Monzon UD/KO in later rounds. SRL is overrated whereas Monzon is underrated. It's a pitty that Monzon couldn't prove his class against better opposition. When I watch Monzon's fights I have a feeling that he has something left, something that he will use if he needs to do more to win the fight. He would steal the fight in last rounds after an even fight.
In 1982 Paolo Rossi came off a worldwide ban to be the top scorer in the World Cup. Brian Clough all but predicted it saying that the break would make him sharper. Okay, okay, I admit that it was still something of a hill for leonard to climb but it was not unprecedented. I think you only have to watch the Mugabi and Leonard fights to see that Hagler had faded. People's perceptions were skewed by his great career rather than what he actually had in the ring. Had Hagler won most people would be saying how Leonard was the mroe faded. Just the way it is.
Of course you ignore the facts that he immediatly avenged one of the losses and the other one was above mw when Benvenuti started out as a jmw. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1084306/index.htm http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1083669/index.htm http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1083095/index.htm Show me where people say Nino was past prime before the last sentence of the artivcle about the first Monzon fight.
What counts most here is what people said beforehand: And that was that Leonard was the one past it and would be killed. Hagler had impressed more in his previous fight the year before than Leonard had done in his previous three years earlier, at a lower weight. Rossi had been inactive for a shorter time. And he had had no injuries or drug related problems. He served out a ban and could prepare himself without distractions for that ban to run out.
Just like you ignore 1 fighter was a C CLass novice, and the other was suffering from cancer and near shot, yet they beat Benvenuti When do articles ever say 'he's past prime', why don't you dig out all the pre-Leonard articles that said Hagler was past it?
I never said that. What the f*ck are you on about? Hagler was faded. That´s obvious. Even Leonard mentions it. Of course he still was a very good fighter and for Leonard coming back after the injury and layoff at a higher weight this is a trmendous achievement. But what the f*ck is your point other than beeing annoying? Benvenuti needed motivation. Like a loss or a big fame fighter. If he was motivated he was great and would pose problems to all mws. If he wasn´t, contenders could beat him.
Hang on... I'm not sure you can get away with defining "what counts". Hagler was the favourite. Leonard believed Hagler had slipped and that he would come out fo retirement to fight him because he had observed how Hagler was now beatable. Leonard proved to be correct. Rossi was different but I used it as an example to indicate that a lay-off can sometimes help. I'm not saying what Leonard did wasn't teriffic but it's obvious watching the fight who had fallen further from their perch.
It is. Leonard, who tired badly after only four rounds. The guy who in his prime rallied late against Duran (without success ultimately) and Hearns (with success), had no power left in his punches after four measly rounds in which he had been in control. His resolve, skill and rings smarts saw him through, but his legs and stamina was nothing like it had been five years earlier.
I agree he was gassed but he was fighting at MW for the first time (another psoitive for him) and that had a lot to do with his his legs and stamina. Also, he was working harder in this fight than he was in almost any of his other fights. I'm being really kind here because the bigger difference in athletic prowess is between Minter-(post)Mugabi not Benitez-to the Hagler fight. Ray Leonard's comments suggests he agrees with me.
Carlos Monzon would have loved to take Sugar Ray Leonard to Monte Carlo, his favorite boxing area, and night-life hang out. Once Leonard tried to come in with one of his flashy-flurry, Monzon would have ripped the straight right, down 'Broadway'. He would have lumped him up, worse than Hearns did at 147 lbs. Not a knockout, but a TKO, much earlier than anyone would think.
What's up duranimal? Monzon would def administer a beating to the imposter. after a few rounds if Leonard sees he cant get the respect of his opponent, he loses heart the way he did vs Norris or Camacho The only thing that makes this interesting is Leonard's edge in hand speed. is this going to save him? No, all it will do is make it interesting for a few rounds. In my humble view, it's not a matter of IF but a matter of when before CM takes him out and why do I say he'll take him out? Becuz I have no faith in Leonard's chin
you're blowing leonard's prowess way out of proportion. I dont recall any problems with his legs in UNO MAS. His legs seemed to be working fine which is unfortunate for the crowd. Like I said, you're blowing up his earlier performances so you can downgrade his performance with Hagler. UNO mas proves there was no problem with his legs and the fact that he was far from shot and certainly showed no resemblance to Louis in the Marciano fight. Imagine, fans trying to compare Leonard from the Norris fight to Ali from the Holmes fight! They just cant swallow the fact that TNT Norris exposed the greatest hype in the history of boxing. And it wasnt even close
My man was just too fast! As for Monzon, I just can't see anyone else duplicating these kinds of astonishing feats! going 13 years with no losses and going out better than you were when you came in and with more than 100 fights. It just cannot be done
