In the 1950s, Arcel ran independent television fights from various cities across the USA, upsetting the monopolistic International Boxing Club run by millionaire Jim Norris with the backroom assistance of mobster Frankie Carbo, a one-time gunman for Murder Inc. Warned to 'lay off, or else', Arcel carried on until one day in Boston when he was slugged over the head with a lead pipe. He recovered but quit the fight game, coming back in the 1970s to train the great Duran. He last worked the corner with heavyweight champion Larry Holmes in 1982.