Carlos Monzón was born in
poverty in the slums of San Javier, Argentina on August 7, 1942. His poor
background and difficult childhood instilled a deep anger and hatred in him. He
learned early that he loved to fight. Monzón was tall, lanky, and had a strange
habit of pushing his punches. He seemed lumber-some in the ring, yet his
punches were devastating, his conditioning perfect, and his chin was made of
iron. Yet, his somewhat aloof personality, coupled with an almost listless ring
style, caused Monzón to toil in the rings of Argentine against mostly 2nd rate
fighters. After losing three fights in his first year as a pro, Carlos won over
50 straight fights to earn a number 10 world ranking in 1970.
When Monzón shocked the
boxing world by winning the World Middleweight Title by knocking out Nino
Benvenuti [1938- ], people rubbed their heads and said, "Carlos
Who?!" Fame and fortune was now his. His ego and temper grew. Even though
he was married to Beatriz Garcia, he had countless romances on the side among
which was actress Susanna Giménez [1944- ]. Monzón acted in eight Italian and
French films, including starring in the Euro-western, “El Macho” (1977). He
survived a gunshot to the shoulder from his wife; an accident they said and he
was accused of breaking a reporter's jaw.
He retired undefeated over
the last thirteen years of his career. In retirement boredom set in and so did
his demons. He was elected a member of the World Boxing Hall of Fame [1980],
International Boxing Hall of Fame [1990]. Caught up in the party
lifestyle, it came crashing down when he was convicted of killing his
common-law-wife Alicia Muniz, in Mar del Plata in 1988 he was sent to prison
for 11 years. Monzón died in a car accident while on a prison furlough on
January 8, 1995 in Santa Fe Argentina. He was only 52. Today we remember Carlos
Monzon on what would have been his 70th birthday.
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