Could Monzon really not train and have that Stamina, Myth?

and he smoked like a chimney.

But watch the film and he gets stronger over the rounds. Ice cold blood in his veins.

By the way, I found this on youtube the other night... helps if you know Italian... Some great footage and an interview with Benvenuti...

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzAQvJx1ZZU[/ame]

 

He trained. He just had a cigarette on his lips, a woman on his crotch, and a salt shaker full of cocaine up his nose.

 

He trained.
Maybe he just boxed, and hated running.

Yes, it's possible to be fit at boxing, but unfit to run. Of course, the reverse is even more true too.

 

Stopped for a cigarette is what I've heard.

 

He trained just like everybody else.

 

There was an old magazine article I remember reading way back when that described (in his own words, apparently) Monzon's training regimen, albeit in very general terms. It said he ran for time rather than distance, and he ran for 45 minutes. In his own words, it was "I don't know how far that is, but it is pretty far." In reality, it's about five miles at an easy pace, but whatever.

He also admonished those who spar very hard in the gym, saying that was "stupid." In sparring, Monzon always went easy, explaining that the point of sparring isn't to prove oneself to the bystanders in the gym, it's to work on various aspects of your form or fight plan. Sage advice there, I'd say.

 

smoking affects when you start to build up lactic acid. I smoke and I can ride with non smokers on a long ride but in a 2 mile sprint they'd kill me. Monzon had a very conservative style, perfect for the bigger man in a 15 rd fight, i would think either he didn't smoke as much as is said or he would struggle in a high paced 8 rounder with an aggressive mover.

 

Oh man, that brought back the memories. I remember that interview as well and it sounds like you quoted it pretty much spot on. It probably was Boxing Illustrated or maybe The Ring. I used to religiously buy all those mags and read them from cover to cover. Wish I still had them. About 20 years ago, I sold the whole batch, hundreds and hundreds, to some guy for 100 bucks. Seemed like a good deal at the time...

 

Tell it to any Republican and they will buy into it. They love a good myth before they run it thru their echo chamber.

if it sounds too good to be true then it is.

 

Even in endurance sports you will get a person who breaks the most fundamental rules, i.e. don’t smoke, don’t drink yourself silly, and gets away with it.

Even so, these stories always get better with the retelling.

 

My brother drinks like a fish and smokes like a chimney but he's in better shape than anyone I know. That was true when he was in the Army as well, in comparison to some of the other soldiers who dedicated their lives to personal fitness. Some people just have that gift. I'm very physically capable, I just don't like to do the physical work, and I drink and smoke just as much, if not more, than my brother. I just prefer to lounge. When needed, though, I'm a beast. I always had the best marks during my physical tests at bootcamp as well.

 

I know the type and even fancied myself that way up until a certain age. But usually that capacity goes away well before 30. Monzon kept it going till 35... and he was carrying a bullet in his shoulder over the last few years, also.