Which "basic" champion was the best?? (Non Heavyweights)

[handsofstone]

Usually when we think of great champs, especially long reigning normally we think of guys with lightening speed or explosive power like Robinson, Leonard, Ali, Mayweather, Pacquiao etc

But ive been watching a lot of Carlos Monzon lately, i'd already seen a few of his fights(Nino Benvenuti x2, Rodrigo Valdes x2) but ive now pretty much seen all his big fights and I just love how basic and conventional he is, just shows you don't need all the tricks in the book to be a great champ

Monzon not the biggest puncher but he's strong and accurate, not the quickest but he's sharp, his jab is perfect as is his right cross and with those 2 punches alone he can break guys down which he did regularly despite being a slow starter, he was a tall Middleweight but used the uppercuts well, he was at his best when leading off the jab and straight right hand but he could counter excellently with left hooks when an opponent came rushing

He pretty much does everything by the book, page 1 on the fundimentals, I'm under no illusions he was a great boxer but when you watch him you can actually think " fcvk even a slow skinny weakling like myself can do that"

If anyone was to ever get into boxing then Monzon would probably be the first fighter I would point them to

I decided against Heavyweights seeing as a lot of the great champs were conventional

[DrDuke]

I agree on Monzon, he was exeptionally skilled. He had an excellent jab, a diverse arsenal, he could be on the right positions all the time, he was precise and hard-hitting. A close to perfect boxer-puncher. The greatest middleweight ever, I'd say. And a one of the best boxers p4p all time.

[leejonesjnr]

Not the best but certainly an honourable mention for Chris Eubank and his spiritual successor Carl Froch.

[Boxerbeetle]

You could say similar about Hagler, couldn’t you? Wasn’t spectacular in power or speed (although his chin was out of this fvcking world), but he just did the basics so well.

And I reckon he was better than Monzon too

[Stuarty]

Not the best but certainly an honourable mention for Chris Eubank and his spiritual successor Carl Froch.

I miss Froch

[Stuarty]

You could say similar about Hagler, couldn’t you? Wasn’t spectacular in power or speed (although his chin was out of this fvcking world), but he just did the basics so well.

And I reckon he was better than Monzon too

[leejonesjnr]

Not the best but certainly an honourable mention for Chris Eubank and his spiritual successor Carl Froch.

I miss Froch

Not me, I wasn’t a fan.

[Stuarty]

Not the best but certainly an honourable mention for Chris Eubank and his spiritual successor Carl Froch.

I miss Froch

Not me, I wasn’t a fan.

I wasn't at first because I was a big Calzaghe fan and all his patter used to wind me up a bit but he started to grow on me after Pascal and Taylor fights....

[handsofstone]

You could say similar about Hagler, couldn’t you? Wasn’t spectacular in power or speed (although his chin was out of this fvcking world), but he just did the basics so well.

And I reckon he was better than Monzon too

Aye Hagler is the greatest MW of them all i'd say

[forcefraser]

No doubt in my mind. Hagler is the greatest middleweight of all time.

Just a rock hard guy who would wear you down and break your soul

[spudder56]

No doubt in my mind. Hagler is the greatest middleweight of all time.

Just a rock hard guy who would wear you down and break your soul

I would agree hagler was the best middleweight of all time but monzon was a very close second both of them P4P all time greats

[DrDuke]

I'd say, Hagler is the 2nd after Monzon. He was also close to being perfect, but his fighting style wasn't that honed, he sometimes was forced to fight his opponents' fights.

[JC]

You could say similar about Hagler, couldn’t you? Wasn’t spectacular in power or speed (although his chin was out of this fvcking world), but he just did the basics so well.

And I reckon he was better than Monzon too

Disagree, Hagler’s hands were fast as fornicate (compared to most) and he wasn’t ‘basic’, great head movement and footwork.

Froch is a better shout.

[handsofstone]

Alexis Arguello was never a basic boxer but he boxed very fundamentally, done everything correct

[Stuarty]

Obviously not the best so perhaps not relevant to the thread per se but Ricky Burns is very basic. Does the fundamentals all well but nothing spectacular (apart from his fitness and chin). Three weight world champion and really managed to make the most out of the talents he possessed.

[JC]

Mickey Garcia is a modern example, very effective without relying on athletic gifts.

[dookus]

Winky Wright