Amazed by Monzon

I favor Monzon over both Hagler and SRR..I know it's a controversial view, but I feel Monzon had the style to deal with both of them...I think he would have won 15 round decisions over both.

 

Few, if not anybody was as good at using height and reach as well as Monzon, and when the difference was negligable, as with Nino Benvenuti, he was able to convert his style to a rougher, more aggressive approach that showcased his toughness and punching power more.

 

While I'm at it, I also believe Monzon would clean the deck with Duran and Leonard as well.

 

It's not controversial, it's the most common if anything. I slightly favour SRR (with the proviso) on his very best night, but day in day out Monzon would be the much more consistent middle.

 

Let's not start overrating him now. Saying he'd have "no problem" with Hagler is absurd.

 

Let's look at Monzon's record objectively. He drew with Bennie Briscoe in their first fight. A fight in which he was actually hurt and by most accounts should've lost. If you want to argue that it was early in Monzon's career, or pre-prime, I'll say the same of Hagler's first title shot with Vito Antuofermo.

If you want to bring up the Leonard fight when Hagler was at the end of his career, I'll bring up the second Griffith fight, which was a very narrow verdict in Monzon's favor that some believe Griffith won. Griffith was more active than Leonard at the time, but going into that fight the notion was that Griffith was almost done. A last great effort on his part, no doubt, but if we're being objective...

The Roldan and Mugabi fights also dealt with Hagler on the downslide, both of which he won by stoppage, the Mugabi fight the only one that was close. The knockdown in the first round against Roldan was ridiculous, anyone who's seen the fight knows that.

Comparing Hagler to Valdez or especially Briscoe is just about the final straw on your part. Hagler only started to deteriorate into more of the brawling, pressuring type once his reflexes and athleticism had started to wane, post '83. Prior to that he was an excellent boxer-puncher with great footwork, good defensive skills, superb countering and punch placement. One of the best boxer-punchers the MW division has ever seen at his best.

 

I'm with this...

 

This is as objective as it can be...
Hagler at his best is no easy night's work for anyone. Hagler did things differently than most southpaws, he could move to his left or right. His mobility would give Monzon problems in trying to establish his own jab...and everything Monzon did was predicated on success with that jab. I'd pick Monzon. But so close, in my book.

 

Like Marciano, i don't see any fighter in history that gives up weight to him, beating him.

 

I don't think Monzon would have 'no problems with" or much less "blow away" Hagler..quite the contrary, he would have had to call upon his reserves, as he did with Valdez to beat Marv and it wouldn't be especially dramatic, and probably would have been a tactical chess match..with no knockdowns...the very kind of battle I've come to appreciate over the years. Monzon's superior reach and height would have been only part of the reason I think he would have beaten Hagler..the main weapon Monzon had was his superior fighting brain...just as much as Ali, but in a different way than Ali, Monzon outthought his opponents, controlled the pace and tempo of a fight, tied up or shut down an opponent when necessary, and was infinitely patient and coldblooded...never getting suckered into traps by opponents..he knew what the hell to do and when to do it..and after the shooting incident that occurred in '73, he relied less on the big power he possessed, and relied more on that almost hypnotic, patient, and at times (for the casual boxing fan) "dull" style that showcased ring generalship as much as anything.,

 

Monzon in my oppinion was the greatest middleweight we have film of. Of my other picks as top mws I see no one beating him. They all would give him a tough fight but in the end Monzon wuld prevail against all of them. Hagler and Hopkins would be beaten by either a close UD or even a MD or SD. Robinson would lose more clearly I feel. Mostly because of the size difference. Like other's I can't see fighters moving up beating Monzon. The only one I think could do it is Burley. He has the combination of speed and un-usual stlye to really trouble Monzon. I still would favour the Argentinian but Burley would be his hardest match-up I think. If Jones would have more experience there I would pick him to beat Monzon but he doesn't have it and so I think he would get KOed.