Carlos Monzón

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Carlos Monzón
Statistics
Real name Carlos Roque Monzón
Nickname(s) Escopeta (Shotgun)
Rated at Middleweight
Nationality Argentinan
Born August 7, 1942(1942-08-07)
Santa Fe, Argentina
Died January 8, 1995(1995-01-08) (aged 52)
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights 100
Wins 87
Wins by KO 59
Losses 3
Draws 9
No contests 1

Carlos Monzón (August 7, 1942 – January 8, 1995) was an Argentine professional boxer who held the undisputed world middleweight title for 7 years, during which he successfully defended the title 14 times.[1][2][3]

His glamorous and violent life was avidly followed by the media, culminating with his trial for the murder of his concubine and his death in a car crash soon thereafter. Argentinians adored Monzon throughout his career. He was, however, accused many times of domestic violence by his two wives and many mistresses, and of beating paparazzi. He toured all of Latin America and Europe with Argentine and Italian models and actresses. Accused of killing his wife Alicia Muniz, in Mar del Plata in 1988, the former champion was sentenced to 11 years in jail.[4][5] He died in a car crash during a weekend furlough. He would have been let free in 2001.[6]

Contents

[edit] Beginning

Monzón was born in the city of San Javier, Argentina, and moved to the capital of Santa Fe Province. As a youngster, he showed interest in boxing.

World Middleweight Champion Nino Benvenuti had long had a distinguished career that included championships in 2 divisions and 2 wins in 3 bouts vs all-time great Emile Griffith. He had lost the year before to American Tom Bethea in Australia, but in an actual title fight in Yugoslavia, he avenged that loss.

Nobody expected Monzón to beat Benvenuti in their title match (very few knew of him). Yet Monzón applied pressure from the start, and in the 12th, a right hand landed perfectly on Benvenuti's chin, and the title changed hands. Monzón also beat Benevenuti in a rematch, this time in only three rounds in Monte Carlo when his seconds threw in the towel.

[edit] Champion

In 1971, Monzón became only the second man to stop former three-time world champion Emile Griffith in 14 rounds, and later out-pointed him over 15 in a close fight (before the fight Monzón had to spar three rounds and run three miles in order to make the weight). Monzón then scored a win over tough Philadelphian Bennie Briscoe, over-coming a shakey 9th round, in which Briscoe almost scored a knockout; a knockout in five rounds over European champion Tom Bogs, a knockout in seven rounds over Mexican José Mantequilla Nápoles in Paris, France and a 10 round knockout of tough Tony Licata of New Orleans at the Madison Square Garden, in what would turn out to be Monzón's only fight in the United States.

However, a darker side of Monzón would soon begin to emerge. In 1973, Monzón was shot in the leg by his wife[7], requiring 7 hours of surgery to remove the bullet. In 1975, he began a very publicized romance with the famous actress and vedette Susana Giménez; they had previously met in the 1974 thriller La Mary, directed by Daniel Tinayre, where the two played husband and wife. Monzón hated paparazzi who detailed his affairs. He went to Italy with Giménez to participate in a movie and started increasingly traveling with her to locations in Brazil and the rest of Latin America, letting himself be seen with her, though still married.

Monzón in 1977, when he retired from boxing.

Soon the beatings he gave his concubine became public knowledge. Monzón was detained by the police repeatedly. Giménez also began wearing sunglasses more often, presumably to hide her bruises, and many times, paparazzi had to be hospitalized from the beatings suffered at the hands of Monzón, who had unpredictable violent outbreaks. During this period, Monzón divorced his wife and later re-married another Argentine woman.

Monzón's Middleweight Championship title was lifted in 1975 by the WBC for not defending it against mandatory challenger Rodrigo Valdez. Valdez, a Colombian, then won the WBC's title, while Monzón kept the WBA's championship. So in 1976, they finally met, this time, world champion vs. world champion.

Valdez's brother had been shot to death one week prior to the fight and he did not feel like fighting. Still, they were under contract and so the fight took place in Monte Carlo and Monzón handed an uninterested Valdez a beating, winning a 15 round unanimous decision and unifying the world title once again. Because of the special circumstances under which Valdez performed, an immediate rematch was ordered, once again in Monte Carlo.

