Why do people find Carlos Monzon unimpressive on film?

Because hes not that fast or flashy.
GGG, Hopkins, Hagler wouldnt really look impressive on film either if you put them in black and white in low quality.
Theyre just not that dynamic.
But that doesnt make them less effective.

 

My guess is that Monzon didn't possess the flashy speed nor crushing power that made other fighters stand out. He also wasn't overly exciting in a slam bang type of way, he was always methodical and analyzing while slowly breaking down fighters. I think because of the fact that he was almost always in control and dominant in his fights while not possessing any speed, flashy movement, or crushing power that can lead to some people being turned off by him.

The thing with Monzon was that he wasn't fluid in his style, wasn't overly aggressive but he also wasn't defensive minded either, and he didn't look for the KO. He was subtle but very effective at what he did. When he did let his hands go and be more aggressive he can be ruthless but that was only when he needed to be.

I honestly think it just comes down to what people want to see and what type of fighter they consider as aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

 

He reminds me of Wlad Klitschko in his calculating approach and reliance on a long jab to dictate a fight, the crushing counter if you tried to rush him and the cool tying up of opponents to neutralize inside minded foes. People often dump on Klitschko too. Maybe the whole approach is too systematic and organized for a blood sport.

 

He's kind of basic looking style wise. Not super fast, not a one punch KO guy, always looked like he didn't really care about what was happening in the ring, doesn't have pretty enough defense to have a million "CARLOS MONZON BEST DEFENSIVE MOMENTS" videos made on him.

Somebody like Hagler had stance switching which set him apart, aswell as some all-out brawls that excite.

Golovkin has a jab that hits like a backhand and one punch KO power.

Nunn is slick is hell

Toney is slick as hell

SRR is dazzling

Hopkins had a ton of crafty but easy to recognise tricks he'd use.

Monzon though, he just kinda fights like a traditional boxer. didn't do anymore than he needed to. Didn't have exaggerated head movement, wasn't bouncing all over the place, didn't throw a million pitty pat punch combinations, wasn't a taunter. He was just a rangy intelligent 123 fighter with tremendous timing. Didn't do much that made him stand out but what he did do, he was remarkable at.

 

Carlos Monzon was not a flashy Muhammad Ali wanna be, he took his trade serious in the ring. Sure he smoked a pack of cigarettes a day during training, he stayed out at all hours with really attractive women, but it worked for him, not others. He declined to learn the English language, he fought mostly in Italy or France, Big Money at that time, less taxes like here in the states. He did not call out his opponents, that kind of stuff belongs in WWE. His lifelong trainer Amilcar Brusa used to scout his future opponents, both of them usually came up with the right strategy. His manager Tito Lectoure always put aside all or some of Monzon's earnings so that he would never be hard up for a big money fight. Carlos had a long left jab, his reach was 76 inches, he usually stalked his opponents, that appeared very intimidating, he had a good chin, he counterpunched his opponents well, knew how to manhandle them in the clinches. Many refused to spar with him because he hit too hard. His right hand was paralyzing. He had the classic upright style, he sometimes used his big shoulders to block a punch. A very confident fighter who believed he couldn't lose. Monzon maybe looked slow on film but he was very effective, a consistent winner, if he had an opponent hurt, he never left his foot off of the gas pedal. Sure he was flatfooted but he could box as in the title defense against Bennie Briscoe on Nov 11 1972, he countered well, used his long left jab, connected on Bennie to score a unanimous decision win and retain his title. Monzon retired as champion after 14 title defenses, some of the past greats could not.

 

It's a generational thing.

 

It's not their Era of boxing, so it's hard to appreciate fighters like Monzon when they're used to watching guys like GGG.

 

Sometimes his hands of stone were enough to win.

 

Quite agree, Carlos became the second man to stop challenger Emile Griffith on Sept 25 1971 by TKO 14, in Luna Park Arena, Buenos Aires Argentina. I saw that bout on ABC's Wide World Of Sports, it also can be seen on You Tube.

 

True. He smoked a lot, he drank a lot, he ****** a lot, he won a lot. Unfortunately he paid all in a sad evening.

 

Yeah, But who are we to judge, maybe some or all of us end up in the same place. But getting back to boxing, Carlos Monzon was a consistent winner, never went around crying, whining or sniveling about the result of his fights.

 

Great post, Contro!

 

Excellent, Nip

 

Good comparison.