The ref did Nino a favor and exempted him from a major ass whipping...it may have been premature but Monzon seemed likely to break Nino in half, and in much quicker time than in heir 1st bout.
I just rewatched. yeah, the towel was definitely premature, but i guess if his corner didn't believe, i don't blame the ref. Monzon looked razor sharp. This might be his best effort. I think this is before the gunplay left a slug in his shoulder.
Benvenuti had been on the decline even before Monzon - Nino Fight No. 1. Nino wouldn't even fight an old Curtis Cokes when the opportunity was there. Nino was ready to be taken when Monzon got to him....and got his buttt whipped twice.
I felt that after the Griffith fights that Nino was pretty much finished. He did win some including a come from behind KO of Rodriguez. But the skills were eroded from his earlier fights. Could he have beaten Monzon around 1967 is a good question. Perhaps.
benvenuti fought one of his best fights in ages against Monzon the first time around.I think it was more his lifestyle that had eroded his consistency, but he still seemed at a stage where he could be elite if he put in the training. The corner ****ed up in the Monzon rematch.Big deal if you he was going to lose anyway, so do i...that's beside the point(same with the dodgy Moyer stoppage where i reckon Denny had some tough rounds ahead) and he was in no way taking a beating. I don't need to see the guy go out on his shield, but they took away his chance to maybe rally\recover and have a more dignified exit from boxing.
Nino, to me, was never much more than a junor middleweight anyway (size wise) Once he slammed into a true big MW....it was all over but the cryin'.
