made mention to Arguello seeming shakey on his legs in some footage I had seen and you said that when he was younger this wasn't always true. You were absolutely correct, at least in this footage at 28 years old he was very solid. Good call.

Anyways off to watch the Lakers, but will check the thread tonight.
I followed his whole career which I have on dvd also. Arguello hit him SO hard in the body, that Boza said he actually shit his drawers. He had no idea who Arguello was and as the beating started to get bad, he said he knew the guy he was fighting was special and decided he had had enough. Boza was a staple of the tv in the early 80's and one of the best actionfighters ever. a fight not much mentioned but worth seeing is his 10 rd. war w/ Roberto Elizondo. Well worth it. And his career set is great. He was never in a bad fight.:gun

[turpinr]

I followed his whole career which I have on dvd also. Arguello hit him SO hard in the body, that Boza said he actually shit his drawers. He had no idea who Arguello was and as the beating started to get bad, he said he knew the guy he was fighting was special and decided he had had enough. Boza was a staple of the tv in the early 80's and one of the best actionfighters ever. a fight not much mentioned but worth seeing is his 10 rd. war w/ Roberto Elizondo. Well worth it. And his career set is great. He was never in a bad fight.:gunthat fight with elizondo really was a war.i didn't think elizondo would be the same again,he took a hammering:good

[AlFrancis]

Corny really was a spectacularly exciting fighter. Arguello was his introduction to most American fans, and while he did succumb to Arguello's power, he also managed to be on his feet when the action ended.

For some reason, John Verderosa angered him tremendously, and Corny looked awsome in pounding The Heat out of the unbeaten ranks. His next display was in a scorching ten rounder with Roberto Elizondo, broadcast on ABC by Sal Marciano. When that one began, Boza Edwards tried to utilize movement, not wanting to become a battered warrior after too many hard fights, like Chacon and Saad Muhammad. But he quickly discovered that his legs tired quickly on that particular ring surface, so he went to the ropes against Elizondo as Arguello had done in Roberto's previous fight (an unsuccessful challenge for Arguello's lightweight title a year earlier, where Alexis fractured his jaw with that lethal counterpunching of his).

Boza Edwards countered Elizondo's aggressive body attack with blistering uppercut combinations off the ropes, and won the decision after 30 minutes of nonstop action. Melvin Paul was coming off the ropes when Corny nailed him with one of the deadliest looking right hooks I've ever seen, for the definitive one punch knockout win of his career. He was the first one to ever stop Arturo Leon, one of the most rugged journeymen of his era (whose resume is a who's who of noteworthy opponents).

In the first battle with Chacon, Corny had a hairy moment when Bobby made him dance a wild jig with one of those spectacular right hands Schoolboy was noted for. He dropped Rafael Limon at a time in Bazooka's career when his chin was starting to seem impervious.

With Limon, Navarrete, Boza Edwards and Camacho, the early 1980s were something of a southpaw golden age, as well as glory days for the super featherweight division. Chacon, Navarrete, Limon and Boza Edwards always guaranteed excitement.

Great post! I watched Corney's career closely myself including some of his televised wins in England before he hit The States. Never in a bad fight.

[Russell]

I followed his whole career which I have on dvd also. Arguello hit him SO hard in the body, that Boza said he actually shit his drawers. He had no idea who Arguello was and as the beating started to get bad, he said he knew the guy he was fighting was special and decided he had had enough. Boza was a staple of the tv in the early 80's and one of the best actionfighters ever. a fight not much mentioned but worth seeing is his 10 rd. war w/ Roberto Elizondo. Well worth it. And his career set is great. He was never in a bad fight.:gun

Reminds me of a somewhat recent Ray Mercer interview.

He said Morrison hit him so hard to the body he was farting in the ring.

I'd laugh but being hit that hard would be fucking terrifying. :verysad:verysad

[GPater11093]

Does anyone know much about his amatuer career, and I remember reading he was one of the best amatuer's in the world at one point and missed out on the Olympics when Africa boycotted them. Is this right?

Also is it true he left his family to turn pro and never seen them again?

[Titan1]

Also, didn't Cornelius and John Mugabi knew each other as youths in Uganda?

[AlFrancis]

Does anyone know much about his amatuer career, and I remember reading he was one of the best amatuer's in the world at one point and missed out on the Olympics when Africa boycotted them. Is this right?

Also is it true he left his family to turn pro and never seen them again?


I think from memory he lost his wife when she was young, don't know the circumstances but he was a one parent family.

[GPater11093]

I think from memory he lost his wife when she was young, don't know the circumstances but he was a one parent family.

Yeh that is right, cant remember details though.

[MAG1965]

& Also he is a trainer, based out of his hometown of Las Vegas. Ocasionally you can see him in a fight on TV working one of the corners.He works for Top Rank in Vegas I think or used to. I have a friend who had some fighters and he talked to Boza at times.

[The Morlocks]

Does anyone know much about his amatuer career, and I remember reading he was one of the best amatuer's in the world at one point and missed out on the Olympics when Africa boycotted them. Is this right?

Also is it true he left his family to turn pro and never seen them again?
he would have been in the great 1976 Olympics. but the African countries boycotted.:thumbsup

[Bill Butcher]

Nice post, Boza was one of my favourite 80's fighters.

Ive never seen their 1st fight but the 2nd fight with Chacon was one of the greatest fights Ive ever seen in my entire life, amazing.

[The Morlocks]

Ive never seen their 1st fight but the 2nd fight with Chacon was one of the greatest fights Ive ever seen in my entire life, amazing.
Their first fight was awesome too. Chacon quit after the 13th in a great fight filled with action. I actually like it better than the second one to tell you truth. Boza boxed more and unloaded his combos more off the jab and Bobby almost put him down in the middle of the fight w/ a rt. hand but Boza stayed up. He beat on Chacon and wore him out in the final 2 rds. and Chacon said no more while on the stool.:rasta