The Middleweight Tournament Final

:good I slipped away in a little dream world and done the same thing.

 

Only a hint?

I think that this is one weight class where the pre war fighters are strongest relative to their post war counterparts.

Incidentaly, I think that in the light of history Bernard Hopkins will be ranked higher than both the participants in this final, but in a twist of the tournament he was an early casualty.

 

I really don't know what to say to that. I'll leave it.

 

well for me impossible to predict.. i would favour monzon. but by close descision.. and i wouldn't be suprised if it was the other way around..
would be a great match-up to watch..

 

Hagler wins, by 1st round KO.

He just goes demented and comes out throwing all sorts of bombs, hooks, jabs, uppercuts. Monzon falls from a solid right hook to the head, by it's really a half a slip - Monzon isn't really hurt and was caught backing off and tripped a bit as the punch landed - but it counts as a KD. Unfortunately, Carlos twists his ankle really badly and is counted out.

 

Really it was a great post Smith, i love posts like that.

Anyway, time for me to man up.

I see the argument strongly for Monzon. The way the Argentine fought was so fitting of the label 'King Carlos' he has been given by many scribes. I do want to say before i get into it though, that i've always thought (and said) that the top few middleweights of all time are so hard to split when pitted against each other in our mind's eye. The reason for this is because they were all so good at what they did that it seemingly doesn't matter what their opponent did to exploit their 'weaknesses', which effectively could be non existent at times. It was all about what they did well,and consistenty, they were prolific fighters of epic proportions. It is two of these great fighters that we are trying to split here, Carlos Monzon, and Marvin Hagler.

I do think that Monzon will win the poll, and i cannot argue, he was the middleweight king. Here Monzon would likely score the first points to be earned in the bout, his jab would score, long raking body shots would be scored with the left hand underneath Hagler's right elbow as the Marvelous one advanced. In the next couple of rounds Hagler looks to block shots and counter, stiff right hands are then thrown in his own ditection, again he sees the round out second best.

Marvin Hagler was one of the most complete stylistically, fighters ever, he could also adapt, and it is testament to how prolific a battler he was that whenever he forced the action, switch hitting, making his man fight, he always looked a force of nature and was on top ultimately. On this night, his attempts to outspeed his opponent on the outside (like in his prime he would do), are thwarted by such a stiff jab that he is FORCED to switch tactics. That's right, Marvin Hagler is not dictating a fight. Hagler goes southpaw, his facial expressions becomes all about fighting, and mean, he wings lead right hooks at his man, he digs to the body, he hooks with both hands up top, he ups the tempo. His own face is becoming cut, he's shipping heavy shots from his man who works from the ropes, but he's taking rounds and making up for lost ground on the cards. The late rounds see both men working their own pugilistic brand of magic as best they can, Hagler shortens his shots, lands up and down in succession, without losing balance. Monzon lands heavy one-two's down the pipe, following up with left hooks when his man tries to get reset. Hagler goes all out in the last round and exerts all his energy to not let the King score his own points. Round 15 separates the warriors and Mr. Hagler has his marvelous limb raised in victory. Like Leonard-Duran 1, what happened in the ring on this night is something that money cannot buy, both men left it all in the ring.

I might have picked the wrong man i know, but i have made a pick.

 

hagler is once again covered in blood but has a slight lead from the early rounds with the middle rounds being shared between the two gladiators with two rounds even, monzon wins the final two rounds

my card -hagler 7-monzon 6-even 2

hagler takes a split decision

 

Monzon by close decision. Hagler ends the fight bleeding but not broken. I like the previous comment that whoever leads in this fight loses. I think Monzon does enough work with that jab and his abillity to tie up and match Marv's strength on the inside is enough to bank enough rounds. 9-6ish Monzon.

 

We wouldnt have had to imagine, if you actually voted for Burley against Hagler!

 

:rofl:rofl:rofl:rofl:rofl

Monzon by close decision, with his tactical excellence the only real difference.

 

bump

 

Monzon by close UD. Range, durability, strength -- it's going to be close, but I expect Monzon to do the better work.

 

Monzon frustrates Hagler throughout most of the night. Those who expect something of the equivalent of Hagler-Hearns are quickly disillusioned as the fight developes into a tactical batlle with Monzon backing and circling sending out the odd probing jab here and there and Hagler ever advancing, pressing in to land to the body. The npatter repeats itself for three or four rounds with Monzon too smart to get trapped in a corner or on the ropes mostly, but when he does he teis up Hagler effectively. Hagler gets through with the left at times in the middle rounds and appears to be fresher and to be coming on, but Monzon is cleverly timimg Haglers rushes with one-twos and begins to introduce Marvin to the right, sparingly thrown. Whenever Hagler gets in range, he is met with a tangle of arms and elbows, then gets grabbed and spun, then the pattern repeats itself. They split rounds 11 (Monzon) AND 12 (Hagler), before going into the no man's land of the rounds 13 thru 15. Monzon comes alive after twisting out of a clinch and scores with one twos and gives Hagler some concern by cutting him badly over the left eye..seeing this Monzon fires a series of three big right hands, and returns to the jab...Monzon spears the bloody eye of Hagler at the bell ending the 13th. Hagler bangs his gloves together and is exhorted by the Petronelli brothers to open up with the heavy artillery, which he does, and stuns Monzon with a right-left combo that drives Carlos to the ropes, and Hagler moves in but Monzon covers up well and when the storm loses momentum, fires his own leather..a left hook followed by a big right buckles Hagler's knees, and the two trade until the bell. The blood still oozes from Haglers eye at the bell beginning the 15th, and after touching gloves, Monzon goes to town with a series of one twos and ties up Hagler on the inside. Monzon jabs away at Hagler, who finally gets a chance to land a few of his own, but they don't land solidly..Monzon fights conservatively, and outboxes Hagler..and lands a huge right on the bad eye moments before the bell. In my scenario, Monzon has essesntially outboxed Hagler for most of the fight, and was never foolish enough to allow himself to be caught by Hagler, by virtue of his superior generalship, though both men display souveneirs of the battle in terms of bruises and swellings, though Monzon's are minor compared to the swollen, lacerated eye of Hagler. The scores are announced and Carlos Monzon is the winner by a unanimous 15 round decision...9 to 6, 10 to 5 and a surprising 8-6-1 on the third card.

 

I would say this HAD to be the final. And for good reason.

I say Hagler takes this IMO. Although I see it as a close fight I think Hagler, by being effective in either stance, fluent boxing AND ability to really mix it up (tactically as well as physically) will see him force Monzon to fight at a harder pace than even he has ever seen.

I see Monzon providing the kind of heavy handed and accurate sharp shoots down the centre that will keep Hagler smart. I just feel Hagler has more answers to Monzons one very effective gear, and will take the early and late rounds (after re-ad******g to Monzon's mid-fight breakthrough; this is when Hagler will have to change up as Monzon will be landing some serious leather and establishing a jab so good Hagler starts to get frustrated) for a 9-6 victory where he is on pure assault mode late on, with Monzon more than happy to oblige. I see Hagler having the right balance of sheer strength, toughness and ability to offset Monzon's effective ring generalship and hard as naills mentality.