Make your case: Convince me Monzon wasnt an average MW Champ

I think Monzon would have to pull a come from behind KO to beat Jones. The shorter the fight, the better for Jones. In 10 rounds, I would go with Jones via UD. Monzon is too slow. One only has to watch Jones vs Hopkins or Toney, two fighters with more offensive speed, skill and countering ability in comparison to Monzon to see how the scoring will go.

In a 15 round match, I'd go with Monzon via late TKO.

Did Monzon ever face a speedy fighter? If so who?

 

Jones had the pleasure of hypnotizing his opponents into being gun shy with single power shots from long range - Monzon would never play to that tune - this is not so much a question of speed but willingness to get involved.

There will be moments when Jones lands a whipping left hook that Monzon did not see, but there would be no pauses, Jones would be unable to make Monzon into a self-conscious fighter. Carlos would keep moving forward, pushing out the jab and catching Jones during his meandering lapses between shots.

Monzon is going to make him work, hit him hard and extend him until his work ethic begins to suffer. If a fan believes that Jones can happily circle and pop at the slower Monzon then they highly underestimate his ability to limit your attributes with his own.

Griffith and Bouttier were two of the faster men that Monzon fought - very few were as quick as Jones - but both fighters were forced to compete in a match that Monzon was the best at.

 

Most of the fighters Monzon fought were fast.

Unless of course Mendoza is one of those who thinks the only quick fighters that ever existed were Meldrick Taylor, the Sugar Rays, Ali, Tyson and Jones.

Amazing how many seem to share that school of thought.

 

I might, might favor Monzon against Jones over 15 rounds, but not 12. Agreed with all the great posts here on Monzon, but let's also be honest: The fact that he's under-appreciated by the public compels many purists to rate him more highly.

That's how it goes in every walk of life.

Nevertheless, he would be competitive against anyone at 160, but I think there are a number of guys who would give him very competitive fights. Jones might be the ultimate albatross, because he could in fact keep the fight at range. The bout would merely be a question of whether Jones runs out of gas. If he doesn't, he wins via wide decision.

Hagler is getting overlooked on this thread as well. The Leonard and Hearns bouts really shouldn't even be part of the discussion, as he was past his best by then. He'd battle Monzon the whole way in an epic bout.

 

I don't think that's fair. Many elite fighters are fast, including both the younger versions of Hagler and Hopkins, but Jones was significantly faster than even those fighters.

It's valid to ponder difficulties Monzon may have with Roy-level speed.

 

Well Toney and Hopkins were tough dudes too, and Roy had them hypontized. In fact both Hopkins and Toney had better D and were superior coutner punches when comapred to Monzon. Yet they caught air too much vs Roy Jones. I am not a Roy Jones fan at all, but in a 12 round match I think he UD's Monzon.

Having said that, I do think Mozon could win if he made it into a slugging match and Jones took the bait.

I never saw Bouttier fight. I'll take your word the frenchman was a quick one. Griffith was pretty quick in his prime, but he was 35 when Monzon fought him, and a former 5'7 1/2" welter to boot. Of coruse Monzon could over whelm a smaller and older fighter, and indeed he did.

 

Bouttier was there only to survive, he was scared to death and put up no resistance whatsoever. A totally meaningless fight to evaluate anything. Miles behind Jones in foot and handspeed too.