Carlos Roque "Shotgun" Monzón vs. "Marvelous" Marvin Nathaniel Hagler - Definitive Classic Breakdown

Monzon on points seems the most likely to me. I think Monzon could probably keep the game on the outside for most of the fight and win that way. Of course, if Hagler won nobody should be surprised.

 

Hagler on points.

Hagler could do what Briscoe did in a better way... in their first fight Briscoe, by most accounts, should have won, he was too busy and Monzon couldn´t make him stay unbusy and hesitant like he did with others like Griffith and Nino, Griffith and Nino exploded in flurries way too often and to a guy like Monzón that would hit a jab in your face with such timing, that was a no no.

Hagler was not like that though, he could outjab Monzon and confuse him and all that... I can´t see how Monzon would win rounds staying in the ropes like he did against such a healthy and busy guy like Hagler.

 

Although Hagler is one of my all time favorite fighters, my gut tells me that Monzon may just be a bad stylistic match for Marvin. Leonard was able to get inside Hagler's head a little and cause him to fight a less than perfect fight plan. The always unflappable Monzon may do likewise. I think Carlos, wins a very close decision in a great fight. Especially if the fight is held in Argentina or Europe as was often the case with Carlos.

 

Hagler on points. Monzon was very human and magnetic here—I agree that Marvin being lefty would be a very important factor.

 

I'm going Hagler on pts. I can see Monzon having the outside game to keep Hagler at range and maybe even walk him onto something.
But Hagler was a machine when in full flow.
I think he can do a bit of damage to Monzon at some point and maybe even having him hanging on if the absolute best Hagler turns up.

Real tough one to call this fight.

 

I dont go for triangle theory but three words that stick out for me are Bad, Bennie and Briscoe. Sure, both Hagler and Monzon beat him, Monzon twice I think, but I think Monzon was even if momentarily taken back by Bennie's pace and sheer ferocity. Now, Hagler is, in my fevered imagination, like a Briscoe who went to university, graduated top of his class in educated pressure and did a masters in 'chin'.

What a fight this would be. I think its a close run thing but Marvin's educated, relentless pressure and his constant, accurate heavy hands just edge this for him. Monzon had an engine and didnt know how to lose once he was seasoned, but I just think Hagler has that little bit more discipline, that little bit more condition, got up that little bit earlier and ran that little bit longer and that is the only thing that seperates these men. A little bit. Hagler wins a close, tight decision, taking as much as he gives, and they never fight again because both men know what's the way this fight goes.

I dont think many fighters were as disciplined as Hagler and to steal a cliche, hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work.

 

Im going with one of World Boxing's 1984 editions here:

Monzon on points, 144-141.

 

Hagler would be moving to Monzon's left, even subtly. Busier.. right jab and left cross are the order of the day. Hagler too underrated with the devastating combinations. But it's Monzon, so I'll say Hagler decision.

 

A couple of things to consider...
First, Hagler may have fought from a southpaw stance but he was not left handed. If you watch him fight you will see that his left hand is practiced, not natural. He could use it well enough when he needed to- he was a consummate pro and worked hard at everything he did- but it was not his primary weapon and would not be the factor in this fight. Marvin was very right hand dominant in his style. Most of the time when he switches stances it is to get in position to land a right hand. Watch him and notice how often he throws a left hand to cover him as he shifts his feet to land a right.
Second, Hagler moves to his left a lot as a southpaw because he is looking to land right hands. He can get the inside line for his jab, for example. But the right hook from a southpaw, when he steps to his left, is a natural counter to the right hand of an orthodox fighter. And Monzon was a right hand puncher. If Hagler is going to hurt Monzon, it would be there, in an exchange of right hands where he beats Monzon to the punch.
What the fight would really come down to is who controls the distance and picks the term of the exchanges. If Monzon can keep the fight long, behind his jab and straight right, landing to the body as Marvin closes in, then tying up, he will win. Marvin wants to get close and get into firefights where his tighter punches and faster hands will give him an edge. What works against Marvin is his tendency to over think, to try and out smart a guy to the point where he outsmarts himself, if that makes sense. He did that for a lot of the Duran and Leonard fights.
I was just watching some of one of his fights with Valdes and Monzon sometimes was too ...easygoing? What I mean is, his jab was a little too slow coming back and he dropped his right hand a little too much before he threw it.
I noticed that because it was part of the sequence that led to Valdes dropping him with a right hand. In the minute before the knockdown. Valdes hit him with a good right hand, tried several more, landed another then scored the kd. Monzon never brought that jab back quicker, he didn't pick up his right hand. He tried to stay tall and looked to counter Valdes with his right hand and got caught. A stretch like that against Hagler could really cost him.
Beyond that I don't really have an opinion on the fight. I am much more familiar with Hagler than Monzon and would have to watch more of Carlos to pick a winner.