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

I also don't like how weak and relatively undeveloped Hagler's left is compared to his right, I don't think Monzon would respect his left. if King Carlos found a way and I think he could atm (On a Hagler - Monzon binge for the event) to defang Haglers right hand it'd become a beating it ain't in Hagler to settle for survival so It's possible trying to dog Monzon out of there the facial damage stops the bout in 15? my snapshot 0.2$ also don't forget on the topic of switch hitters... CRAWFORD > CANELO mark it down brother.

 

I have to go back and watch some more of Monzon to make a properly educated call. Love what I have seen but I am a big Hagler fan so don’t want to present a biased opinion.

 

I am by no means knowledgeable about the technical intricacies of boxing so my answer is more gut instinct based on watching them fight.

Monzon was not an easy man to hit in his prime. He was able to hold opponents at bay while eventually knocking out lesser lights and often comfortably decisioning top fighters. Marvin Hagler had multi-faceted skills and was able to box very well in the orthodox or southpaw stances. However, for all of his options Hagler was an instinctual fighter and not much of a thinker in the ring. He got hit a lot but eventual wore his man down.

Roberto Duran and Ray Leonard gave Hagler tough bouts despite being generally smaller men. I see Hagler constantly trying to get to Monzon but getting hit considerably more often than he hits Monzon.

Escopeta wins 145-140 in a no knockdown, somewhat dull bout.

 

Ima weigh in with my 0.2$ I thought it was obvious Leonard won big, didn’t appear overly close to me either and I am not overly a fan of either I couldn’t care about the outcome, actually thinking about I don’t care for Benitez (anymore), Hearns, Duran, Leonard or Hagler… man as a fan I gotta reconsider my life

 

I’m basically the same… if I had to elect one it’d be Leonard - Hearns, Duran and Hagler don’t do much for me eh?

 

I thought Leonard beat Hagler, but
Hagler beat himself really, he gave away the first four rounds and could never catch up.
He was also half the fighter he was in his prime.

if he didn’t fight so stupidly he would have beaten Leonard, if he fought him in his prime, well Leonard wouldn’t fight him.
Hagler knew he was done better than anyone, there’s a reason he never boxed again

 

In close tough fights like this i think mentality is more important than a tale of the tape

Mhavin gives me the impression on film he might want it more but Carlos was warlike and predatory,Them instincts never left him.

Perhaps a hunter gatherer descendant of the Mocovi Indian tribe whose people were slaughtered and forced into civilisation,One of those who still had Apocalypto blood flowing through his veins when waking up with silk sheets...

Monzon was perfect for the role in Indio from 89 thinking about it

 

I'm in two minds about this one. On the one hand, I'm much more familiar with Hagler, I've watched almost all of Monzon's title fights but only once, whereas there's a few Hagler fights I've seen maybe 5 times. It's an interesting fight.

Up until I read through this thread, I found it likely that Monzon had a decent style for southpaws. He has the dominant ring generalship, he's great at positioning, he'd be good at nuetralising the handfight as he's great at shooting that straight right hand and in my experience, the handfights greatest use is to set things up and control tempo - Monzon was great at both of these and I thought the handfight in an orthodox/southpaw fight would play into his hands. But I just learned he hated fighting southpaws, so now I'm not sure.

Hagler imo, is a more impressive technician. Perhaps not a better one in terms of effectiveness but in terms of an overall skillset, I just find Hagler much more intriguing. A deeper well of stuff to learn. Despite this, Hagler had a bit of a tendancy to get spooked by genuine master technicians like Duran and Leonard, where he'd make mistakes both technically and tactically. He did that in two bad nights against smaller guys he could've steamrolled. He can't steamroll a bigger, potentially stronger and certainly meaner guy in Monzon.

I did vote Hagler in the poll, and the reasons for why haven't changed. He's more active, he's got the lovely lead hand that could be nightmarish for an upright ring general, he's tough as nails and very good at managing position mid exchange. He's also as versatile as any fighter ever. I don't think Monzon had the kind of lead hand to get around the punching lanes of Hagler's lead like Duran did and I don't think Monzon is the type of guy to pull of that unbelievable gameplan which Leonard used.

50/50, but I've thrown my lot in with Hagler, I like him more and he didn't kill any penguins.

 

I think this might be your finest post, Jel. My o' my. There's not much i can add.

I've highlighted (in your post) the main reason i take Monzon. He could be eased off his game somewhat by a canny, durable, elite fighter. This leads me to my one criticism of Hagler over the eyars, one i used to have long debates about almost 20 odd years ago.

Hagler was very adaptable during the heat of battle, certainly not comparative to his ability. His weapons and assets allowed him, as you say, to simply dominate lesser guys. He'd overwhelm them with sheer class and arsenal. When he couldn't do that the chinks appeared.

Which leads me to my second belief, which connects to the first. I don't think Hagler's corner was as talented as some others, particularly in a challenging fight where elite direction has to be given. I link Hagler's average adaptability combined with a corner who didn't get it done for him, at times, is the difference in this fight. Tho Monzon's jab and straight right are somewhat textbook, but his timing and choice of shots is different to most others. He's got a rhythm very much of his own, particularly in when and how he goes to the body. He's just not that predictable over the course of many rounds. This is a problem for Hagler.

I think he keeps a step ahead of Hagler for enough of the fight to claim victory via decision, maybe something like 9-6, or 8-1-6.