Why do people find Carlos Monzon unimpressive on film?

Yeah surfinghb, Sometimes these intimidating looking flashy guys could not get the job done, maybe Carlos Monzon did not have their flashiness or intimidating looks and gift of gab while sitting at ringside but Monzon got the job done with his fists, winning all of his scheduled 14 title defenses. For Monzon it was a job, he came from the mean streets of Santa Fe Argentina, he was malnourished as a child, he fought other boys to protect his corner, selling newspapers to help feed his family. Amilcar Brusa took this underfed youth in and taught him the skills of boxing, while feeding him. After all of his fights, great performances or not, he never whined or sniveled about his performance, always giving his opponent credit. I think that his refusal to learn the English language and fight in the states did not enhance any popularity, the taxes here were very high and the purses were not like today's. He fought here once on June 30 1975 when he stopped contender Tony Licata in round 10 in a title defense at Madison Square Garden on the undercard of WBA Light Heavyweight champion Victor Galindez title defense against countryman Jorge Ahumada, won by Galindez by unanimous 15 round decision to retain his title. Carlos retired as champion on August 29 1977, his record was 89-3-9, 61 KO's, an 82 bout unbeaten streak dating back to Oct 9 1964. He defeated and fought whoever were put in the ring against him.

 

You are correct about that but Ill tell you what, there are a few fights that were for 15 rounds that were bombs away! Any fight involving Wilfredo Gomez (except for the Juan Laporte and Azumah Nelson wars which were 12 rounders), Marvelous Marvin Hagler (again except the one you mentioned with Leonard and except the John Mugabi war which was also a twelve rounder) then the two Aaron-Pryor-Alexis Arguello bouts..well anything involving Pryor for that matter, anything involving Salvador Sanchez, anything involving Matthew Saad Muhammad, and the 5th fight between Bobby Chacon and Bazooka Limon and the two fights between Arguello and Alfredo Escalera and fights 1 and 3 between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier were bombs away right away!!!

As for my age...you don't ask a lady for her age..LOL J/K..Im about to turn 51 in a few days. My brother is turning 44 in a week himself.

 

Richard, I always rank the Licata knockout as one of my 50 or so favorite, along with Tito-Campas, Tito-Blocker (who should have tried to do as his last name says when that torpedo hit him in round two in San Diego!) , Chavez-Taylor 1, Sanchez-Gomez, Marciano-Walcott I, Tyson-Berbick , Patterson-Johannson I, Robinson-Fullmer 2 and the such!!!

Licata just.......fell.........haha..great fighter, no disrespect to him , but, he..just...fell..on his knees!

 

He looks slow and basic on film

 

Hamed was flashy, we should ask him how unimpressive Barrera was.

 

Slow yes, ...basic? I don't know about that. He certainly had a grasp on the basics or fundamentals and used those as his canvas, but upon that canvas Monzón did a lot of subtle work.

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Yes, that was a beaut Rich.

 

The Licata fight is quite entertaining actually. Tony really put his best forward I think.

He seemed to push Monzon to an increased pace.

When intimidators are brought up, the usual suspects are trodden out - Liston, Foreman, Tyson etc. - and notably, often only at HW.

Given his concrete proven track record, including the ability to go the full 15 rounds if necessary and mete out awful punishment along the way, if I was a MW during Monzon’s time, I would’ve been more than intimidated by the guy.

His cold psychopathic demeanour during fights would’ve only added to the overall intimidation effect.

 

Thanks buddy.

 

Yea. There were many who felt like that. Monzon didn't look impressive but the results were impressive and undeniable. A dominant middleweight reign.

 

No flamboyant or flashy moves coming from Carlos.
Monzon was an economy fighter, with a methodical, sustained approach.

He was literally the exact opposite of SRL, an ATG, no doubt , but who sometimes seemed like he was in "look how impressive my moves are!" mode.

Maybe Monzon's style didn't look that good on film, but sure it was effective.

 

Well put. And Carlos’s hands were always busy and always well purposed.

Tbh, when some of the flashier guys put on extravagant, superfluous moves, it’s takes away from the obviously contrived aesthetics.

It’s wasteful and drifts from efficiency - efficiency in itself being a compelling and admirable attribute.

Louis exemplified efficiency and that’s one of the reasons why I find him so enjoyable to watch. Never a wasted punch or movement.

To fight like that, you have to be very on point with your movement, defence and punch executions to take full advantage exactly when the right time comes - and, of course, Louis was on point in all those depts. - and Carlos also.

PS - love your avatar!

 

Pug, great post. I have followed Carlos Monzon since he won the World Middleweight title from Nino Benvenuti on Nov 7 1970 until his retirement as champion on August 29 1977

 

Cheers Rich.