Kings of the Rematch.

[BennyST]

Azumah Nelson was truly one of the greatest kings of rematches!

Marcos Villasana. First fight close MD win. Second, won nearly every round on all cards.
Mario Martinez. Won first fight by very close SD. Second, won nearly every round on cards and knocked him out in the twelfth.
Jeff Fenech. First fight a very controversial draw/Don King robbery. Second fight knocked him out in eight in Fenech's hometown.
Gabriel Ruelas. First fight won a close MD in a war. Second fight at 38, destroyed Ruelas in five.
Jesse James Leija. At 37 or so, drew the first fight. Second, destroyed Leija in six rounds.

[BennyST]

The King of Rematches.

Marvin Hagler was a freak in rematches. But, in my opinion, Carlos Monzon was the best ever. Never lost a rematch. Rarely ever lost the first fight though either.

In the few fights he lost in or drew in, he had one or more rematches and won every single one. In any close fights he had, he had a rematch and won by wide decision or KO. He had so many rematches. Some aganst bums in tune ups, but most against top fighters that he either had close fights, draws or losses in a few cases and he came back nearly every time to win by wide decision or KO. Dude was a freak in rematches and rematched every close fight or black mark, whether NC, loss or draw.

Rodrigo Valdez
Nino Benvenuti
Emille Griffith
Bennie Briscoe
Jean Claude Bouttier
Juan Aguilar
Carlos Alberto Salinas
Emilio Ale Ali
Ramon D Rocha
Tito Marshall
Antonio Aguilar
Jorge Fernandez
Carlos Estrada
Benito Sanchez
Angel Alberto Coria
Manoel Severino
Celedonio Lima
Andres Selpa
Albino Veron
Felipe Cambeiro
Charley Austin

I can't be bothered to list all the fights and decisions etc, and I'm pretty sure I'm missing one or two other rematches he had, but he fought many of these guys thrice just to make sure they was beaten enough. Often, if he won the second fight by decision he would fight them again to win by KO.

His lone aberration, I think, is the Manoel Severino fights. He drew their first two fights *gasp* early on in his career. He then fought him for the South American 160 title and knocked him out in six rounds.

I'm sure there are others fighters who have had as many or more rematches, but there is no other fighter in the history of boxing that has had as many rematches and never lost (apart from the draw against Severino...draw isn't losing though) a single one and beat every man he ever faced and revenged every single NC, loss and draw on his record.

The more I learn about and study him, the greater he becomes every time. Few fighters can surpass what he has achieved.

[Barn]

The King of Rematches.

Marvin Hagler was a freak in rematches. But, in my opinion, Carlos Monzon was the best ever. Never lost a rematch. Rarely ever lost the first fight though either.

In the few fights he lost in or drew in, he had one or more rematches and won every single one. In any close fights he had, he had a rematch and won by wide decision or KO. He had so many rematches. Some aganst bums in tune ups, but most against top fighters that he either had close fights, draws or losses in a few cases and he came back nearly every time to win by wide decision or KO. Dude was a freak in rematches and rematched every close fight or black mark, whether NC, loss or draw.

Rodrigo Valdez
Nino Benvenuti
Emille Griffith
Bennie Briscoe
Jean Claude Bouttier
Juan Aguilar
Carlos Alberto Salinas
Emilio Ale Ali
Ramon D Rocha
Tito Marshall
Antonio Aguilar
Jorge Fernandez
Carlos Estrada
Benito Sanchez
Angel Alberto Coria
Manoel Severino
Celedonio Lima
Andres Selpa
Albino Veron
Felipe Cambeiro
Charley Austin

I can't be bothered to list all the fights and decisions etc, and I'm pretty sure I'm missing one or two other rematches he had, but he fought many of these guys thrice just to make sure they was beaten enough. Often, if he won the second fight by decision he would fight them again to win by KO.

His one aberration, I think, is the Manoel Severino fights. He drew their first two fights early on in his career. He then fought him for the South American 160 title and knocked him out in six rounds.

I'm sure there are others fighters who have had as many or more rematches, but there is no other fighter in the history of boxing that has had as many rematches and never lost (apart from the draw against Severino...draw isn't losing though) a single one and beat every man he ever faced and revenged every single NC, loss and draw on his record.

The more I learn about and study him, the greater he becomes every time. Few fighters can surpass what he has achieved.

It's not just the quantity the quality of opponents in that list like, Griffith, Benvenuti, Briscoe, etc.

[BennyST]

It's not just the quantity the quality of opponents in that list like, Griffith, Benvenuti, Briscoe, etc.

