At their peaks, who would win between Freddie Steele, before his breastbone fracture or Carlos Monzon. Who U got ESB ?
Got to go with Monzon but Steele was a beast, somewhat analogous to the Valdez that Monzon tussled with. Monzon was a great tamer of the lion. He had that championship mindset, thought in a 15 round context and mastered pace and distance as well as any other fighter I have seen. Where a petulant rube like Monzon picked up on this stuff is beyond me but the proof is on tape and in his record.
Great fight and a tough one for both fighters. They are a bit similar, not in style but what they bring to the table. Both could box and punch, had great chins, were similar sized - Monzon slightly taller and has a reach advantage. Freddie was the harder puncher and I think more conventionally skilled than Monzon, so he would make it very hard for Carlos. But the slight size advantage would be turned into a big one by Monzon, there aren´t many fighters who were so good at fighting tall and maximize their size as Monzon was. Combine this with Carlos excellent jab, judge of distance, pacing and ring intelligence and I think Freddie will have a hard time to overcome this package despite his advantages. I think it´s a close fight in the beginning, perhaps Steele is even up but the longer the fight goes the more Monzon takes over. Would be the hardest fight of Monzon´s career - and Steele´s too - but he would prevail in the end with a narrow decision, perhaps even a MD or SD but he would deserve the nod - as long as the fight isn´t in Argentina
Freddie Steele has been somewhat forgotten...I mean he was champ from 1936 to 1938...had only 5 losses in 125 wins...beat Ken Overlin...Solly Krieger...Fred Aspotoli...Ceferino Garcia...Gus Lesnevich...Vince Dundee..etc...not bad...
