I'd pick LaMotta over Benvenuti by fighting his normal pressure fight. Benvenuti was bothered by a past it Dick Tiger, a prime and aggressive, LaMotta would have beaten him in a similar manner. Monzon? When I watch Monzon, what impresses me is the manner that he systematically grinds his opponents down. He uses his height and reach so efficiently to initiate and avoid exchanges. Monzon doesn't get into the pit...he looks into it, and then gets in when he wants to. Could LaMotta relying on one of the best chins in boxing history, push Carlos into fighting at a faster pace, and closer range? I think he could, but not consistantly enough to actually win against Monzon. Monzon would often use a double jab to sometimes score, and to sometimes blind and/or divert an opponent by aiming the jabs high, for either a straight right hand, or a right uppercut to the body, then lean out of the way before an opponent counters. LaMotta would need to pressure and work the body and not allow Monzon to get into his rythym. But with that being said, Monzon was not a static fighter, by any means, he incorporated movement when he jabbed and circled to his left making it difficult for an opponent to close distance. he wasn't fast, or graceful, but he was efficient. On the inside, I believe LaMotta could get his punches off quicker and he would score well to the body, winning the exchanges overall, but Monzon would be getting his pound of flesh on the inside as well. Monzon is very rough on the inside in clinches. Carlos would demonstrate how adaptable he was in this fight, by limiting the inside fighting with timely clinches, and pushing LaMotta back physically to maintain his distance. Making LaMotta work to get inside, and then smother him when he does. Another tactic is, Monzon would also step to his right, to land his straight right hand (like he did with Valdez). LaMotta is capable of pressing and attacking making Monzon react defensively and taking him out of his offensive patterns, but as stated earlier, I don't feel he could manage to do it on a consistant enough basis to win the fight. IMO LaMotta UD Benvenuti Monzon UD LaMotta
I actually think Nino could hold his own with Jake..maybe even bag a win out of a series. More then likely Jake is to physical for him. Carlos would never lose to Jake.
Nino Benvenuti gets underrated quite a lot on this forum. I think his biggest fault was inconstancy in that he's lose a fight, but wuld generally acquit himself well in the rematch (Monzon excepted). Jake would probably have his way with him in one fight, but Nino could just as well win a rematch. I don't know what the tally would be if they fought a series, but I'm sure Nino would be surprisingly competitive against Jake, win or lose. He wouldn't get knocked out, that's for sure. Monzon? He would beat Jake at any time. That's a different story altogether. Monzon wouldn't deck Jake, but he'd hurt him with he right and be too damned smart for him, winning a comfortable decision over 15.
