Most had Monzon handling Hearns in another thread. How does Carlos do with Ray Leonard from 1987-9? Ray still had amazing quickness and Ring IQ. Monzon has height and natural size. A deliberate style. Carlos definitely had an advantage in punching power. How does this fight look?
Monzon would beat Ray badly, i reckon that fight would cause him to retire permanently. Wide decision or late stoppage
How can you fairly consider SRL competitive? Before rehydration was a thing, Monzon was a naturally big middle. Ray had to bulk up for MW & Hagler. Who he only barely beat when the latter was both past his prime & did not employ a great strategy. It would be hard to see a stylistic advantage large enough to give SRL a good chance. And I see none anyway.
At 160 lbs,Carlos Monzon, was pretty much unbeatable in his prime, Sugar Ray Leonard, was great at 147 lbs,very fast, and unbeatable. I see Leonard using his superior footwork to stay out of Monzon's range, but Carlos had a long reach. He would tactically cut the ring off on Ray, as he did in his 1975 title bout against Tony Licata. Leonard, much quicker than Tony, lands quick flurries as in his 1987 Hagler title fight. Remember Carlos was also a counter puncher. With Monzon's effective aggressiveness, Ray begins to feel Carlos power,especially that deadly right hand. Ray's early round success begins to fade. After an exchange in the corner Leonard falls prey to a Monzon countering right, and wilts against the ropes unable to defend himself in round 11. Seeing this, Angelo Dundee waves a white colored towel at the referee, forcing a stoppage,TKO11. When Monzon sees his opponent hurt, he coolie moves in for the kill, and usually puts an end to it. Monzon was free from any emotion during a fight, and would not react to a fighter winding up his arm to throw a bolo punch. Both fighters were completely competitive in this affair.
I'm assuming this is against a prime Monzon. Probably makes it interesting for a few rounds while his legs are fresh before Monzon starts to punish a more stationary target & stops him late. He wouldn't beat a prime Hagler either.
Early rounds, while Sugars still fresh, he's out pointing Carlos, if fact he makes him look akward and uncomfortable. But this only lasts for the first half of the fight. Carlos chips his way in and Leonard's face takes on signs of the battle. By the 12 th round, Sugars getting hit to frequent by Monzon and it looks as if he's had enough. One last rally in the 13 th has Carlos covering up but it just delays the end. A weary SRL is dropped in the next round and another kd later it s all over.
Leonard has the talent, but he doesn't have sturdiness comparable to Griffith IMO. Monzon would grind him down later.
Out of the 100 bouts Monzon was in, 41 went the distance. I pick Monzon, especially over 15 but I don't see it being some walk in the park. For a start, Ray would be the fastest fighter Monzon would have faced - both hand and foot, and he would be the most skillful, possibly with exception of Napoles. It would be the first time Monzon is out there with someone who matches or even exceeds his Ring IQ. Ray is giving away 2 inches in height and reach, nothing extraordinary, and he has had a bigger dimension disadvantage to overcome anyway. For me, it's a tough fight and one of Monzon's toughest tests. Not in the sense of facing a strong, rough, banger but he would be extremely frustrated in there.
