"Aside from a handful of guys boxing is missing the good trainers, that's why our sport is so in the air now because we don't have people who have the capability to not only train fighters but also train and create decent respectable citizens of the world"

Alexis Arguello’s reflection addresses more than just the technical side of boxing; it delves deeply into the role that trainers play in shaping both athletes and people. He suggests that, beyond a few individuals, modern boxing lacks the kind of mentors who can guide young fighters not only to victory in the ring but also toward becoming individuals with integrity and respect. For Arguello, training extends beyond perfecting technique and physical conditioning, it is about holistic development, producing both champions and upstanding members of society.

This sense of loss is palpable in Arguello’s words. The "handful of guys" alludes to a diminishing group of trainers who maintain high standards of teaching and character-building. By claiming that boxing is "in the air now", he points to a kind of instability or confusion in the sport. It may be successful in commercial terms or excitement, but lacks the rootedness and direction once provided by master trainers. Rather than just producing tough fighters, the sport is suffering because its leaders are not equipping young athletes with the life values essential for enduring success and mutual respect outside the ring.

Arguello’s concern centers on the transformative role trainers once played, molding young men not just into skilled competitors but also into responsible citizens. At its core, his message mourns a decline in mentorship and guidance, factors that he sees as crucial in elevating the sport and those who participate in it. He implies that the greatness of boxing in previous eras was due in large part to figures who transmitted discipline, humility, and a sense of purpose. Without such mentors, boxing risks losing both its soul and its direction, floating untethered in pursuit of mere technical achievement rather than contributing to the greater good.