Carlos Monzon vs Bennie Briscoe II

The reigning World Middleweight Champion, Carlos Monzón of Argentina, successfully defended his WBA, WBC, and The Ring titles on the evening of November 11, 1972, at the Estadio Luna Park in Buenos Aires, securing a decisive 15-round unanimous decision over the determined Philadelphian challenger, Bennie Briscoe. This contest, a rematch of their non-title affair from 1967 that ended in a hard-fought draw, saw Monzón enter the ring at 158 pounds to Briscoe’s 157 pounds. For this defense, Monzón, who was making the sixth defense of his crown, utilized a calculated strategy, opting to box, move, and employ his superior reach and skill rather than engaging in the kind of slugging match that characterized their first meeting. The packed house in Buenos Aires provided a formidable atmosphere for the championship bout. Victor Avendano served as the third man in the ring.

The contest began with a cautious first round, though Briscoe assumed the role of the aggressor. Monzón, displaying excellent defensive ability, kept Briscoe at arm’s length, covering up well and landing the telling blows. The champion was observed to be sighting his targets beautifully and getting on top of his opponent early, even as the referee cautioned Briscoe for punching low. Entering the second round, Monzón seemed to be easing his pace, perhaps "loafing it" just a little, but he continued to land slightly more leather, maintaining control and keeping Briscoe at bay. Monzón’s tactic involved standing still to hit Briscoe when he tried to come in, then taking a step backward to ensure the challenger missed. By the third round, Briscoe began to depart from shooting for the head, acknowledging Monzón’s acute reach advantage, and started focusing on a body attack, though he appeared slightly tired early. Monzón, fighting what was described as one of his "coolest fights," relied on a good pattern of lefts and rights, and used his right hand effectively to enforce his game plan.

The middle portion of the contest saw Briscoe persist in forcing the fight, even as he dealt with Monzón’s advantage as the taller and stronger man. Briscoe, known as a very game fighter, landed a solid shot to the body in the sixth round. Momentum appeared to shift briefly in the seventh when Briscoe landed arguably his best combination of the fight, backing Monzón onto the ropes. However, Monzón fired back, and Briscoe, though seemingly lively, failed to sustain the pressure. Throughout the eighth, Monzón returned to form, keeping the challenger off balance and landing a solid right to the chin. Briscoe desperately needed a single punch to slow the champion but could not connect with enough consistency.

The ninth round proved to be the most dramatic sequence of the fifteen rounds when Briscoe landed a hefty, beautifully delivered right hand that badly stunned the champion. Monzón was "almost spun around" by the impact and was momentarily shaken, forcing him to hold onto his opponent as he backed away from the ropes, looking up at the time clock. Despite this significant blow, Monzón, demonstrating his own durability and toughness, managed to weather the storm and made it through the round. Monzón swiftly imposed his authority once more, opening a cut over Briscoe’s right eye in the tenth round. This injury appeared to hamper the challenger in later rounds, perhaps making it difficult for him to see the left hand coming.

As the fight progressed into the championship rounds, Monzón continued to pile up points, employing his strong left jab and readily tying up Briscoe whenever the challenger managed to get inside. Though Monzón landed a perfect combination in the eleventh, he did not press for the knockout. In the fourteenth round, Briscoe managed to land yet another hard right that made the champion stagger for a moment. However, Monzón, who was possibly saving himself, absorbed the attack and ensured Briscoe was kept in check. By the fifteenth and final round, Monzón was clearly in command and appeared to be the stronger man, controlling the pace and ensuring he would not be knocked out, which Briscoe required for victory. The judges scored the contest overwhelmingly for Monzón: Hector Chaumont returned a card of 149-139, Raul Amadeo scored it 150-139, and Jorge Albin tallied 149-143. Monzón, remarking on the tenacity of his opponent, stated afterward that any of the punches with which he struck Briscoe would have floored another rival, calling it his most difficult title defense. Briscoe, despite the wide margin, was complimentary, noting that the referee, judges, Argentine people, and their President were "nice" to him.