Monzon vs Kalambay

[the cobra]

Seems like an interesting match-up.


Anyone care to give a breakdown on it?

[Dave's Top Ten]

A brawling Kalambay uses his strength and power to stop Monzon early, in brutal fashion.

[natonic]

Uh, never mind, that has to be a joke. I think Kalambay could give Monzon some trouble. I can't recall Monzon fighting someone as fleet of foot. But Kalambay's problem would be initiating any offense without paying a heavy price. I think Monzon's ever present jab would allow him to bank enough rounds to get a decision. I'm saying 9 - 6.

[WhataRock]

Kalambay is a stylistic nightmare for any middleweight...But Monzon is just simply a nightmare.

Competitive early...Sumbu may make Carlos look silly and cumbersome at times..but over 15 I just dont see Kalambay hanging in there. Monzon late stoppage...at the very least he is all over Kalambay in the late round putting Sumbu completely on the defensive.

[red cobra]

Kalambay gives Monzon some minor trouble in the early rounds with his motion and speed, but as always, Monzon solves him and brutally finishes him in 12 or 13, with several knockdowns, all done very methodically.

[Sweet Pea]

Close Decision Monzon's way after taking the late rounds.

[Russell]

No one feels Kalambay could pull off an upset over, say, 12?

[WhataRock]

No one feels Kalambay could pull off an upset over, say, 12?


Thats a serious chance..But I also think Monzon would have shifted his tactics for a 12 round fight if he needed to.

You picture the Monzon from a 15 round fight, who doesnt panic and builds the pressure, in a 12 round fight then things might be closer, he might not get to him in time..But I imagine Carlos would train and fight accordingly for this task.
He never fought someone with the defensive package of Kalambay but if you kind of take some of the unorthodox of Benvenuti, the athleticism of a guy like Mundine, the technical skills of a guy like Griffith you can see he could deal with high calibre guys with different attributes...Maybe not the best way to look at it but he could adapt is what Im saying and he always found a way.

[Mantequilla]

Monzon would win about 9-6 i expect.Sure kalambay could trouble a less than best Monzon like the Griffith 2 version, but otherwise i would expect his jab, height\reach and ability to control the distance to keep him in front.

Monzon is just to difficult to counter consistently for cutie pure boxing types imo.I highly doubt he would stop Kalambay though, not Carlos' style to do anymnore than necessary, especially against a guy with great defence.

[My2Sense]

No one feels Kalambay could pull off an upset over, say, 12?

If Kalambay could sucker Monzon into chasing him (as he did to McCallum in their first fight) then I think he has a very live shot at pulling off the upset.

But as much as Kalambay could be trouble for opponents who chased him, fighters who stood their ground and made Kalambay lead could give him trouble too. Heck, let's not dismiss what Nunn did to Kalambay when he timed him and caught him coming in.

Monzon could fight equally well going forward and backing up, and I think at some point he solves Kalambay's style and takes him.