Alexis Arguello, who fought in one of boxing's most classic brawls and reigned supreme at 130 pounds, was found dead at his home early yesterday.

Coroners were conducting an autopsy to determine the cause of death. Sandanista Party's Radio Ya and other local media were reporting it appeared to be a suicide.

The La Prensa newspaper reported that Arguello - elected mayor of Nicaragua's capital last year - was found with a gunshot wound to the chest.

The 57-year-old retired from boxing in 1995 with a record of 82-8 with 65 knockouts, and was a champion in three weight divisions. 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 mast in his honour yesterday.

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