Amazed by Monzon

I actually watched the Hagler-Mugabi fight a couple of weeks ago. Apart from the first 4-5 rounds, with Hagler holding his own throughout that period, he was on top. And his jab was pretty lethal throughout the fight. While this wasn't Hagler at his peak, he was still damn good. As I said, his jab was the main weapon during the fight up until the finish. Reflexes not quite what they were and a little bit flat-footed.

 

It was his very first title shot, one he'd go on to avenge by stoppage a year and a half later. Hagler beat every fighter he ever faced outside of Leonard who wouldn't give him a rematch. Not to mention the fight itself is one of the most controversial of all time. I certainly don't feel Hagler is overrated, for one, though I've heard the notion before.

I, like you, would rate Monzon as the greatest MW champion of the modern era, with Hagler a close second. I just don't feel there's as big a gap between the two as you do. And I think a fight between the two would've been a tactical war. But to each his own.

 

It's pretty much agreed that Hagler defeated Antuefermo in the 1st fight. He had a bit of a lapse in the last few rounds which allowed it to be remotely close. I love watching Hagler's fights from the late 70's and before he got the title. It might not quite have been his prime but his movement is awesome. He just blows some guys away (Seales, Watts, Hamani) and showed great boxing abillity against Briscoe. While he did have a few mental lapses (Antuefermo, Duran, and Leonard way past his prime), I think too much is made of this when comparing him head to head. I actually favor Monzon over him but only slightly. I don't think any Middleweight ever dominates Hagler.

 

I actually do think the late 70's were Hagler's prime, and that he won the first Antuofermo fight comfortably. The fight just gets a bad rap because of Vito's late round surge. He was boxing beautifully prior. I agree with you Natonic in that this was the period where Hagler was at his best to watch. He really had excellent skills.

 

As great as Monzon was, I doubt there could be an ounce of truth in such a rumour!!

 

:good I to just cannot envisage any 160 fighter dominating Hagler. A truly great fighter who deserves the highest praise. As for Hagler-vs-Monzon, what a spectacle that would have been! I to favour Monzon, but only by the narrowest of margins. Both are high ranking ATG's imo.

 

Totally agree with you, Hagler was a phenomenal fighter and as great as Monzon was, he could get decisioned by Hagler .. Hagler would have to be prepared to take some punishment and he'd have to cut the range, eating Monzon's jab round after round would lead me to believe that Hagler would be stopped late on so he would have to get in close all the time ..
I'd give the edge to Monzon because of the accuracy of that jab, and his overrall toughness, he had no 'razzle dazzle' but everything he did was correct, he never seemed to waste anything ..

I see Walker, Zale, Graziano, Tiger, being a little too small for Monzon, its not solely the height advantage but its the way Monzon would use his vastly superior reach advantage, and Monzon was just so compact ..

Im a huge fan of Marcel Cerdan, he was a brilliant fighter but again, how do you combat a guy that is so compact and has one of the greatest most effective jabs of all time ?? The same argument goes for SRR, Tiger Flowers, Stan Ketchel ..

If Monzon went in with a 168 Jones then that would be a legendary fight, i know theres alot of snobbery on this forum against Jones and people love to pick him apart but i can see Monzon having a serious problem with Jones. The unorthodox nature of Jones, his reflexes, his accuracy, his punch picking, Monzon's rhythm would be affected. Jones would run and try and pick him off .. That is an intriguing fight, but once again it would have to be at 168, and if that division was around in Monzon's era im sure he would have operated there at some point .... It'd be close but Jones is the only guy i can envisage beating Monzon and that isnt even at 160 ..

How do you guys see a Monzon v Jones fight ?? Unbiased opinions would be appreciated instead of any Anti Jones rants .. Anybody who doesnt recognise how good Jones was are as ridiculous as people who dont recognise how good Larry Holmes was ..

Im not even going to mention Hopkins in this argument, for me hes not in the same league as all the guys ive mentioned ..

 

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Talking about Jones hating and then telling us Hopkins wqsn't in the same league with the other guys you mentioned robbed your post of anything it is worth.

 

Monzon was great but he had major issues with Griffith in the rematch and Briscoe both times. I would have liked to see him against a wider variety of opposition, big middleweights with speed, before making a decision if he was number 1.

 

Along w/ Duran, in my lifetime, Monzon was the greatest fighter I saw.:rasta

 

Very effective fighter, big, strong, accurate & remained strong in the last rds, a great fighter no doubt but quite slow.

I think the Robinson pre Turpin would tear him up TBH, Monzon couldnt deal with that speed & movement so I think Ray builds a big lead on the cards & we know Monzon aint stopping Robinson, thats a given.

 

And never forget that one of the reasons King Carlos stopped getting KOs was because his hands got so bad that he had corrtisone shots before every fight. And Monzon was truly mean, not acting mean like Hagler.:fire

 

Ali ?
Leonard ?
Whitaker ?