50 years ago

Date: 30th June 1975

Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, USA

Title: WBA World Middleweight Title

Promoter: Don King

Referee: Tony Perez

Tv: CBS Sports

Carlos Monzon
( 83 - 3 - 9 )
Weight: 159¼ lbs

Tony Licata
( 49 - 1 - 3 )
Weight: 160 lbs

The June 30, 1975 WBA middleweight title fight at Madison Square Garden marked Carlos Monzon's only defense in the United States, bringing his continental stardom to New York against Tony Licata. The challenger, a New Orleans native fighting out of Tampa under Lou Viscusi's management, entered with a 49-1-3 (20 KOs) record and a crafty boxing style reminiscent of fellow New Orleans fighters Willie Pastrano and Ralph Dupas.

Monzon, weighing 159¼ pounds to Licata's 160, brought a decade-long unbeaten streak into his eleventh title defense. The champion's personal life, particularly his relationship with actress Susana Gimenez, provided backdrop to a performance he later admitted was influenced by her ringside presence.

Through nine rounds, Licata demonstrated unexpected durability against Monzon's steady offense. The challenger's sporadic counter-attacks drew the 13,496 attendance's support, though they failed to seriously trouble the champion. The end came at 2:43 of round ten when Licata, after taking a right hand that dropped him to hands and knees, rose only to be floored again by two left-right combinations. Though he instinctively stood, referee Tony Perez halted the contest.

The victory earned Monzon Sports Illustrated's cover but proved his final U.S. appearance. He would defend three more times, against Frenchman Gratien Tonna and twice against WBC champ Rodrigo Valdes, before retiring in 1977. For Licata, despite the loss, his competitive showing against one of the era's dominant champions represented his career's high point.