On June 2, 1973, under the lights of Monte Carlo’s open-air Louis II Stadium, Carlos Monzón walked into one of the toughest title defenses of his legendary reign. Across from him stood Emile Griffith - a former multi-division champion and one of boxing’s smartest veterans, looking to reclaim the middleweight crown at 35 years old. Monzón had already stopped Griffith in their first meeting two years earlier, but the rematch turned out to be far more complicated.
Early in the fight, Griffith’s experience gave Monzón serious problems and going into the later rounds, many ringside observers believed Griffith was ahead. Even the crowd in Monaco seemed convinced the veteran was doing enough to pull off the upset.
But championship fights are often decided late, and that’s where Monzón separated himself. As the pace wore on, Griffith began to slow down, while Monzón found another level in the championship rounds. The champion’s right hand gradually became the difference-maker, and in the 14th round he landed a vicious shot that visibly hurt Griffith and nearly turned the fight completely in his favor.
Griffith survived to the final bell, but the momentum had shifted too heavily by then. Monzón retained the WBA and WBC middleweight titles by unanimous decision in front of a divided crowd, many of whom loudly disagreed with the verdict. Griffith himself believed he had won, while Monzón admitted afterward that the fight had pushed him harder than expected.
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