So the likes of prime Bennie Briscoe, plus plenty of natural Middleweights couldn't knock Monzon off his feet, but Leonard and Hearns could easily do so if they " cut loose " on him?:rofl:rofl:rofl Let me have some of what your smoking please.
Leonard / Duran. L UD 15 Hagler / Duran. W UD 15 and you are asking who showed the most steel. There is revisionism. Then there is you.
Really? Try telling that to Shane Mosley, and explain to him exactly why he lost to the much slower Vernon Forrest, twice. I am sure he would be grateful for your expertise.:rofl:rofl Here is a clue for you from a pre fight quote by Forrest. " I ain't bothered by Shane's speed. I'll take that away from him with the jab." He did.
This. Even SR Robinson who I would pick to beat him would (a) have to be at the top of his game and (b) know he had been in a fight.
Bennie Briscoe. Briscoe lost to everyone, EVERYONE, and had to keep his full-time job his entire career. Yes, all-time greats who knocked out light heavys could do what perennial bridesmaid middleweights couldn't. That's exactly right. Bennie Briscoe.
Monzon was shorter than Hearns. Monzon never punched as hard as Hearns. Monzon wasn't as fast as Hearns. And Leonard knocked Hearns out. Monzon was fairly easy to hit, especially with left hooks. He didn't move his head much at all. Leonard beats Monzon. Hearns beats Monzon. Hagler beats Monzon.
I don't want to embarrass you. But fighters actually gain weight after weigh ins. And they were fighting for the newly created Super Middleweight title, as well. That's why they weighed under 168. Lalonde would've held both titles if he'd won. And Lalonde barely cracked 170 when he fought at light heavy. In fact, he fought at 167 the year before he won the vacant light heavy strap. So it wasn't exactly foreign to him. :good
Monzon would destroy Hearns and Leonard. Anyone who thinks that either of them could knock out Monzon has no understanding of the sport, none at all.
Monzon was never knocked out despite taking hard punches from Valdez who was an excellent puncher (and easily superior puncher to Leonard in particular at middleweight). Neither of them are knocking him out. Have you ever actually seen Monzon fight? Unlike Tommy, he had a great chin and didn't run out of energy. He knew how to cut the ring against quicker fighters. He would knock out Tommy within 5 rounds and either decision Leonard or even stop him late. Even Hagler would have his hands full vs Monzon, (which is something he himself admitted) let alone Leonard or Hearns.
what is so funny here? The guy with an iron chin who was never even close to being stopped, who took several amazing shots vs a hard hitting Valdez is going to be stopped by Leonard out of all people. Please.
I also am not sold on Leonard as a middleweight for two reasons First, his anxiousness to take on the same man he fearfully ducked for years, coming out every time he saw weakness and two, his rather abrupt departure from the division, seemingly knowing he would fare poorly against the remaining contenders in the division (especially Nunn) the odds are way against Leonard against someone with a track record in his division, better than most if not all middleweights, before or after him Monzon kicks the cluck out of chicken Ray leonard
Seriously, how long do people think Carlos would hold Tony off with just a jab? my feeling John, is that hadn't yet seen the best of the bull And for the animal, he was every bit as great as Tony, both fast starters which I love like the great Saad, they departed too soon. Will we ever see their like again?
you're right, there is no defense against speed. You can ask Leonard and he'll tell you that's the exact same reason why he lost to Norris