The scariest & greatest
middleweight ever!

Before Argentina fell in love with the sensational footballer Diego Maradonna, there was another sportsman whom they adored. Meet birthday boy Carlos Monzón, the great Argentine middleweight who reigned as the undisputed world middleweight champion for 7 years, defending the title 14 times. Monzón is not only regarded as one of the greatest middleweights to ever live but also one of the greatest fighters of all time.

Monzón turned pro in 1963 and failed to have his hand raised three times in the first 20 months of his career. From then on he never lost again, going unbeaten in his next 81 fights (one of the greatest streaks in the history of boxing), before retiring in 1977. He ended his career with a record of 87-3-9, with all 3 early defeats being avenged.

Carlos was known for his speed, power (59 KOs), relentless work rate, and one of the greatest chins in history. “He had the height (6 feet; 183cm) and reach (76 inches; 193cm) too. He knew how to use that to his advantage.” Said Doug Huntley one of his opponents from 1968.

Amongst the great names he defeated, he upset Nino Benvenuti in 1970 in Rome to win the world middleweight championship. Monzón dominated the Italian playboy before stopping him in the 12th round of Ring Magazine’s Fight of the Year to become the 160-pound champion. Monzón won the rematch with Benvenuti in even better fashion scoring a 3rd round stoppage in Monaco.

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Next up was 6x world champion Emile Griffith in his very next fight, stopping the challenger for just the 2nd and last time after a series of punches had him hunched over in the corner, winning by 14th round TKO. In 1973, Griffith got another chance against Monzón but the Argentinian retained the belts in a close unanimous decision.

Another Hall of Famer in Cuban star José Nápoles also tasted defeat at the hands of Monzón who had moved up from welterweight to face the Argentinian. Despite being a historic clash of all-time greats, the smaller Nápoles was eventually outgunned and didn’t come out for round 7. This would be Nápoles’ only bout at middleweight.

Monzón’s final two bouts came against Colombian Rodrigo Valdes which has long been considered among the most legendary boxing rivalries. The first took place a week after Valdes’ brother was murdered. The Columbian wanted to pull out of the fight to join his family but was contractually bound to stay in Europe, ultimately losing in a 15 round unanimous decision. A rematch was ordered by the WBA & WBC which took place a year later which saw Monzón hit the canvas for the first and only time his whole career. Monzón rallied back to win a close decision and finish his career on a high.

Monzón’s life outside the ring was as turbulent – and ultimately tragic – as it was magnificent between the ropes. He became an idol in his native Argentina because of his good looks and glamorous lifestyle but he ultimately succumbed to his dark side. Monzón was a violent character, his merciless style in the ring would carry over into his personal life. You would be forgiven if you saw a picture of Carlos Monzón and thought you were instead looking at a picture of the infamous ‘Night Stalker’ Richard Ramirez, the dark eyes often looked like a void signaling, an absence of all emotion. As an amateur boxer, the warning signs were already visible, jailed for inciting a football riot as well as stints in prison for fighting. When fame came knocking, like many others he was unable to control the rage inside him and the bigger stage only exposed his flaws further.

Monzón liked to drink, a devastating cocktail when combined with a short temper, Monzón’s personal life would be marred by abusive behavior towards his women and towards any paparazzi who dared uncover his numerous alliances with various females. When Monzón completed the jigsaw by appearing in movies, becoming a regular guest on television, and beginning an affair with Argentina’s most famous actress, Susana Gimenez, the writing really was on the wall and the downward spiral began.

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In 1973, Monzón was shot twice by his first wife but unfortunately, he continued to physically abuse the women he was romantically involved with and would continue to send to the hospital paparazzi reporting his bad behavior, dishing out beatings to both. The behavior would continue long after he retired when on Valentine’s day of 1988, with his then-wife Alicia Muniz the pair were involved in an altercation. Forensic evidence was to show Monzón strangled his wife before throwing her off the second-floor balcony. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison for the murder.

The tragedy of Carlos Monzón does not end there. In 1995, Monzón was given day leave from prison. Returning to prison on the evening of January 8, Monzón lost control of his vehicle and died in the crash aged 52. The cold, chilling, and relentless fighting style of Carlos Monzón was not without reason and hid a darker side to his nature which evidently would lead to his demise.

“I always loved Carlos Monzón. He was a tough guy, for real, a guy from the streets, He didn’t talk much. He didn’t need to. The ring belonged to him.” That is what Mike Tyson had to say about Monzón. If Tyson calls you a tough guy, you know you’ve got a terrifying boxer on your hands.

Monzón will be remembered as one of the scariest boxers of all time, undoubtedly the greatest Argentinan boxer ever, and deservedly an inductee into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990 confirming his place as one of the greatest fighters of any weight.

Happy Birthday, Champ!