The Middleweight Tournament Final

Post of the month and it's only 02/09, (Bill Shankly's birthday by the way)

Great post, really, i visualised that last bit, with the crowd and everything, think i actually heard them in my head.

 

I was going to comment on how amazing it was that after all the upsets and controversies the two favourites have rose to the top, but it seems that the Primitive Boys are not done yet. This has certainly been the most interesting and controversial Tourament i have ever seen an a message board.

 

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THIS SPACE IS RESERVED

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I will need some time to think my vote.

I have no doubts on WHO wins, my problem is that I can't articulate yet HOW he wins :yep

 

I confess that I am a little disapointed that it has come down to these two fighters.

We have two fighters elevated to a near mythical status based on televised careers where they built up long title reigns at middleweight but shunned the bigger challenges that were at their disposal.

To the student of boxing history it seems to be the triumph of technicolour over substance.

 

i have to say seeing how this tournament progressed, i sort of expect these two to meet. hagler has always gotten respect but lately it seems to be a monzon renassaince.

anyway, i may be in the minority but i've always felt hagler is the greatest middle of all time. I've rarely seen any fighter, at any weight class with such a complete well rounded arsenal. He was a total fighter in every sense.

That said this is about who would win in this fight, and styles as always make the fight. I see hagler starting a little slow, as he always did against opponents he respects (ala duran) and getting outworked and out timed by monzon early. This is a BIG mistake as once Monzon gets into his rhythm he's almost impossible to break out of it.

The jab and right keep landing for Carlos but by the 6th Hagler is breaking through and landing hard hooks on the inside, trying to wear down Monzon's body. Knowing of his poor training habits, Hagler is working him down for the long haul. However he is still losing the battle of the jabs. Hagler starts making some ground by the 8th and in the 10th a hard hook leads to a flash knockdown.

Monzon rises, furious, and continues his gameplan with disturbing patience, keeping hagler at distance and rocking him with the occasional right hand. It comes down the championship rounds and monzon's timing, ring generalship and jab force hagler to fight at distance, which he is not comfortable with and the rounds, though close, begin the slip away. Hagler is the aggressor and landed the harder shots, but Monzon's firm and patient execution of his gameplan, along with an early lead give him the decision.

Monzon SD 15

*Oh my God I gave it to Monzon....

 

janitor i friggin love this line. I think this is a great fight but i understand your complaint.

 

Snob.

 

The fact that the old timers had a good showing in this tournament makes the final match up more disapointing in some ways.

Imagine if it had been Fitzsimmons Hagler or Monzon Burley?

 

You say that as if its a negative.

 

hard question , but (1) hagler struggled more with lesser man than monzon than vice-versa
(2) monzon had the size advantage


to the contrary it can be said that hagler had the better chin , but he wasn't a monster puncher so he wouldn't have stopped monzon.
probably monzon wouldn't have stopped hagler.

i think monzon by close decision

 

Monzon by very close decision. He has the better chance of getting Marvin to lead. The guy who leads in this one loses.

 

I still dont understand how Burley is not in the final considering he got more votes than Hagler!

Dont count the great man out, I am sure GPater will fix the situation when he realises. Dont count the great Burley out yet!

 

Or i've changed it to be seen this way.:think.


Theres absolutely nothing wrong with this final, I detect a hint of bias to pre war boxers.