'Smokin' Joe Frazier vs. Monte Masters

October 30, 1982

'Halloween Eve in Las Vegas'

I saw Monte Masters fight, on the undercard of the Pete Ranzany vs. Sean O'Grady
Welterweight bout in Las Vegas.

The 27 year-old Monte Masters 25-0-0 (22 KO's) took on one - Luis Acosta, an
Argentine Heavyweight 15-6-0 (11 KO's). Acosta had lost 4-bouts in a row, all by Knock-out
to 'up-and-coming' Heavyweight Prospects.
* L KO 1 to Lee Canalito
* L KO 2 to Pinklon Thomas
* L KO 2 to Tim Witherspoon
* L KO 8 to Reiner Hartman

Monte Masters defeated Luis Acosta by Decision ( W Dec 10), but he lumbered
throughout the bout, and was unable to put in any decent combinations or a single telling blow.
And, the slow and cumbersome Luis Acosta actually won several of the rounds, by landing
wild and amateurish over-hand right sucker punches, that Monte Masters walked in to.

Masters failed to impress, and NBC-TV, who was thinking of putting Monte on as
a prime fighter for a Saturday Afternoon boxing show in December 1982 versus 195 lb. Alfonzo Ratliff
(the future WBC Cruiserweight Champion),,,,,,,respectfully declined to sign Monte Masters.