This time, Valdez came out roaring. In the second round, right cross to the chin put Monzón down for the first and only time in his career. Valdez built a lead through the first half of the fight. Monzón, however, mounted a brilliant comeback and outboxed Valdez for the last 8 rounds, winning a unanimous decision to retain the title and score his 14th title defense.

[edit] Retirement

Carlos Monzón with his second wife, Alicia Muñiz in 1982.

Monzón retired after this defense and kept a low public profile through most of the late 1970s and the 1980s. Susana Giménez left him in 1980. After the breakup, Monzón's private life was finally closed to the public, but the beatings continued, this time with his second concubine, Alicia Muñiz. In 1988, while vacationing in the resort city of Mar del Plata, he allegedly beat Muñiz so many times that she was scarred and bloody; ran to the balcony of their second floor apartment and presumably jumped. According to the investigation performed later, he followed her there, grabbed her by the neck, and then picked her up and pushed her off the balcony, to her death, after which he followed her in the fall injuring a shoulder. In 1989, he was found guilty of homicide and received 11 years in prison.[8][9]

In 1995, Monzón was given a weekend furlough while serving his prison in Santa Fe province to visit his family and children. Upon returning to jail after the weekend, he died instantly when his vehicle rolled over.[10]

His record stands at 87 wins, only three losses, nine draws, and one no contest. Of his wins, 59 came by knockout. His only losses were by points and early in his career. In 2003, he was named by the Ring Magazine as one of the 100 greatest punchers of all time. On the independent computer-based ranking of boxrec.com, he is listed as the second best middleweight boxer of all time after Sugar Ray Robinson.

A monument to him stands in Santa Fe, Argentina.[11]

