Carlos Monzon vs Jean Claude Bouttier 2

WBC and WBA world middleweight champion Carlos Monzon retained his titles by outpointing Jean-Claude Bouttier over 15 hard rounds at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris on September 29, 1973. It was Monzon’s seventh successful defence of the championship he had taken from Nino Benvenuti in 1970. The Argentine weighed 160 pounds and Bouttier 159. The open-air promotion, organised by the actor Alain Delon, attracted a strongly partisan French crowd, with Jean Gabin and Jean-Paul Belmondo among the prominent spectators. A hailstorm had struck Paris that afternoon, but the weather cleared enough for the programme to proceed on a cool evening.

The men had first met in June 1972, when Bouttier was knocked down in the sixth round and retired after the twelfth. He had since won six consecutive contests, including a victory over Antonio Aguilar and a disputed disqualification success against Emile Griffith. Monzon had remained champion by defeating Tom Bogs, Bennie Briscoe and Griffith, as well as stopping Roy Dale in a non-title engagement. The challenger therefore entered the return in improved form, although Monzon’s earlier victory left little uncertainty concerning the scale of his task.

Monzon had imposed himself quickly in the first fight, but on this occasion he permitted Bouttier to lead. The Frenchman accepted the invitation, moving forward with determination and looking for openings with his left hand. The crowd greeted every advance enthusiastically, and Bouttier’s greater activity brought him success during the first half of the contest. Monzon remained measured, using his long left jab, leaning away from punches and replying with the straight right whenever the challenger remained within range. Each time Bouttier appeared to establish an advantage, the champion answered sufficiently to keep the scoring close.

The contest became increasingly difficult to control. Both men used their forearms and shoulders at close quarters and kept punching when the referee tried to separate them. Bouttier sought to rough Monzon out of his settled rhythm, while the champion held, pushed and struck during the breaks. Referee Harry Gibbs spoke to both fighters repeatedly. In the tenth round, Bouttier slipped to the floor, and Monzon struck him with a right to the side of the head while he was down. Gibbs halted the action and issued the champion with a public warning, although no point was deducted.

Bouttier continued to press through the eleventh and twelfth rounds and had done enough for several ringside observers to consider him narrowly ahead. Monzon had not performed with his usual authority and had spent long periods allowing the challenger to carry the fight. He had nevertheless conserved his strength and remained unmarked and composed. After maintaining the more demanding pace, Bouttier began to show signs of fatigue. His attacks became less orderly, and he withdrew more slowly after throwing his left.

Monzon changed the contest decisively in the thirteenth. He increased his pace, drove Bouttier backwards and dropped him with the right hand. The challenger rose and continued, but the champion no longer allowed him time to recover or resume his earlier pressure. Another right sent Bouttier down in the fourteenth, and the Frenchman was again obliged to take a count. Monzon pursued him steadily rather than recklessly, keeping the jab in front of the challenger and waiting for the same opening.

Bouttier entered the last round tired and damaged but still attempting to fight back. Monzon’s right hand put him down for the third successive round. The challenger regained his feet and survived to the final bell, achieving the distance that had eluded him in their first meeting, but the closing nine minutes had removed any reasonable prospect of an upset. Monzon had been made to work harder than expected, yet once he increased his attack, Bouttier could not withstand his accuracy or strength.

The decision was unanimous. Gibbs scored the contest 145–139 for Monzon, judge Pietro Ambrosini returned a card of 147–138, and Herbert Tomser had it considerably closer at 148–145. The margins reflected the difficulty of assessing Bouttier’s early aggression against Monzon’s cleaner punching, but all three officials agreed upon the winner. Bouttier had improved upon his first performance and made the champion labour for much of the distance. Monzon, without producing his best display, had remained patient, taken command when necessary and settled the issue by flooring the challenger in each of the final three rounds.

Jean-Claude Bouttier was enormously popular in France and had earned his second chance by winning six fights after Monzon stopped him in their first meeting. He was a good European champion, fit, brave and technically sound, but there are levels in boxing and Monzon occupied the highest one. The French crowd believed Bouttier could reverse the first result, and for 12 rounds he gave them genuine encouragement.

What strikes me is how little Monzon appeared concerned. He allowed Bouttier to come forward, controlled the range with that long left arm and did just enough whenever the challenger threatened to pull ahead. It was a rough contest, with holding, shoulders and punches during the breaks. Monzon was publicly warned after hitting Bouttier when he had slipped in the tenth. He could be a cold, unpleasant operator, but he understood every little advantage available inside a ring.

Some ringside observers had Bouttier narrowly ahead after 12 rounds. Monzon then changed pace as though he had been waiting for the proper moment. His straight right dropped Bouttier in each of the final three rounds, settling both the contest and any argument about the decision. The score of 148–145 was too close for me; 145–139 and 147–138 better reflected what happened. Bouttier made Monzon work, but the champion never looked like a man losing control. He was not brilliant that night. He was simply better, stronger and considerably more assured when it mattered.