Very interesting fight, I could give a few paragraphs of analysis but I feel lazy today.:: So I'll just keep it short. Monzon edges him out in a classic chessmatch/war. I think Sal would have all types of trouble with Monzon's awkwardness, his deceptive speed, and P4P, Monzon would still probably enjoy a height and reach edge. Monzon by close decision.
Basically agreed, X. I'll do it for you... :: Monzon's strength, jab, long right hand, body punching, strength, and ability to lull opponents into his fight...........against Sanchez' relentless counterpunching, two-fisted attack, quickness and combinations. Escopeta vs. Chava. In a PxP fight (given their physical make up relative to the rest of their divisions), Carlos Monzon would have a height and reach advantage. I think Sanchez is the more active fighter over the first half of the fight, showing more quickness and penetrating Monzon's high guard defense and straight-up stance enough to land some of his combinations, though he's not as accurate in landing flush as his activity rate would suggest -- he seems a bit disorganized, and Monzon continues to stick his jab and the occasional right hand. Sanchez liked being the counterpuncher, creating angles and holes for combinations.....but Monzon has the height/reach advantage and ever so patiently liked to fight from the outside, leaning back, using his jab and reach to study his opponent, timing him. In this fight, Sanchez is more of the aggressor, while Monzon tries to stay on the outside, leaning away from Sanchez attack's and counters by using his long jab and right hand occasionally and fully trying to exploit his height and reach advantage. Timing, not speed, seems to be Monzon's equalizer. Sanchez enjoys success with his double left hook inside to body and head and uppercuts...though not that many are landing flush. Monzon sticks the left hook to the body himself when Sanchez is in close. However, Monzon paced his fights to go the full 15 rounds, and in his prime didn't give you much to work with over the first half of the fight. He could also take you out of your fight plan with his irregular rhythm, long jab, and ability to limit exchanges. This is what makes Sanchez the aggressor, and when fighters didn't come forward so that Salvador could pick them apart with pinpoint combinations, Sanchez could get frustrated. Movers or distance boxers off the back foot could give him some difficulty....and Salvador sometimes fought 'down' to the level of his opposition. I think over the second half of the fight Monzon begins to turn up the heat ever so subtly, something he was VERY good at. Monzon increasingly begins to land 1-2's and follow-up left hooks, and is able to find Sanchez' body. Monzon has shortened the distance somewhat but keeps it at mid-range and is able to keep Sanchez at bay with his jab and wide stance.....while Sanchez tries to use his own jab to step inside and unleash short double left hook/overhand right combos. Monzon is clearly landing the heavier blows and is even able to counter Sanchez with TIMING (not speed) when Salvador comes in behind his jab on a leaning Monzon. Monzon's jab and right hands and subtle body hooks have taken their toll, and he's conserved enough energy that he looks the fresher and stronger of the two while dialing up his intensity. However, as Monzon continued to press the action and take more risks, he'd finally allow for Sanchez to adopt the role he likes best -- pinpoint counter puncher! A tired but surging Sanchez is back in the fight with quick accurate combinations over Monzon's shortened right hand/left hooks, and is showing some mobility, giving Monzon more angles and forcing him to pivot. A fight breaks out in the final two rounds and Monzon is able to use his superior size and strength to muscle Sanchez backwards and land heavy right hands and digs to the body. Sanchez is getting his counter-combinations off, but doesn't have the quickness or accuracy this late in the fight, and Monzon's blows are heavier and more consistent. Monzon MD 15 Sanchez in a classic.
To be honest , P4P this is not that close. IMO Sanchez fairly wide. Sanchez was a classic text book boxer , a great technician. His speed , ACURACY , overall abilities were simply just better then Monzon's. He also had tremendous stamina. IMO the beating WOULD NOT be as bad but this would look like the victory over Danny little red Lopez just a more MILD case with Monzon landing a couple of decent shots. This is not that close of a fight. Sanchez all the way. I also disagree with the p4p height advantage for Monzon. They would be roughly the same height.
Hey, I'm happy to have Sanchez win....I like Monzon, but I like Sal even more. :: Will give you the height (Monzon just fought tall but he was around 6') -- I think Carlos would have an edge but maybe not enough to matter that much - but reach I disagree on. Carlos had looong arms - and knew exactly how to make use of them and maximize his height. I love Sanchez; and I think he gets by just about everybody - but there are two fighters in MM match-ups that I think give him fits and are absolutely the toughest style for him... That's Monzon and Pedroza (a fight that should have happened at 126). Those are all-time greats - and stylistically, they're like taking Cowdell and Ford and putting them on mega-steroids. Hell, even in the Little Red rematch Chava struggled more than he should have - when Lopez tried to use his height and fight more intelligently. And if you are equating Little Red to Monzon - then I don't know what to tell you. What troubled Sanchez most is being made to lead; being dictated to in terms of tempo, and erratic timing and disruptive styles. Monzon had those in spades. What people don't seem to appreciate about the seemingly awkward, deliberate Monzon was just how calculating and smart he was - and how he could open up from long range and even his widest punches land right on the mark. And Monzon had awesome stamina as well - and often used it late to mount furious rallies. When he wanted to move and box and let loose combinations, he could do it well - and he was quite quick-fisted when he wasn't being his usual lackadaisical self. :: Check out the fights with Napoles, Benvenuti II, Griffith I to see what I mean. Even vs. Valdez, when he was "older" and not as dedicated - check out what happens in the later rounds. Check out too, how underrated he is at avoiding shots while he's punching - Monzon often looks like he's getting hit, but he's not - he leans back or turns just enough. Monzon by very close decision in an awkward fight with explosive moments. It's not always about who has the "overall better abilities"...no doubt in my mind that Sanchez is the better technician, which is what I love about him. Peace.