[edit] Professional boxing record

87 Wins (59 Knockouts), 3 Defeats, 9 Draws, 1 No Contest[12]
Res. Record Opponent Type Rd., Time Date Location Notes
Win 87-3-9 Colombia Rodrigo Valdéz UD 15 1977-07-30 Monaco Stade Louis II, Monte Carlo Retained The Ring, WBA & WBC World Middleweight titles.
Win 86-3-9 Colombia Rodrigo Valdéz UD 15 1976-06-26 Monaco Stade Louis II, Monte Carlo Retained The Ring, WBA & won WBC World Middleweight titles.
Win 85-3-9 France Gratien Tonna KO 5 (15) 1975-12-13 France Nouvelle Hippodrome, Paris, Île-de-France Retained The Ring & WBA World Middleweight titles.
Win 84-3-9 United States Tony Licata TKO 10 (15), 2:43 1975-06-30 United States Madison Square Garden, New York, New York Retained The Ring & WBA World Middleweight titles.
Win 83-3-9 Australia Tony Mundine KO 7 (15) 1974-10-05 Argentina Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal Retained The Ring & WBA World Middleweight titles.
Win 82-3-9 Mexico José Nápoles RTD 7 (15), 3:00 1974-02-09 France Puteaux, Hauts-de-Seine Retained The Ring, WBA & WBC World Middleweight titles.
Win 81-3-9 France Jean-Claude Bouttier UD 15 1973-09-29 France Stade Roland Garros, Paris, Île-de-France Retained The Ring, WBA & WBC World Middleweight titles.
Win 80-3-9 United States Virgin Islands Emile Griffith UD 15 1973-06-02 Monaco Stade Louis II, Monte Carlo Retained The Ring, WBA & WBC World Middleweight titles.
Win 79-3-9 United States Roy Dale KO 5 (10) 1973-05-05 Italy Palazzo Dello Sport, Rome, Lazio A non-title fight. Fight at Super Middleweight.
Win 78-3-9 United States Bennie Briscoe UD 15 1972-11-11 Argentina Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal Retained The Ring, WBA & WBC World Middleweight titles.
Win 77-3-9 Denmark Tom Bogs TKO 5 (15) 1972-08-19 Denmark Idraetsparken, Copenhagen Retained The Ring, WBA & WBC World Middleweight titles.
Win 76-3-9 France Jean-Claude Bouttier TKO 13 (15) 1972-06-17 France Colombes Stadium, Paris, Île-de-France Retained The Ring, WBA & WBC World Middleweight titles.
Win 75-3-9 United States Denny Moyer TKO 5 (15), 1:50 1972-03-04 Italy Palazzo Dello Sport, Rome, Lazio Retained The Ring, WBA & WBC World Middleweight titles.
Win 74-3-9 United States Fraser Scott TKO 3 (10), 0:01 1971-12-04 Argentina Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal A non-title fight. Fight at Super Middleweight.
Win 73-3-9 United States Virgin Islands Emile Griffith TKO 14 (15), 2:32 1971-09-25 Argentina Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal Retained The Ring, WBA & WBC World Middleweight titles.
Win 72-3-9 Italy Nino Benvenuti TKO 3 (15), 1:05 1971-05-08 Monaco Stade Louis II, Monte Carlo Retained The Ring, WBA & WBC World Middleweight titles.
Win 71-3-9 United States Roy Lee KO 2 (10) 1971-03-06 Argentina Santa Fe, Santa Fe A non-title fight. Fight at Super Middleweight.
Win 70-3-9 Argentina Domingo Guerrero KO 2 (10) 1971-02-19 Argentina Salta, Salta A non-title fight. Fight at Super Middleweight.
Win 69-3-9 United States Charley Austin KO 2 (10) 1970-12-19 Argentina Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal A non-title fight. Fight at Super Middleweight.
Win 68-3-9 Italy Nino Benvenuti TKO 12 (15) 1970-11-07 Italy Palazzo Dello Sport, Rome, Lazio Won The Ring, WBA & WBC World Middleweight titles.
The Ring magazine's "Fight of the Year" (1970)
Win 67-3-9 Dominican Republic Santiago Rosa KO 4 (10) 1970-09-19 Argentina Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal
Win 66-3-9 United States Eddie Pace PTS 10 1970-07-18 Argentina Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal
Win 65-3-9 Argentina Adolfo Jorge Cardozo TKO 3 (10) 1970-04-18 Argentina Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal
Win 64-3-9 Argentina Juan Aguilar RTD 9 (10) 1970-03-07 Argentina Santa Fe, Santa Fe
Win 63-3-9 Argentina Antonio Aguilar KO 5 (12) 1970-02-11 Argentina Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires Retained Argentina (FAB) Middleweight title
Win 62-3-9 Peru Carlos Estrada KO 2 (10) 1969-12-12 Argentina Santa Fe, Santa Fe
Win 61-3-9 Brazil Manoel Severino KO 6 (12) 1969-09-27 Argentina Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal Retained South American Middleweight title
