Light heavy s that Monzon defeats?

A 175 version of tiger

 

Not many probably, well Donny Lalonde of course

 

Are you referring to the sham SRL title fight? ^

 

If Monzon moves up in 1974-75, he is 32-33 years old. He might could try Bob Foster who is 36+years old and has the Ahumada draw waiting to occur. Galindez then moves in running interference for Monzon.

But the "Golden Age of Lightheavies" is coming on line at the same time with about 15 really good LtHeavies around thereafter.

 

How about near champ Yaqui Lopez vs Monzon?

 

Wow....the Body Snatcher vs "Escopeta" (rifle, explosion, in Spanish)

 

It's impossible to know really, because he didn't even test the waters against journeyman type light heavies to gauge where he stood in terms of effectiveness, never mind good contenders or genuine elites. A fair chunk of his great success at middle came from him being so physically huge and monstrous in comparison to his opponents and knowing how to maximize his strengths and fight tall. Obviously he was very skilled as well, but I don't think his style would've carried up well against at least equally sized top fighters or naturally bigger ones. And he was a smart bloke who I think knew this and didn't risk hedging his bets.

 

I think this would be very close to the mark.

 

Just like Hagler, Monzon knew he belonged at middle weight. Staying put and retiring when he did preserved his image.

Monzon fought in the day when lower weight fighters were not shy about moving up, possibly because there were fewer belts back then.

When I look over Monzon's resume, he won most of his biggest matches with a size and age advantage. He never really beat a natural middleweight in his prime with ability. Monzon who had excellent conditioning, a very solid chin, and a long jab / high punch output wasn't going to lose to smaller / older guys.

Benvenuti was a natural middleweight, but his best stuff was in the 1960's, and he was past it by the time he met Monzon, as he was stopped by a 9-5-1 fighter a few months before meeting Monzon in1970.

Griffith was 35 years old and stood 5'7 1/2" tall.

Napoles was a former light weight, also 5'7 1/2 " tall.

Valdes a former welterweight, had a reach of 69".

 

I'd favor Lopez

 

Monzon like Hagler later on, knew that he was ideally suited to the middleweight division...so showing a wisdom in his boxing life that he failed to show in his private life, he chose to remain in that perfect division....and I cannot knock him at all for that.