Willie Monroe vs. Nessim Max Cohen

Willie Monroe 160 lbs lost to Nessim Max Cohen 159 lbs by SD in round 10 of 10

• Date: 1972-03-27
• Location: Palais des Sports Porte de Versailles, Paris XV, Paris, France

"'Man, I didn't even know it was close,' complained Willie (The Worm) Monroe after dropping a narrow split decision to Max Cohen of Paris in a 10 round middleweight bout Monday night. Monroe floored Cohen in the 3rd round but tired in the late going. When the decision was announced, it drew a chorus of boos. Besides the 3rd round knockdown, Monroe opened a large welt under Cohen's left eye in the 8th and knocked his mouthpiece flying in the 9th." -Associated Press

Post fight comments

• "In a town like this, you've got to win precisely. We had Cohen going early, but then he didn't gamble enough. I told him to get away and stop holding on, but he's a kid. He should have chopped Cohen's head off." -Yank Durham, Monroe's manager
• "They're all afraid to fight me. Carlos Monzon didn't want to fight me. Jean-Claude Bouttier runs away from me. So I have to box a tough kid like Monroe. If I lose, I'm finished. If I win, I'm still nowhere." -Max Cohen