Carlos Monzón

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Statistics
Carlos Monzón
Real name	Carlos Roque Monzón
Nickname	Escopeta
Weight	Middleweight
Nationality	Argentine
Birth date	August 7, 1942
Birth place	Santa Fe, Argentina
Death date	January 8, 1995
Style	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 boxer who held the world middleweight title for 7 years, during which he made a then-division record of 14 defenses. His glamorous and violent life was avidly followed by the media, culminating with his trial for the murder of his wife and his death in a car crash soon thereafter.

He was adored all over Argentina during his run of 14 title defenses of the world middleweight championship. He was 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 Argentinian and Italian models and actresses. He was accused of killing his wife in 1989, and then sentenced to 11 years in jail. He died in a car crash during a weekend furlough. He would have been let free in 2001.

Monzón'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, he kept progressing against local foes, and built quite an impressive record. Since most of the opposition in his record was local, he wasn't given much credit by anyone, other than for being a good middleweight who could fight 10 round bouts.

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 a title rematch 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.

The Argentinian people loved their champion. Monzón beat Benevenuti in a rematch, this time in only three rounds in Monte Carlo when his seconds threw in the towel. A string of defenses followed:

In 1971 Monzon 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 Monzon had to spar three rounds and run three miles in order to make the weight). Monzon then scored 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 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, requiring 7 hours of surgery to remove the bullet from the champion's body. By 1975, he began a very publicized romance with the great singer and dancer, Susana Giménez. 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 exotic locations like Brazil and the rest of Latin America, letting himself be seen with her.

He was still married, however, and soon the beatings he gave his wife became public knowledge, and many times he landed at the police station for beating her. Ms. Giménez also began wearing sunglasses more often, and many times, paparazzi had to be hospitalized from the beatings suffered at the hands of Monzón. Monzón was known during this period for his unpredictable violent outbreaks. During this period, Monzón divorced his wife, and later re-married another Argentinian girl.

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 Monzon 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 didn't 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. A right cross to the chin put Monzón down in the second round, and 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 split decision to retain the title and score his 14th title defense.

Monzón retired after this defense and basically led a quiet life through most of the late 1970s and the 1980s. Or so it seemed to the public.

Giménez, perhaps tired of his promises and humiliations, left him in 1980. She is now starring in a very popular TV show in Argentina.

After the break up with Giménez, Monzón's private life was finally closed to the public, but the beatings continued, this time with his second wife, Alicia Muñiz. And on one sad afternoon of 1989, he allegedly beat Alicia with his fist so many times, that Alicia, scared and bloody, ran to the balcony of their second floor apartment. He followed her there, and, according to Argentinian police, grabbed her by the neck, and then picked her up and pushed her off the balcony and into her death.

Upon hearing his sentence, Monzón didn't show any remorse for what had happened.

In 1995, he was given a weekend furlough to visit his family and kids, and upon returning to jail after the weekend, he crashed near the jail building, dying instantly. There have been rumors that he committed suicide by crashing the car, but there has been no evidence found that supports that claim.

His record stands at 89 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. Whatever Monzón's personal failings, even crimes, may have been, his boxing career was inarguably a towering achievement.

He was named by the Ring Magazine as one of the 100 greatest punchers of all time in 2003. On the independent computer-based ranking of boxrec.com he is listed as the best middleweight boxer of all time.

Preceded by: Nino Benvenuti	World Middleweight Champion 7 November 1970–1974 Title splits	Succeeded by: '
Preceded by: Unified Title	WBA Middleweight Champion 7 November 1970–30 July 1977 Retires	Succeeded by: Rodrigo Valdez
Preceded by: Unified Title	WBC Middleweight Champion 26 June 1976–30 July 1977 Retires	Succeeded by: Rodrigo Valdez