Monzon: One of The Great Argentinean Middleweight Boxing ChampsCarlos Monzon born 7th August 1942 died 8th January 1995 was one of the great Argentinean boxer who held the WBC world middleweight title for 7 years, during which time he made a then division record of 14 title defense. The South American Carlos Monzon had a glamorous and violent life was fervently followed by the media, culminating with his trial for the murder of his wife and his death in a car crash soon thereafter. Carlos Monzon was adored all over Argentina during his run of 14 title defense of the world middleweight championship. Monzon was accused many times of domestic violence by his two wives and numerous mistresses, and of beating up the paparazzi bunch. Carlos Monzon toured nearly all of Latin America and Europe with some of the beautiful Argentinean Italian models and actresses. Monzon was accused of killing his wife in 1989. Sentence to 11 years in jail he died in a car crash during a weekend furlough, Carlos Monzon would have become a free man in the year, 2001. Carlos Monzon Progressed Towards A Championship Title MatchMonzon's life began in the small but progressive city of Santa Fe, Argentina. As a youngster, he showed interest in boxing. The start to his professional career didn't indicate anything special, as he lost 3 and drew 3 of his first 20 bouts. However, Carlos Monzon continued to progress against local foes, went on to build quite an impressive boxing record. Since most of the opposition in his record were mostly local boxers, not many people had a high opinion of Carlos Monzon who wasn't much credit, apart from being a good middleweight who could fight to make bread in a ten rounder. Nino Benvenuti who was then World Middleweight champion in a long and distinguished career with championships titles from 2 divisions and who had 2 wins in 3 bouts vs. the great Emile Griffith. Nino Benvenuti had lost the year before to American Tom Bethea in Australia, but in a title rematch in Yugoslavia, Benvenuti avenged that loss. No one in their right mind in boxing circles had envisaged or even expected Carlos Monzon to beat Nino Benvenuti in a title match. World Middleweight Boxing Champion Shot In The Leg By His WifeYet Carlos Monzon applied so much pressure from the start, of round one right up to the 12th round he landed a right hand perfectly on Nino Benvenuti's chin, and Carlos Monzon became World Champion. The Argentinean people loved their champion. In the rematch Monzon beat Benvenuti again but this time it took only three rounds in Monte Carlo. A string of defense of the title followed, including two wins over three time former world champion Emile Griffith, a win over tough Philadelphian Bennie Briscoe, a knockout in five rounds over European champion Tom Bogs, a knockout in seven rounds over world Welterweight champion Jose Mantequilla Napoles and a 10 round knockout of the tough Tony Licata of New Orleans at the Madison Square Garden, in what would turn out to be Monzon's only fight in the United States. However, a darker side of Carlos Monzon would soon begin to emerge. In 1973, Monzon was shot in the leg by his wife, which required 7 hours of surgery to remove the bullet from the Carlos Monzon's leg. Carlos Monzon Had Moments of Impulsive Sadistic OccurrencesBy 1975, he began a very publicized romance with the great singer and dancer, Susana Gimenez. Carlos Monzon hated the Paparazzi who detailed his affairs. Carlos Monzon went to Italy with Gimenez to participate in a movie, and started increasingly travelling with her to exotic locations like Brazil and the rest of Latin America, letting himself be seen with her in public, while he was still being married. Knowledge of the beatings he gave his wife spreads through to the public domain. Several times Monzon has ended up in police stations for beating his wife. Singer and dancer Ms. Gimenez ended wearing sunglasses often, and several times, the Paparazzi had been hospitalised from beatings suffered at the hands of Carlos Monzon. Monzon was known during this period for his impulsive and sadistic occurrences. Monzon divorced his wife, and later re-married to another Argentinean girl. Carlos Monzon's middleweight championship title was lifted in 1975 by the WBC for not being actively defending the title. Carlos Monzon Mounted a Brilliant Comeback to Win By a Split Decision.Rodrigo Valdez's brother had been shot and killed a week prior to the fight and he didn't feel like fighting. Still, they were under contract and so the fight took place in Monte Carlo. Carlos Monzon handed an impassive beating to Rodrigo Valdez, winning by a 15 round unanimous decision and unifying the world title once again. Because of the special circumstances under which Nino Valdez performed, an instant rematch was ordered, at the same Monte Carlo venue. But on this occasion Rodrigo Valdez came out roaring. A right uppercut from Rodrigo Valdez to the chin put Carlos Monzon down in the first round, and Rodrigo Valdez went on to build a comfortable lead through the first half of the fight. Carlos Monzon however, mounted a brilliant comeback and outfoxing, and outboxing Rodrigo Valdez for the last 8 rounds, winning by a split decision to retain his world middleweight title and recording his 14th win in a title match defense. |
Carlos Monzon's Private Life PublicizedCarlos Monzon retired after this defense and had basically led a quiet life through most of the late 1970s and the 1980's, or so it would appeared to the public. Gimenez, conceivably tired of his promises and humiliations, left him in 1980. After the break up with Gimenez, Carlos Monzon's private life finally came to the public attention. But still the beatings continued, this time with his second wife, Alicia. On one sadden afternoon in 1989, Carlos Monzon purportedly beat Alicia with his fist so badly, that Alicia with blood all over her already frailed body was absolutely petrified and ran to towards the balconies of their second floor apartment. Monzon also followed her to the balconies. | |
