RIP Jean-Claude Bouttier

[scorpio83]

I would like to inform you that Jean-Claude Bouttier, who challenged the great Carlos Monzon twice for his World Middleweight Title had passed away on August 3 at the aged of 74.

[oogiebe]

RIP! Thanks for the memories.

[bennie]

Bouttier is best remembered for losing to Carlos Monzon in two attempts at the world middleweight title but he proved a world class operator across many years and twice held the European title in a career that kept him remarkably busy. Bouttier turned pro in 1965 and racked up good wins over Jo Gonzales, Raul Soriano, Tom Bethea and Stanley "Kitten" Hayward among a host of others. He first won the European middleweight title with a clear 15-round decision over Italy's Carlo Duran in 1971, a title he retained with a come-from-behind knockout of London's talented Bunny Sterling in 14 rounds later in the same year, and by 1972 had lost only to Brazil's Juarez de Lima and American Lonnie Harris in 60 fights - losses he subsequently avenged.
Bouttier was clearly ready for a shot at the world title but that title was held by the formidable Monzon and their confrontation in Paris in June 1972 in front of a crowd of 35,000, proved a painful affair for the gutsy challenger, who went down in the sixth round and took a pounding before his corner pulled him out at the end of the 12th. Bouttier came back with six straight wins to secure a second shot at the great Argentine in September 1973 and this time held his own for 12 rounds when Monzon decided to go to work, flooring the Frenchman in each of the last three rounds to take a unanimous decision.
Monzon was just too good for him but Monzon was too good for everyone and to last 27 rounds with such a champion is a fine achievement by Jean-Claude, who clinched his second European title six months later with a stoppage of Italy's Elio Calcabrini but then suffered a shock points defeat to Kevin Finnegan on a glory night for Britain in May 1974 in Paris, with John H. Stracey also crowned European champion. It was effectively the end for Bouttier but he stuck around for a couple more fights before bowing out at the end of 1974 with a record of 64-7-1 (43).
Bouttier could box behind the jab and he carried enough power in his punches to worry his opponents. He also possessed the intangible quality known as charisma. The man loved a cigarette, he really looked the part.

[dr_devious]

Very informative post Bennie

[klompton]

Bouttier was a european fraud whose best wins were hometown robberies (Hayward, Griffith). He is only ever built up by people who mostly never saw him fight beyond his bouts with Monzon because they want to believe he was this great defense for Monzon (2x). He wasnt. It was a weak era and Bouttier wasnt even deserving among that weak era. It says a lot that the best guy he beat legitimately was Jaurez De Lima and it took him three tries to do it.

The post by Bennie is almost comical in that I doubt hes ever seen any of the fights he describes outside of Monzon. Ive seen every one of them. Hayward for instance outboxed Bouttier, clowned him, and dropped him and somehow lost the decision. In fact he dropped Bouttier with as clean a punch as you ever saw and the ref didnt even count it. Home cooking like that got him his title shot and his friendship with Alain Delon got Monzon to carry him without ever switching into second gear.

[goose 5]

Man, you have some film collection ! I can only dream. It's not the right thread but I'll ask anyway. Have you seen the entire Olson-Gavilan bout ? If so, how did you score it ?

[elmersalsa]

That comes to show us that how great Carlos Monzon really was. Monzon gave everyone an opportunity for his title. He didn't had to beat another great fighter to be great. Just by defending his crown regularly makes you also great. Greatness comes in degrees. He also fought over 100 fights, winning 89 and only lost 3 fights.

Jean Claude Boutierre of France was a good European champion. The only thing that was missing on his resume was a world title.

[klompton]

That comes to show us that how great Carlos Monzon really was. Monzon gave everyone an opportunity for his title. He didn't had to beat another great fighter to be great. Just by defending his crown regularly makes you also great. Greatness comes in degrees. He also fought over 100 fights, winning 89 and only lost 3 fights.

Jean Claude Boutierre of France was a good European champion. The only thing that was missing on his resume was a world title.

And a legit win over a REAL world class fighter. That was missing as well. Hell, he wasnt even the best middleweight in France much less Europe.

[klompton]

Man, you have some film collection ! I can only dream. It's not the right thread but I'll ask anyway. Have you seen the entire Olson-Gavilan bout ? If so, how did you score it ?

Yes. It was fairly close in my opinion but I thought Olson won it legitimately. They fought very similar styles in this fight and there was a lot of infighting which allowed Olson to use his greater size and strength to effect which was the difference for me. During the broadcast they mention many times that Gavilan isnt throwing his right hand much and speculate that he injured it at some point. After the fight Gavilan stated he entered the ring with an injured right hand. That probably made a difference too but Gavilan wasnt a big puncher so I dont know how much it would have changed. This and the Maxim fight are Olson's two best performances to me.