Carlos Monzon

Carlos Monzon

                “Perhaps the most telling description of Monzon the fighter came from Fraser Scott, a Seattle middleweight who lost to him in 1971. Scott recalled the moment they walked into the centre of the ring for the customary pre-fight ritual. ‘A chill ran down my back. His eyes were dark and frightening. Deep-running rivers filled with sleepless nights and dreams. Reflections of what I once wanted to be.” – Peter Arnold & Bob Mee

Troubled Childhood

                Born in August 7, 1942, Carlos Monzon grew up in the slums of San Javier. Young Monzon sold newspapers, delivered milk and shined shoes to earn a living. He had a hectic childhood, often getting into street fights which eventually led to jail time after he incited a mass riot at a football match.

Through all of this, he somehow managed to find his calling in the boxing ring, joining a local gym and amassing an amateur record of 73-14. Upon turning 20, he turned professional under manager Amilcar Brusa in 1963.

Pro Career

In his first 20 fights, Monzon lost 3 bouts, all of which he had avenged. In the 7 years before he won the world championship, Monzon fought some top contenders, including feared Philadelphian Benny Briscoe and picked up the South American title on his way.

When Monzon finally got his shot against the Italian Benvenuti in 1970, it was only because the Benvenuti team believed he’d be easy pickings, despite the fact that Monzon had been undefeated for six years. Monzon dominated Benvenuti to win the title, picking up a meagre $15,000.

Record-breaking Middleweight Reign

After defeating Benvenuti (and again the immediate rematch), Monzon was now finally respected as one of the best in the world, becoming a star overnight. Carlos Monzon toured Europe, fighting against ranked Europeans, defending his title dominantly with that accurate right hand of his, and picking up the $100,000 paydays with the other.

Monzon once fought at Roland Garros, with the arena, usually the location for tennis, making one exception for the now-glamorous middlewight champion. He eventually came up against another great, Jose Napoles (who was trained by Angelo Dundee). And after defeating him in 1974, he elevated his status as one of the most popular figures in Argentina.

After reaching 100 fights, and a record 14 defences, in 7 years, Monzon retired on top of his game, making a strong claim to be the greatest middleweight champion.

Out of the Ring & Private Life Troubles

From a young age, Monzon was a fiery and somewhat impulsive character, which was why he struggled to stay out of trouble. The success he acquired in boxing never vanquished this side of his character. It merely suppressed it temporarily, and not so successfully.  After a brawl with a photographer earlier in Monzon’s career, he served a small jail sentence.

Legend has it that Monzon would smoke up to 15 cigarettes a day, whilst deep into a training camp! Despite this, Monzon never struggled to fight 15 rounds.

As Monzon’s success and popularity grew, Monzon lived the life of a lavish celebrity, spending his nights in various clubs and appearing on many television shows and films. He once knocked Mickey Rourke out in a sparring match, after Mickey went to visit Monzon on a day off from filming. In his failed business attempts, Monzon lost loads of money, but he was still very much a wealthy man.

Death

In 1973, it seemed inner rage was not exclusive to himself, and his equally fiery wife shot Monzon twice as he tried to flee from her. One of the bullets remained in his body for the rest of his life.

He later started a relationship in 1979 with, Uruguayan model and later-mother to his daughter, Alicia Muniz. In 1988, Monzon was charged after Muniz fell to her death from an apartment balcony. Monzon claimed it was an accident, but the autopsy showed that she was unconscious before she fell. He was jailed for 11 years.

On a permitted home leave in January 1995, Monzon was killed in a car accident at the age of 52. Hundreds of people queued for hour to pay their respects to the greatest fighter ever to come out of Argentina.