hagler vs. monzon is always a favored fantasy matchup, i'm interested in the forums thoughts on Ray Leonard vs. Monzon in Monzon's prime and Leonard's MW best.
Ray never could hurt former LW Duran, at either 147 or 160. Marcos Geraldo took all his best shots, to the point the Mexican actually jutted his chin out mockingly. He couldn't have hurt Monzon either. This might actually be an instance where Carlos opts to outbox him like Hearns did in 1981, backing away behind that jab as he sometimes was seen to do, and outmaneuvering SRL, rather than chase. In the trenches, he was more than strong enough to handle Ray. At range, he had effective use of height and reach. SRL did have problems with guys of Monzon's height who could take a punch, like the light hitting and cut susceptible Shields and light hitting Geraldo. The taller LaLonde and Hearns both decked him in late career bouts. Unlike Hagler, Ray never really showed complete mastery of taller first rate opposition. Monzon won over 15 rounds five times. Ray lost over that distance in Montreal, would have lost over that distance in Hearns I, and I don't know how much we can credit him for his win over a suspect chinned Benitez who nearly blew his title in his previous defense against Harold Weston, Jr. before abusive old man ******* Gregorio slapped him upside the head between rounds to remind him of his responsibility to hold onto the title [preserving the $1,400,000.00 payoff for losing to SRL]. Here's another instance where it goes the championship distance. Monzon dealt with Benvenuti 2X, Griffith 2X and Napoles in title competition. Denny Moyer was another master boxer he turned back the challenge of. Dominating a big MW like prime Barkley over the distance would be useful for helping to make the case for SRL against Monzon, but we just never saw it. Ray just doesn't have that resume against rangier opponents who could both punch and take punishment. Hopkins might be a better match for Carlos at 160.
Leonard by decision. The question is, is it Leonard from the Hagler fight or are we pretending he moved up earlier? Doesn't matter, Leonard finds a way to win. Monzon was good but he struggled more than some of you like to admit. He lost 3 fights and had 9 draws... the best fighter out of these 12 fights was Bennie Briscoe. He decisioned Briscoe in their rematch. He fought countless unknown fighters from early '63 until he faced a faded Nino Benvenuti in late 1970 for the MW World title (KO12). He stopped Benvenuti in the 3rd of their rematch (Nino's last pro fight). A past prime Emile Griffith gave him fits but was stopped in the 14th. Monzon won the rematch by very close decision. He stopped WW Jose Naples in the 7th. Rodrigo Valdes lost two close decisions to Monzon. Denny Moyer? Honestly man! Moyer wasn't shlt compared to Leonard!!!
