Carlos Monzón

Case record

Carlos Monzón (August 7, 1942 – January 8, 1995) was an Argentine professional boxer who held the world middleweight title for 7 years and defended the title 14 times. His career included a streak in which he never lost again after a period early in his professional career. His later life involved repeated accusations of domestic violence and incidents of violence that resulted in legal action.

Background

Monzón was born in the city of San Javier, Argentina, and moved to the capital of Santa Fe Province. As a youngster, he showed interest in boxing.

Monzón became a world middleweight champion in 1970, later retiring after a title defense in 1977. He later had a weekend furlough before dying in a car crash after returning to prison.

During his boxing career, Monzón’s fights became major events in Argentina. He traveled and socialised internationally and appeared in movies and television.

The offence

Monzón was accused of killing his concubine, Alicia Muniz, in Mar del Plata in 1988. During an incident in a second-story apartment in the beach resort of Mar del Plata, Monzón and Muniz reportedly began to fight. Muniz ended up falling from the balcony and was found dead. An investigation later concluded that Monzón followed her there, grabbed her by the neck, and pushed her off the balcony, to her death, after which he followed her in the fall injuring a shoulder.

Investigation

An autopsy indicated that Muniz had been strangled before she went over the balcony.

The details of how the incident occurred were described as disputed at the time, but Muniz’s death followed the incident at the balcony, and Monzón was arrested.

Arrest

Monzón was arrested after Muniz ended up falling from the balcony in Mar del Plata in 1988.

Trial

Monzón’s arrest set off a trial and media frenzy in Argentina.

Monzón maintained his innocence. The court convicted him of murder and sentenced him to 11 years in prison.

Two quoted remarks from Monzón during this period were included:

“Me and my bad temper are the ones responsible for this,” Monzón said, obviously taking some of the blame.
“Yes, me and my bad temper.”

Sentencing

Monzón was sentenced to 11 years in prison on July 3, 1989.

Appeals

No appeals information was included.

Outcome

Monzón died in a car crash during a weekend furlough. He was due to be released soon.

Aftermath

Monzón drove back to prison after a weekend furlough. After returning, his vehicle rolled over, and he died instantly. The account stated that Monzón (52) and a passenger were killed.

The record also stated that he would have been released in 2001. It further stated that a monument to him stands in Santa Fe, Argentina.

Other details

Boxing career and titles

Monzón held the world middleweight title for 7 years and defended it 14 times.

A title change occurred when Monzón beat Nino Benvenuti in a title match in 1970. The record described Monzón applying pressure from the start, with a right hand landing on Benvenuti’s chin in the 12th round.

The record described a rematch in which Monzón beat Benvenuti in only three rounds in Monte Carlo after his seconds threw in the towel.

In 1971, Monzón stopped former three-time world champion Emile Griffith in 14 rounds, and later out-pointed Griffith over 15 in a close fight. The record stated that before that fight Monzón had to spar three rounds and run three miles to make the weight.

The record described wins over:

• Bennie Briscoe, overcoming a shaky 9th round in which Briscoe almost scored a knockout
• Tom Bogs with a knockout in five rounds
• José Mantequilla Nápoles with a knockout in seven rounds in Paris, France
• Tony Licata with a 10 round knockout at the Madison Square Garden, described as Monzón’s only fight in the United States

Further title events

The record stated that Monzón’s Middleweight championship title was lifted in 1975 by the WBC for not defending it against mandatory challenger Rodrigo Valdez. Valdez won the WBC’s title while Monzón kept the WBA’s championship.

In 1976, Monzón met Valdez in Monte Carlo. The record stated that Valdez’s brother had been shot to death one week prior to the fight and that Valdez did not feel like fighting, but the fight took place. Monzón won a 15 round unanimous decision.

An immediate rematch was ordered in Monte Carlo. The record described Valdez coming out strongly, putting Monzón down in the second round with a right cross to the chin. The record described Monzón mounting a comeback and winning a unanimous decision to retain the title and score his 14th title defense.

Retirement and personal life

The record stated that Monzón retired after the title defense and kept a low public profile through most of the late 1970s and 1980s. Susana Giménez left him in 1980.

The record described recurring allegations and reports of beating his concubine(s) and accusations of domestic violence by his wives and mistresses.

The record stated that in 1973, Monzón was shot in the leg by his wife, requiring 7 hours of surgery to remove the bullet.

The record described a public romance with actress and vedette Susana Giménez beginning in 1975, and it stated they had previously met in a 1974 thriller “La Mary”, directed by Daniel Tinayre, where they played husband and wife.

Domestic incident details and disputes

The record stated that Muniz ended up falling from the balcony and was found dead after the incident in Mar del Plata in 1988.

The record also stated that the details would always be disputed but that the investigation later concluded strangling before the fall and pushing from the balcony.

Statistics and rankings

The record listed Monzón’s professional record as 87 wins, only three losses, nine draws, and one no contest, with 59 of his wins by knockout. It stated his only losses were by points and early in his career.

The record stated that in 2003, he was named by “Ring Magazine” as one of the 100 greatest punchers of all time.

The record stated that on the independent computer-based ranking of boxrec.com he was listed as the third best middleweight boxer of all time, after Marvin Hagler and Sugar Ray Robinson.

Quotes and individuals

Several quoted remarks were included from boxing writer and RING contributor Carlos Irusta and from other individuals:

“Carlos Monzon,” he said through a translator, “is at a different level.”

“Monzon’s image as a champion continues to grow,” said boxing writer and RING contributor Carlos Irusta, who knew Monzon well and chronicled his career.

“First, I think he trained very hard,” Huntley said. “I could see he was in very good condition. And he was smart, very smart. He had the height (6 feet; 183cm) and reach (76 inches; 193cm) too. He knew how to use that to his advantage. “I didn’t think he was so special at the time but I think he was still developing. He just got better and better and better until he became a great fighter.”

“When I became champion I was 28,” Monzon said, according to Nigel Collins’ fascinating book Boxing Babylon . “I was not a boy. It was a big change for me because I started to get big money. I could buy the biggest car. I learned to take care of my clothes. “To become middleweight champion of the world is very important in any part of the globe, including my country. I know Argentinians were proud of me.”

“He was another man,” Irusta said. “When he was champion, he was like a king or a lion. He used to walk in a way that made him look important. In jail, he was nothing. The man who used to give orders to people was now a man who said, ‘Yes sir, yes sir.’ “Yes, it’s a sad story.”

“He was another man,” Irusta said. “When he was champion, he was like a king or a lion. He used to walk in a way that made him look important. In jail, he was nothing. The man who used to give orders to people was now a man who said, ‘Yes sir, yes sir.’ “Yes, it’s a sad story.” And it became even sadder.

“Many people won’t pardon him,” Irusta said. “It’s a very difficult, sad story. I suppose that night he was drunk or under the affects of drugs. He lost his mind. And I suppose he used to love Alicia Muniz. …”

Irusta’s voice trailed off. “… Many years have passed now. There has never another champion like Monzon. He’s the No. 1 boxing champion in our history. I think now that’s what people want to remember. I think there are other things they want to forget."

The quoted remarks were attributed to the named speakers as they appeared in the record: Sergio Martinez, Dub Huntley, Carlos Irusta, and Carlos Monzon.