The great Carlos Monzons career was a little before my time and I was wondering how much talk was there of Monzon moving up to Light-Heavyweight to fight either Foster, Conteh or Galindez?
Marvin Hagler is sometimes slated for not taking on Michael Spinks but I've never heard the same about Monzon taking on the Light-Heavyweights of his era?
I never heard it tossed around about Monzon moving up. Maybe Buzz or Jaclem remember hearing it. However I do remember Hagler saying he wanted to be the best Middleweight and had no interest in jumping divisions at all . Thogh with Monzon, its easy to picture him adding weight to his frame as he was a tall very lean middle. I think he wouldve had real problems with Bob Foster.
From what I know...and it's not a boatload, He was rather sharp after all his fights. He felt he had made his statement and wanted out on top. Somewhat concerned with his legacy. His last 2 or 3 fights were concerning to him as he could feel his best work was behind him. I recall him reflecting on what it took to get in shape for his last fight and announced based on that, he would conclude his career.
Not sure what then transpired or when things sort of went off track in his life. don't even know how soon after his last fight that he got into trouble.
Here he is seen taking over the reigns of the Middleweight division from Benvenuti
..i would assume he didn't move up because he was a middleweight and made 160 pounds in good condition.
with all the titles around now...alphabet boys...and all of those helf step divsions the fighters of today move up as a matter of course. the earlier fighters...and the monzon era was near the end of the older tradition..stayed a the weight they were bestat, and if they mopved up it was usually because they no longer could make that weight and still be strong. there is an inclination these days to judge a fighter on how many weight classes he won so-called titles in.
does anyone think willie pep is not a great fighter because he never challenged for a higher crown? the above metioned marvin hagler? the not quite great but very good and tough tony zale?
I think thats what I read , Im not positve about it though. I wanna say I read it in an article about Monzon by Nigel Collins its been quite awhile though . Right when Monzon was arrested in the death of Alicia Muniz.
expug wrote:Beatriz Garcia his wife at the time put two bullets in him during a little argument , but I thought one of the bullets remained in his shoulder.
