Sugar Ray Robinson vs King Carlos Monzon (160lbs 15 rounds)

SRR is the GOAT for me, but Monzon is way bigger

 

Unlike Emile Griffith and Jose Napoles (Both smaller men than Robinson at the tail ends
of their careers,the only ATG's he faced.) Monzon wouldn't have a distinct size advantage over Robinson.
He definitely wouldn't be able to match his speed and overall skills.
Monzon would need to pop that jab out overtime , keep Robinson at the
end of it , and off balance.
But Robinson's better agility and speed would see him through, his combinations
would lead him on to a decisive dec win.

 

Carlos Monzon was tall for a middleweight, 5 ft 11 inches tall, had a stiff left jab, threw combinations to the head and body, then comes the booming right hand that had produced 61 KO's in a 14 year career, 1963 - 1977. True a lot of his opponents were unknown to the American public, bottom line, he was a constant winner. He defended his World Middleweight title 14 times, never losing it in the ring, champion from 1970 - 1977, unbeaten 82 bout winning streak from Oct 9 1964 until his retirement on August 29 1977. He had immense confidence in the ring, always calm and collected while defeating his opponent, had an iron chin as well. Defeated the likes of Bad Bennie Briscoe and Rodrigo Valdes,(twice). Sugar Ray Robinson was a master boxer, footwork and speed of hand. The knock on Robinson was that he was too inconsistent, losing his title 4 times, regaining it 5 times, he took some opponents for granted, an example being Randy Turpin, first fight. Robinson was a very great fighter, but at 160 lbs, he had many struggles. As I Have always said, you can only fight what is put in front of you, not fighters from the past or present but from present era. In a close match, 15 rounds, Monzon by close 15 round decision. Very tactical fight at best.

 

I'm thinking that Robbo struggles with Carlos, in a way similar to the first Turpin fight.
I see much the same result, with Monzon getting a close decision win.
I don't actually like picking over Ray, he's the man, but I believe that Monzon would find a way to beat him.

 

Brilliant synopsis ( as we come to expect from Richard ) and I bow to no one in my admiration of Monzon, in fact posted a long and lengthy appraisal of his skill set as one of the ATG not just of MW but any weight !! so it with a heavy heart that I find myself going against both Richard and Carlos .
For me SRR would be too mobile and slick for most of the fight, I feel it would play out a bit like the Maxim fight, Ray up against a bigger, taller opponent, but who has less mobility, and is slower of foot, so providing it is not 99 degrees at fight time, I see a compelling and exciting fight with Carlos having some success with that heavy thudding right cross, but ultimately being out scored, and out punched, for most of the fight, Ray's combos, granite chin, and ring science caring the day. keep well buddy.

 

Tough one. I’m going to go with Robinson by a narrow decision but I say that with no real conviction

 

i overlook two of Rays losses - Basilio because he was robbed, and Fullmer because he was too old.

so my pick is Robinson because he is more gifted, and would rip Monzon with his head and body combinations

 

Robinson outclasses him for 15 rounds. They're not in the same league.

 

I decided the fight is in Argentina so I went with a draw in keeping with that country’s traditions. (Didn’t Monzon, arguably the GOAT middleweight, have like nine draws lol?)

If it’s in the summer outdoors, though, Ray might melt in the South American heat and faint. It was known to happen to him.

 

This is my feeling precisely except I’m going tentatively the other way. Monzon on points. Maybe one point.

 

Have thought about this fight a million times and it's just so hard to pick a winner here, the styles match up is fascinating.

When I try to picture the fight in my mind I see Monzon eeking out a close decision usually.

 

Monzon

 

12 votes either way & a draw, currently. Accurate.