Win 60-3-9 Argentina Emilio Ale Ali TKO 7 (10) 1969-09-05 Argentina San Miguel, Tucumán
Win 59-3-9 United States Tom Bethea PTS 10 1969-08-09 Argentina Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal
Win 58-3-9 United States Harold Richardson KO 3 (10) 1969-07-05 Argentina Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal
Win 57-3-9 Argentina Carlos Alberto Salinas TKO 7 (10) 1969-06-06 Argentina Paraná, Entre Ríos
Draw 56-3-9 Argentina Carlos Alberto Salinas PTS 10 1969-04-25 Argentina Recreativo Bochas Club, Paraná, Entre Ríos
Win 56-3-8 Argentina Mario Taborda KO 3 (10) 1969-03-14 Argentina Club Sportivo, Presidencia Roque Saenz Pena, Chaco
Win 55-3-8 Uruguay Ruben Orrico KO 9 (12) 1969-01-10 Argentina Santa Fe, Santa Fe Retained South American Middleweight title
Win 54-3-8 Argentina Emilio Ale Ali PTS 10 1968-12-20 Argentina Mendoza, Mendoza
Win 53-3-8 United States Johnny Brooks PTS 10 1968-12-07 Argentina Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal
Win 52-3-8 United States Charley Austin UD 10 1968-10-23 Argentina Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal
Win 51-3-8 United States Doug Huntley KO 4 (10) 1968-08-14 Argentina Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal
Win 50-3-8 Argentina Benito Sanchez KO 4 (10) 1968-07-05 Argentina Chaco, Chaco
Win 49-3-8 Argentina Juan Aguilar PTS 10 1968-06-20 Argentina Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal
Win 48-3-8 Argentina Alberto Massi PTS 10 1968-05-17 Argentina Córdoba, Córdoba
Draw 47-3-8 Argentina Juan Aguilar PTS 10 1968-04-05 Argentina Mendoza, Mendoza
Win 47-3-7 Panama Tito Marshall PTS 10 1967-11-18 Argentina Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal
Win 46-3-7 Argentina Ramon D Rocha KO 7 (10) 1967-10-20 Argentina San Juan, La Rioja
Win 45-3-7 Peru Carlos Estrada KO 7 (10) 1967-10-06 Argentina Trelew, Chubut
Win 44-3-7 Argentina Ramon D Rocha PTS 10 1967-09-08 Argentina Rosario, Santa Fe
Win 43-3-7 Panama Tito Marshall PTS 10 1967-08-16 Argentina Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal
Win 42-3-7 Argentina Antonio Aguilar KO 9 (10) 1967-07-29 Argentina Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal
Win 41-3-7 Argentina Jorge Fernandez UD 12 1967-06-10 Argentina Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal Won South American Middleweight title
Draw 40-3-7 United States Bennie Briscoe PTS 12 1967-05-06 Argentina Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal
Win 40-3-6 Argentina Benito Sanchez TKO 3 (10) 1967-04-09 Argentina Santa Elena, Entre Ríos
Win 39-3-6 Argentina Angel Alberto Coria KO 6 (10) 1967-03-25 Argentina Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires
Win 38-3-6 Argentina Osvaldo Marino KO 7 (10) 1967-03-09 Argentina Santa Fe, Santa Fe
Win 37-3-6 Argentina Alberto Massi PTS 10 1967-02-15 Argentina San Francisco, Santa Fe
Win 36-3-6 Argentina Eudoro Robledo KO 4 (10) 1967-01-27 Argentina Charata, Chaco
Win 35-3-6 Argentina Carlos Alberto Salinas KO 8 (10) 1967-01-13 Argentina Santa Fe, Santa Fe
Win 34-3-6 Uruguay Marcelo Farias KO 3 (10) 1966-12-23 Argentina San Cristóbal, Santa Fe
Win 33-3-6 Argentina Alberto Massi TKO 8 (10) 1966-12-02 Argentina Santa Fe, Santa Fe
Win 32-3-6 Uruguay Luis Antonio Pereyra TKO 2 (10) 1966-11-18 Argentina Santa Fe, Santa Fe
Win 31-3-6 Argentina Angel Alberto Coria PTS 10 1966-10-01 Argentina Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires
Win 30-3-6 Argentina Jorge Fernandez UD 12 1966-09-03 Argentina Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal Won Argentina (FAB) Middleweight title
Win 29-3-6 Argentina Benito Sanchez KO 4 (10) 1966-07-08 Argentina San Pereyra
Draw 28-3-6 Argentina Ubaldo Marcos Bustos PTS 10 1966-06-03 Argentina Río Gallegos, Santa Cruz
Win 28-3-5 Argentina Ismael Hamze TKO 9 (10) 1966-04-29 Argentina San Nicolas, Santiago del Estero
Win 27-3-5 Argentina Norberto Juncos KO 7 (10) 1966-02-17 Argentina Santa Fe, Santa Fe
Win 26-3-5 Argentina Ramon D Rocha PTS 10 1966-02-04 Argentina Santa Fe, Santa Fe
Win 25-3-5 Argentina Carlos Alberto Salinas PTS 10 1965-12-29 Argentina Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal
Win 24-3-5 Argentina Antonio Aguilar PTS 10 1965-12-08 Argentina Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal
