Carlos Monzon vs Michael Nunn At MW

Nunn doesn't have the intangibles to beat a Hagler or Monzon for mine.

 

This. Forget the nostalgia and legend, just look at the fights.

 

Nunn could make just about anyone look foolish and lumbering in spells, even Monzon. But he was just too dull in the skull (in relative terms) to make me think he'd win this. An extraordinary physical and athletic talent, but not blessed with the intelligence or discipline to match.

Nunn's ego was in danger of getting the better of him against Barkley, and it eventually did against Toney. After his first couple of world title fights he seemed to always fight as if he had something to prove: had to show fans that he wasn't just a fancy dan and could be tough, take a shot, let the other guy work him over, offer them up free shots etc. He also became a bit of a lazy fighter at times who tried to steal rounds with late flurries. Yes, his defence always relied on athleticism and taking chances, but he was really pushing his luck towards the end of his Middleweight tenure with the way he was pulling back from shots and keeping his hands low.

He also had a bit of a habit of fading late in fights: Barkley, Toney and also the first Cordoba fight at 168, which I thought he lost clear as day only to get a gift decision. That's a big no-no against Monzon.

No doubt Nunn is going to make Monzon look poor for a while and if it was all just about speed and raw talent he'd be a big favourite here. But Monzon's persistence, power, stamina and accuracy is a bad combination for those weaknesses of Nunn's I've mentioned. Over twelve there's a chance that Nunn could hang on for dear life to get through the last few rounds to eek out a decision, but I'd be more inclined to see Monzon just about overturning a points deficit in time to either stop Nunn or win on points himself. But I'd be very confident that in a fifteen rounder, Nunn definitely doesn't see the final bell, and it'd be pretty much all one-way traffic near the end.

 

I agree mostly with what @88Chris05 said, very good post.

I do find it hard to gauge how quickly and successfully Monzon, who often fought tall and effectively pulled back from incoming shots, would adjust to being at a height, reach and speed disadvantage against a southpaw. I'd back him to do it I think but it might not be easy.

On a side note, I've never really gotten the idea that the prime Monzon was just an attritional grinding puncher. Always thought he was very heavy handed in an effortless fashion when he fully committed himself and it was usually amplified by great timing. Not a fighter who needed too many flush punches to land at his best to get an opponent going like a Hopkins or McCallum, if not exactly a Lausse or Langford. I think he was comparable to Golovkin tbh, though that comparison is bound to draw ire from some.

 

To me Monzon looks anything but quick. He would have hard time connecting on the elusive Nunn with that kind of handspeed.

 

Ok the Nunn backers are making some really good points, and on the hole I agree with a few, he was slippery, elusive, good chin, etc, BUT great fighters ( like Monzon ) unlike Nunn, find a way, they just find a way, Monzon would have, he was patient, calm, implacable, he knew he could beat any one put in front of him, all great fighters think the same, it may take time, but the self belief in great fighters always comes to the surface in the end. Monzon was great for a reason, as they all are, he would have found a way.

 

He did say "deceptively quick". It's Monzon's timing and variety that allows him to land. I do think he threw his right hand at a couple of speeds. Now and then you notice one really flash over.

 

Monzon was better at setting up his shots than Benn who would have missed all ovder the place v Nunn.

 

Monzon ate too many counter jabs after throwing his own jab because he didn`t move his head after punching, but then again neither did Nunn who ate too many counters v Starling, however Starling had far quicker hands than Monzon, I think it would take a quick fisted fighter to beat Nunn, Monzon was too slow.

 

Nunn "aint got none" as far as I'm concerned.

 

intangibles rarely win fights.skills do

 

People who think Nunn wins this one only watch boxing highlights.

 

Mostly in the early rounds while he was still settling in though and getting a feel for the opponent. Rare that you saw him getting clocked by counter jabs once he'd mastered the distance and gotten his sense of timing down. By that point his jab was either landing or forcing someone on to the end of his right hand a nanosecond later.

 

Nunn was awesome vs Tate, like a MW Whitaker. However, he wasn't unbeatable, getting hit when he shouldn't and making stupid decisions. That stuff doesn't fly vs Monzón, who's gonna slow any pace Nunn sets and after a rough early set is gonna start shifting his weight and landing his straight right.

It'll be really interesting to see Monzón adapt to a new situation, and how quick he does it.

 

And "loose lips sink ships", and "a friend in need is a friend indeed" are two more maxims you can remember for today.