Carlos Monzon Vs Hearns - Is This The Worst, Fight At Middle For Tommy?

Ya RR that sounds like it should go that way ... But it sure didnt go that way when it was supposed to against Hagler and Barkley .. See thats what you are missing ... Hearns was "supposed" to go a lot longer with Hagler and was a big favorite against Barkley ... But the performances in the ring at MW when Hearns stepped it up in competition just wasnt there ....

"But there is a certain softness in those 4-1 odds, and the softness, some say, is in Hearns’ legs. Barkley’s manager, John Reetz, touched on the subject of Hearns’ legs recently.

“Hearns is 29, he’s a fighter in descent,” Reetz said. “His legs are gone. He’s got two or three nails in his coffin already and Iran’s got the rest of the nails.”

LOL

 

The shots Hearns threw at Hagler were better than Monzon`s shots and the shot that knocked out Shuler probably would have knocked Monzon out, however after the mid 80`s Hearns was really hittable at 160, p4p Hearns was far more skilled than Monzon and ha a better jab, I don`t know if Monzon ever beat a fighter with a 78 inch reach, I think for large portions of a fight v Monzon Hearn would land jabs like he did v Hill, I feel it would be a chess match but Tommy`s chin might let him down eventually.

 

This is a big leap.imo

 

like they say, "styles"

we're talking a 25 - 27 year old Hearns, not the crumbling, pathetic caricature of the once proud hitman - 1988

Can you imagine Monzon getting inside on Tommy and ripping him both body and head?

Sugar Ray Leonard could, he had that kind of versatility, both on offense and made himself scarce if he needed to

whereas Hagler ALSO had more versatility than Monzon

Monzon is not a pressure fighter

I repeat:

Monzon is not a pressure fighter!

he fights the same way all the time; from long range and that would favor Tommy

Look what happened when Shuler, another tall middleweight, tried to pressure Tommy.

It didnt work, and Tommy opened him up with body shots.

He wobbled him, then dropped in a lethal right cross and I've SEEN Carlos hurt to the point where he lost control of himself

But the robotic Briscoe was just too slow to follow up

Had that been Tommy, we'd have Monzon splattered all over the canvas

 

If anyone tells you that this is going to be an easy fight for Monzon or that he would casually shrug off Tommy's right hand, is living a paper fantasy

Tommy has the speed and quickness to land the bomb and end it early as he did with Hutchings, as he did with Shuler, as he did with Duran

This is a very risky and dangerous fight for Monzon and he'd probably end up not only defeated but badly hurt

 

Yes and Andries was a light heavy Monzon never KO`d a light heavy.

 

No way could Monzon take Tommy`s right hand.

 

that is irrelevant

we must concern ourselves with only relevant factors that would determine the outcome

Monaon is at a distinct physical advantage in speed and power in either hand

Tommy simply has the better weapons

and Monzon is not the body puncher Tommy was

moreover, if Tommy chooses to, he can keep the fight at long range and if Monzon tries to press him, Tommy will catch him with hard right hands

there are just so many ways Tommy can win this fight

 

I'm more sympathetic now to the assertions of the pro-Hearns folks...but I still don't see Hearns lasting the distance. To me Hearns was never anywhere near the middle that Monzon was (the latter was quite possibly the greatest and yeah I'm a HUGE fan of Marvin). And he very well might be ahead on the scorecards when Carlos dumps him.

 

It’s difficult to divorce Monzon’s complete resume at MW v Hearns’ but consideration has to been given to the style and tools Hearns’ uniquely brings to the table.

I see Hearns’ height, reach, speed, jab and power right hand giving Monzon some unprecedented issues early. To a degree, it might appear that Carlos is actually being outclassed.

BUT, as per his long established rep and proven chin, Monzon will not waiver from his slow and steady game plan. His every punch well purposed and consistently hard.

Carlos will also get a little rough if he deems it necessary and beneficial.

IMO, body shots may well define the outcome and I think it would be Monzon, not Hearns, who will cause the most and significant damage in that regard.

That could well set up Monzon to finish a very weakened Tommy with a highlight reel right hand in the later rds, say the 10th or 11th.

 

Carlos Monzon was World Middleweight Champion from Nov 7 1970 until he retired on Aug 29 1977. Carlos had 14 successful title defenses, Carlos had an 82 bout unbeaten streak from Oct 9 1964 until his retirement. His record at the time of his retirement was 89-3-9, 61 KO's. He avenged his 3 decision losses, and avenged 8 of the 9 draws. Carlos had an iron chin, had a long hard left jab, was a counter puncher, left to the body and a right to the head. His right hand was paralyzing, he also had phenomenal stamina for a pack a day smoker. Monzon had a trainer that all of the fighters in South America would use for their big fights, Amilcar Brusa. Thomas Hearns was very talented but his record was checkered, he had his share of good victories but he too fought smaller fighters, Jose Pipino Cuevas and Roberto Duran. I do not think Monzon stops Hearns right away. Monzon stood at 5"11 and a half, Hearns at 6"2, but as a fight went into the middle to late rounds without stopping his opponent, he got gassed. Carlos was cool calm and collected in his fights, showing no emotion, this could prove detrimental emotionally for Hearns as most of his opposition were terrified before the fight started. Monzon was not a boastful flashy fighter, but knew how to get the job done and win. After a fairly early lead, Hearns would begin to tire, leaving himself open to counter right hands after tasting yardstick long left jabs, this time Hearns opponent after taking some jarring right hands, begins to connect often to the body and head. The referee stops the contest in round 13 with Hearns unable to defend himself. To both combatants credit, a very good fight to watch.

 

Richard, very well written and quite true too...but you and surfinghb and I have repeated told these morons the same things over and over and over again, ad nauseum...and they prefer ignorance .....maintaining that the same Thomas Hearns whose power failed to phase the chins of James Kinchen, Iran Barkley and even Doug DeWitt...nd got ko'ed and put on his ass by the first two...is going to do what(???) to the greatest middleweight champion??? These guys are persistant in their ignorance....not just about Monzon, but about an entire era...an entire decade. They're unteachable. I think markant and Mark Dunham are one and the same.....they have to be....they're bookends of ignorance..

 

Carlos Monzon was never knocked out, Hearns has been knocked out on a few occasions, others criticized Carlos because many of his opponents did not speak English or fought here on American soil, many of Hearns opponents were a flash in the pan. Did Hearns ever win the World Middleweight Title? Monzon would have had an easy time with those tomato cans, sounds like someone has an ax to grind.

 

Thanks my dear friend. Hearns had a china chin, it shatters. But there is one poster like I have posted before, Has An Ax To Grind. Resentment is a childish quality, sort of like sibling rivalry, Carlos Monzon was the greatest.