Editing Carlos Monzón (section)

==Champion==
In 1971, Monzón became only the second man to stop former three-time world champion [[Emile Griffith]] in 14 rounds, and later out-pointed him over 15 in a close fight (before the fight Monzón had to spar three rounds and run three miles in order to make the weight). Monzón then scored a win over tough [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Philadelphian]] [[Bennie Briscoe]] in their rematch, over-coming a shakey 9th round, in which Briscoe almost scored a knockout; a [[knockout]] in five rounds over European champion [[Tom Bogs]], a knockout in seven rounds over Cuban-Mexican [[José Nápoles|José ''Mantequilla'' Nápoles]] in Paris, and a 10-round knockout of tough [[Tony Licata]] of New Orleans at the [[Madison Square Garden]], in what would turn out to be Monzón's only fight in the United States.

Monzón's middleweight championship title was lifted in 1975 by the [[World Boxing Council|WBC]] for not defending it against [[mandatory challenger]] [[Rodrigo Valdez]]. Valdez, a Colombian, won the [[World Boxing Council|WBC's]] title, while Monzón kept the [[World Boxing Association|WBA]]'s championship. In 1976, they finally met, this time, world champion vs. world champion.

Valdez's brother had been shot to death one week prior to the fight and he did not feel like fighting. Still, the fight went on, as they were both under contract. It took place in [[Monte Carlo]]. Monzón handed Valdez a beating, winning a 15-round unanimous decision and unifying the world title once again. Facing a lack of good challengers, Monzón was offered a high purse to again fight the Colombian.

The second fight was different. Monzón-Valdez II is a classic.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.secondsout.com/legends/classic-bouts/classic-bout-carlos-monzn-vs-rodrigo-valdez-ii |title=SecondsOut Boxing News - Classic Bouts: Monzón-Valdez II |publisher=secondsOut.com |access-date=2010-10-19 |archive-date=2012-11-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121116193750/http://www.secondsout.com/legends/classic-bouts/classic-bout-carlos-monzn-vs-rodrigo-valdez-ii |url-status=dead }}</ref> Valdez came out roaring this time. In the second round, right cross to the chin put Monzón down for the first and only time in his career. Valdez built a lead through the first part of the fight. Monzón, however, mounted a brilliant comeback and outboxed Valdez for the last 8 rounds, winning a unanimous decision to retain the title and score his 14th title defense.