Monzon keeps title

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33456, 11 February 1974, Page 24

Monzon keeps title

IX.Z.P A.-Reuter —Coptiriplit >

PARIS. Carlos .Monzon, of Argentina, has retained his world middle-weight boxing title with a decisive victory against the world welter-weight champion. Jose Napoles, of Mexico, in a bout in Paris. Napoles failed to come out of his corner at the start of the seventh round after taking so much punishment that lit was apparent the fight

could end only in a knockout by Monzon. It was Monzon’s ninth consecutive successful defence of his title. The challenger, looking slow and uninspired, did not find his way past the long lefts and rights of the Argentinian. As early as the third round it was clear that Monzon’s powerful blows were taking their toll. The Mexican looked tired. Napoles had begun at high speed, trying to rush Monzon. But the Argentinian, upright and calm, scored time and again with looping lefts. Except for.the third round,

iNapoles looked wild and dis-1 organised, throwing punches I almost at random, and showing none of his usual calm: assurance and ability to pick! his punches. However, Napoles was the: most difficult opponent Mon-j zon has fought. I One of Napoles’s handlers, IMr F. Pacheco, said that the Mexican had ben hit in the eye with a thumb. “After that he was not able to see. and that is why we stopped the fight,” he said. After the fight, Monzon telephoned President Peron of Argentina to tell him of 'the victory.