Win 23-3-5 Argentina Celedonio Lima KO 5 (10) 1965-11-17 Argentina Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal
Win 22-3-5 Argentina Gregorio Gomez PTS 10 1965-10-06 Argentina Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal
Draw 21-3-5 Brazil Manoel Severino PTS 8 1965-08-28 Brazil Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro
Draw 21-3-4 Brazil Manoel Severino PTS 8 1965-08-14 Brazil Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro
Win 21-3-3 Brazil Felipe Cambeiro PTS 8 1965-08-01 Brazil São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro
Win 20-3-3 Argentina Alberto Retondo TKO 8 (10) 1965-07-14 Argentina Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal
Win 19-3-3 Argentina Anibal Cordoba PTS 10 1965-05-19 Argentina Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal
Draw 18-3-3 Argentina Emilio Ale Ali PTS 10 1965-04-09 Argentina San Miguel, Tucumán
Win 18-3-2 Argentina Andres Antonio Selpa PTS 10 1965-03-11 Argentina Santa Fe, Santa Fe
Draw 17-3-2 Argentina Andres Antonio Selpa PTS 10 1965-01-08 Argentina Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires
Draw 17-3-1 Argentina Celedonio Lima PTS 10 1964-11-18 Argentina Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal
Win 17-3 Argentina Francisco Gilabert RTD 4 (10) 1964-10-28 Argentina Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal
Loss 16-3 Argentina Alberto Massi UD 10 1964-10-09 Argentina Cordoba Sport Club, Córdoba, Córdoba
Win 16-2 Argentina Francisco Olea KO 9 (10) 1964-09-25 Argentina Tostado, Santa Fe
Win 15-2 Argentina Americo Vacca KO 3 (10) 1964-09-04 Argentina Paraná, Entre Ríos
Win 14-2 Argentina Juan Carlos Diaz KO 9 (10) 1964-08-14 Argentina Villa Ángela, Chaco
Win 13-2 Argentina Walter Villa KO 9 (10) 1964-07-24 Argentina Ceres, Santa Fe
Win 12-2 Argentina Roberto Eduardo Carabajal PTS 10 1964-07-10 Argentina Tostado, Santa Fe
Loss 11-2 Brazil Felipe Cambeiro PTS 8 1964-06-28 Brazil Auditorium Río TV, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro
Win 11-1 Argentina Angel Alberto Coria PTS 8 1964-06-13 Argentina Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires
Win 10-1 Argentina Roberto Eduardo Carabajal KO 8 (8) 1964-01-17 Argentina Paraná, Entre Ríos
Win 9-1 Argentina Rene Sosa KO 6 (8) 1963-12-06 Argentina Paraná, Entre Ríos
Win 8-1 Argentina Benito Sanchez KO 8 (10) 1963-10-18 Argentina Reconquista, Santa Fe
Loss 7-1 Argentina Antonio Aguilar PTS 10 1963-08-28 Argentina Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal
Win 7-0 Argentina Lisandro Guzmán KO 3 (8) 1963-08-09 Argentina Córdoba, Córdoba
Win 6-0 Argentina Andres Cejas KO 4 (6) 1963-07-17 Argentina Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal
Win 5-0 Argentina Jose N Rodriguez KO 5 (6) 1963-05-31 Argentina Paraná, Entre Ríos
Win 4-0 Argentina Raul Elio Rivas KO 5 (10) 1963-05-03 Argentina Posadas, Misiones
Win 3-0 Argentina Mario Suarez TKO 8 (10) 1963-04-12 Argentina Posadas, Misiones
Win 2-0 Argentina Albino Veron TKO 2 (6) 1963-04-09 Argentina Santa Fe, Santa Fe
NC 1-0 Argentina Albino Veron N/D 1 (6) 1963-03-13 Argentina Vila, Santa Fe
Win 1-0 Argentina Ramón Montenegro KO 2 (6) 1963-02-06 Argentina Club Sportivo Ben Hur, Rafaela, Santa Fe Professional Debut

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] External links


Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Argentina Alberto Demiddi
Olimpia de Oro
1972
Succeeded by
Argentina Horacio Iglesias
Preceded by
Joe Frazier
Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year
Shared award with Muhammad Ali

1972
Succeeded by
George Foreman
Preceded by
Joe Frazier
BWAA Fighter of the Year
1972
Succeeded by
George Foreman
Preceded by
Nino Benvenuti
WBC Middleweight Champion
November 7, 1970 - May 25, 1974
Stripped
Vacant
Title next held by
Rodrigo Valdez
WBA Middleweight Champion
November 7, 1970 - July 30, 1977
Retired
The Ring Middleweight Champion
November 7, 1970 - July 30, 1977
Retired
Preceded by
Rodrigo Valdez
WBC Middleweight Champion
June 26, 1976 - July 30, 1977
Retired
Preceded by
Nino Benvenuti
World Middleweight Champion
November 7, 1970 - February 9, 1974
Titles fractured
Succeeded by
Rodrigo Valdez
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