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

Nice find with that interview ‘Tommy heya’

as much as I like Hagler, I have to go with Monzon.

Hagler was so skilled, anybody who came straight at him could be nullified and beaten up.
But Monzon wouldn’t do that, he’d keep it as long as possible and keep Hagler on the end of his jab. Hagler has a fine jab himself of course, but Monzon wins that battle here.
Hagler for all of his talents, could be confused and out-thought by the smartest boxers.
Monzon is as classic a ring general as you will find.
Hagler was stronger than many of his opponents , but he isn’t as strong as Monzon, Monzon will tie him up whenever he has to. For all of his macho image, he wasn’t like a Hearns who would try to out punch Hagler.

Monzon doesn’t have the skills of a Duran, but he brings that same kind of ring generalship and presence in to the ring. With his strength and size that would enough to beat Hagler on points.
Monzon UD

 

This is a great point and one I’ve thought about as well.
Confidence is so important. As you say Monzon had supreme confidence.
I picked Monzon , but what would be interesting would be a prime, still speedy Hagler, with a trainer who could manage to convince him it is his only chance, going right at Monzon and going for broke.

I don’t think that’s a fight we ever would have seen, but Hagler has a much better chance fighting like that.
That’s basically how he beat Hearns, and I don’t think that was due to any tactical reason, just a personal dislike of Hearns.
If he fought like that against Monzon, rage mode Hagler, it would be interesting to see how Monzon deals with it.

 

Excellent post. You wonder too, how Monzon fares against Hagler’s oft-used right hooks over an opponent’s low left(which Monzon was guilty of).

Hmmm. Now I’m second guessing myself.

 

Hey I expected a fun breakdown from you, when you’re arguing with me about things you bring up jaw sizes, rats wrestling and compare Foreman to Santa… I DEMAND BLOOD

 

I feel like to do this well I need to put a bit more thought into it. Like I might rank Monzon higher, but H2H I wanna do a deeper dive as this is more of a ‘big-boy’ thread the way you’ve laid it out and don’t want to go off the cuff as it’s a really tough one.

See, you could have done the same thing with Hagler and Hugo Corro and I’d have already answered, easy.

 

'Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.'

Sun Tzu.

 

“GGG hits harder then Jimmy Young” - Sun Tzu

 

He’d have been worse off with Cus, Cus handicapped every fighter he touched (ew)… the void of “Marvellous” Hagler would’ve been filled by Hamsho, Roldan, Peek-A-Boo Hagler and Vito passing around the belt, Benitez would’ve got brave, Leonard, Hearns and Duran to heaps sooner, it’d be a mess and like the post Tunney HW era everyone would’ve got a turn at wearing the belt lol… Hagler also mentioned by name Fullmer, Graziano and “The real Sugar Ray” has inspiration and “real champions” I don’t remember Rocky being as such but I won’t argue with Marvellous - odd how Monzon praised Hagler so much but when asked about Robinson he just said he was a better middleweight champion… so I’ve read.