Sugar Ray Leonard vs Carlos Monzon, fifteen rounds.

monzon would win by decision in a 12 rounder and would stop him in a 15 rounder. we are talking about a natural super mw vs a welter

 

Leonard starts fast, then fades as Monzon's relentless attack takes it's toll. Carlos wins a lopsided decision over a battered Leonard.

 

Prime Carlos with his reach and power will be a severe test for any verision of Sugar Ray.

The 160 version that stepped up to fight Hagler after, a 3 year lay off mind you, versus the version of Monzon that took good care of Napoles will be they type of fight that is good at the outset but falls into a pattern of Monzon fielding a pesky Leonard looking for ways to out smart him all the while Leonard trys to stay out of the way of Carlos' jab and straight right and sweeping left hook.

I think that for all of Leonard offense skill and intelligence this fight will look like the begining rounds of Leonard - Hearns I. Leonard looking for openings and not finding much. The difference is that there will be no chinny opponent in the ring with him. What will be in the ring with him is a primed up, hard punching, iron chin, iron willed, stick to plan, head-banger name Mr. Carlos Monzon.

Monzon in 13 or on wide points. Leonard has no chance.

 

Leonard with his "huge" amount of fights at 40 compared to Monzon with 100 fights is a no brainer for me.

Monzon crushes Leonard in any way shape or form. He has zero chance in this one and if you ask him he would say the same thing.

What you say, Ray?

 

Hey Jeff....This is Ray Leonard.

I think I have a very, very.....very, very good chance of defeating Carlos Monzon. I have the speed and movement. He would be like Roberto Duran, heard of him? They worship him at ESB...anyway. I no mas'ed him is the bottom line. I would do basically the same to Carlos.

Thanks,
The Real Sugar Ray (Not that bum Walker Smith)

P.S. I beat Roberto Duran...which is by all boxing laws of nature...imposible.

 

Monzon never fought anyone like Leonard. Leonard had the clear speed advantage and arguably power. Both had hard chins. However Monzon's ring generalship was tip top. Not a clear winner for me.

 

Ray Leonard by decision over 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, or 15 rounds. Monzon was good, maybe even great, but he wasn't on Leonard's level in my opinion. I think Monzon gets overrated.

He struggled badly with a past prime Emile Griffith twice, KO14 and W15. Rodrigo Valdes lost two very close decision to Monzon, he even dropped Monzon.

Who else did he beat? Benvenuti was past prime but gave Monzon trouble prior to getting stopped in the 12th round (their first fight). Monzon stopped Benvenuti in the 3rd round of their rematch, it was Benvenuti's 90th pro fight and his last.

He drew 9 times, once with Bennie Briscoe. He also beat Briscoe by clear decision in their rematch.

He beat Jose Naples in Naples only fight above WW, KO6. It was Naple's 83rd pro fight, he went 4-1 (2) in his next 5 then retired, he was stopped in the loss.

Does this really compare with wins over Benitez, Duran x2, Hearns, and Hagler?... 5-1-1 (3) vs. these Hall of Famers.

Leonard was very fast (hands and feet), he was very elusive, he was very durable, he was much stronger than most realize, he punched harder than most realize. His stamina, footwork, and overall boxing skill was great. I can't think of a good reason for why Monzon would win.

 

I believe you made the point for Monzon. Carlos had a hell of a lot more professional fights than Ray did, hence more closer fights. Reminds me of when people give out about Bennie Briscoe's 20 plus losses. Yeah, well the ****er had what, 100 professional fights or so? Leonard struggled with Kevin Howard and Ayub Kalule. He wanted nothing to do with Hagler until Hagler was slow as **** and ready to retire, and Hagler even TOLD Lennie that he'd had enough when Lenny invited him to gauge him when he opened up his restaurant in Maryland. Monzon is one of the few guys out there that has a boxing IQ that can match Lenny's. Lenny's NO WAY ON GOD'S GREEN EARTH going to ko Carlos, so he's going to have to outbox him. Lenny is faster and has quicker footwork, but those are the only advantages, and he's not going to chum up to the assasin Monzon like he did to Hagler. Honestly, if they were on the go at the same time, I believe that Lenny would have wanted nothing to do with Monzon while both would have been prime. Monzon by rough decision or late tko.

 

He won that many fights because he fought a lot of bums... he still had 9 draws and 3 losses before he was washed up. He never fought as a washed up or even well past prime fighter... Ray did, and that's why he has 3 losses instead of just 1. Out of all of the fighters Monzon lost and drew with, only Bennie Briscoe is worth mentioning. He did win a clear decision over Briscoe in a rematch.

Leonard is only 1 1/2" shorter and his reach is only 2" shorter. Leonard was every bit as durable. Leonard was stronger than most of the fighters Monzon fought and a better puncher than most of the fighters Monzon fought. Leonard also had good stamina and knew how to keep a guy hurt once he had him hurt.

 

Leonard's chin wasnt the best but I think he can last the 15 with Monzon I really do provided Monzon doesnt pressure him too much

another thing Leonard would have going for him is that Monzon didnt have the fastest hands. fighters with fast hands had two advantages: 1) is that those fighters put serious hurt on him and 2) constantly beat Ray to the punch

but I think in this fight, Ray is actually faster and could win a few rounds. still, I favor Monzon and think he would win more rounds decisively than a shot Hagler

Monzon steps it up on a fading Leonard in the later rounds who resorts to clinching more and more. the last three rounds are utterly lopsided

and that's how the fight would really go

 

I might be in the minority here but I wouldn't be shocked if Leonard found a way to win this one. I'm not saying that he would win but it's certainly possible. Monzon was great but much slower than Ray. Carlos liked to set the pace and range and work from both as he systematically and methodically wore his opponent down. Could he do this to Leonard? Maybe but it wouldn't be easy. Leonard was fast both in his hands and feet. He would certainly be the speediest opponent Monzon ever faced. And Ray could punch as well. Combine that with his killer instinct and Carlos is in for a rough night. I guess I would have to favor Monzon but Leonard was a pain in the ass who often found a way to win. carlos is big and strong and durable but his comparative lack of speed might be his undoing here. Maybe I need to read more posts before making up my mind.

 

I think Leonard would win this. It wouldnt be easy but hed win. Monzon is very overrated in my opinion. This would be one time he would be facing a great fighter in his prime. Monzon has good names on resume but none were prime. Even if they were guys like Briscoe and Griffith (the two best names on his resume) were guys that had a style suited to Monzon. If Hearns, who was a wrecking ball at WW and every bit as tall and hard hitting as Monzon while being faster and a better technical boxer, couldnt beat Leonard then I dont think Monzon could. I just dont think Monzon could win a boxing match with Leonard and I dont see him being able to make Leonard stand and fight. He might, Im not 100% confident but I lean toward Leonard.

One thing though. I would advise Leonard not to fight in Argentina. In Argentina Leonard would lose even if he were ahead 15 rounds to zip and had Monzon on the verge of a KO.

 

I'm not sure ... Ray Leonard had speed and an incredible intangible ... He actually was very close to Monzon on reach .. he would give Carlos a lot of trouble but Monzon had an iron chin while Hearns simply did not ... Ray could not count on Carlos slowing down after six rounds or caving in from a body shot ...over 15 I favor Monzon's strength but so much depends on ring size and the ref ... I would not bet it ..