Better jab: Thomas Hearns or Carlos Monzon

I don’t know about the punch itself. But I think Monzon was the better fighter and boxer. Both men made there game from where I sit, off there jabs, heavily.

Monzon was quite simple, not as dynamic to watch on inspection, but he didn’t really need to be. Why I’d call his jab better is I don’t believe Monzon ever lost control of a fight the way Hearns did, Tommy could be forced into working for the other guy at times.

Carlos Monzon was as inflexible as a barbell because of the mind behind his jab. At the end of the day a jab is something you can teach a ten year old, it’s how to apply it that matters and Monzon was just the more savvy between the pair.

 

Monzon had far too much on the ball than Hearns...especially the Ring IQ thing.

 

Hearns clearly had the better jab.

 

Tommy Hearns has an opportunist jab. That is to say his jab relies considerably on his physique in divisions with men not always as large as him. Also his jab sets up his right hand which is the real threat and his opponents were generally cautious to avoid his jab for that reason alone.

Monzon was just a better technician than Hearns and had a much better jab imo.

 

Hearns had superior jab BY FAR

WAY better right hand and even left hook

Far faster hands (both of them)

better body puncher

better combination puncher

BUT,,, as one poster here said, Monzon was the better technician

 

Hearns jab was quicker, longer and every bit as hard. Monzon was a more complete fighter. His jab wasn't quite as good.

 

If Hanza made a video of someone's particular skill set, doesn't mean he's an absolute legend at doing it. Hanza usually likes to highlight the underrated part of someone's skill set.

Hearns's jab is simply WAY better than Monzon's jab. That is simply a fact. You won't even notice how good Monzon's jab is if Hanza didn't make that video.

 

This thread.. Is not.. Going to... End well.!

 

Monzon's punches look slow. Tommy would beat him to the jab all day long

 

I like Hearns jab personally but Monzon had a superb jab himself too - really practical and useful.

 

John, what do you think about Monzon's hand speed ?

 

I disagree, Tockah. Tommy's jab served him well against men of similar height - Hill, Shuler, Barkley even (it wasn't his jab that cost him those fights). It didn't matter if you were 5'8" or 6'1"; that jab was quick as lightning and hard. If anything, the taller opponents found it harder to slip as they didn't have the opportunity to go under it so readily.

I also would pick up on your point that Monzon was a better technician. I think Tommy delivers a technically better and quicker right hand. Several times in the video posted of Carlos, he seems to be over-reaching and his legs are too far apart which will affect the power and ability to reset after the punch. I also give Tommy the edge in left hook to the body as I feel he may have had one of the very best ever, in that regard.

That's not to say Tommy was the better fighter. I don't want to get into that but Carlos had intangibles like stamina, strength, mental resilience, focus, endurance which I feel were better than Tommy's. But in terms of the mechanics of throwing punches - pretty much any punch in the book - I think Tommy is the better of the two. No shame there as I feel Tommy's punches are technically better than most everybody's.