Yep, absolutely. It's quite funny. He started very early on. His second pro fight was a NC with an immediate rematch which he won by KO.

One thing I find fascinating is the progression you can see in some of them.

Take Antonio Aguilar for instance. He was a great fighter that was always at the top, but never enough to beat the very top guy or get a title shot. However, he beat many excellent fighters and ended up with a great record of 79-18.

Overall, he fought Aguilar four times. Aguilar was undefeated at 16-0 when Monzon fought him in only his 7th pro fight. Monzon lost the first fight. It was his first loss. He fought him again two years later and Monzon won a solid decision over him in ten. Aguilar was 34-0 in that fight. He fought him next another two years later when Aguilar was 43-1. This time he knocked him out in nine rounds. He then fought him for the last time about another two years later, just before winning the MW title, when Aguilar was 55-7 and this time knocked him out in five brutal rounds.

[NChristo]

Came in to say Monzon and Hopkins, both already mentioned .

The King of Rematches.

Marvin Hagler was a freak in rematches. But, in my opinion, Carlos Monzon was the best ever. Never lost a rematch. Rarely ever lost the first fight though either.

What sticks out most for me is the Briscoe rematch, the first fight they had was quite controversial but in the rematch Monzon put on a masterpiece, my favourite fight of his easily. Was no controversy there.

[BennyST]

Came in to mention Monzon and Hopkins, both already mentioned .




What sticks out most for me is the Briscoe rematch, the first fight they had was quite controversial but in the rematch Monzon put on a masterpiece, my favourite fight of his easily. Was no controversy there.

Yep. Absolutely. They fought quite early on in Monzon's career wasn't it? Second time was during his run as champion? Can't remember and can't be bothered looking it up. It was a great fight though. I remember Monzon always said that he respected Briscoe hugely as an opponent and fighter in general because he was so tough and gave him one of his hardest fights.

Tis a pity Briscoe never won a title of any sort. It's funny though thinking of guys like him back then who are all but forgotten by most and never won a title, and yet they were much better than most 'titlists' today.

Having to beat that one guy (or two: wbc/wba) in the division....and if they happen to be great, bad luck to you. That's your career and probably only title shot gone and lost. Today, if one champion happens to be great....who cares!? Just go get one of the other ninety four titles, or just move up or down four or five pounds and fight the hack who just won the vacant ABWOZ title. New world champion! Everyone's happy and everyone has a title. Drinks all round!

[Scott9945]

Yep. Absolutely. They fought quite early on in Monzon's career wasn't it? Second time was during his run as champion? Can't remember and can't be bothered looking it up. It was a great fight though. I remember Monzon always said that he respected Briscoe hugely as an opponent and fighter in general because he was so tough and gave him one of his hardest fights.

Tis a pity Briscoe never won a title of any sort. It's funny though thinking of guys like him back then who are all but forgotten by most and never won a title, and yet they were much better than most 'titlists' today.

Having to beat that one guy (or two: wbc/wba) in the division....and if they happen to be great, bad luck to you. That's your career and probably only title shot gone and lost. Today, if one champion happens to be great....who cares!? Just go get one of the other ninety four titles, or just move up or down four or five pounds and fight the hack who just won the vacant ABWOZ title. New world champion! Everyone's happy and everyone has a title. Drinks all round!

I watched Monzon-Briscoe II live at a movie theater in Central LA. The place was packed with Argentinians on a Saturday afternoon. Briscoe had Monzon absolutely out on his feet with a big shot in the mid rounds, but he froze like Shavers did against Ali. The rest of the fight was dominated by Monzon in his typical methodical style.

[JAB5239]

Azumah Nelson was truly one of the greatest kings of rematches!

Marcos Villasana. First fight close MD win. Second, won nearly every round on all cards.
Mario Martinez. Won first fight by very close SD. Second, won nearly every round on cards and knocked him out in the twelfth.
Jeff Fenech. First fight a very controversial draw/Don King robbery. Second fight knocked him out in eight in Fenech's hometown.
Gabriel Ruelas. First fight won a close MD in a war. Second fight at 38, destroyed Ruelas in five.
Jesse James Leija. At 37 or so, drew the first fight. Second, destroyed Leija in six rounds.

Didn't Nelson lose several fight to Leija? I of course realize his age is a factor, I just remember him being on the short end of a lopsided series.

[Scott9945]

Didn't Nelson lose several fight to Leija? I of course realize his age is a factor, I just remember him being on the short end of a lopsided series.

They fought four times, with the total being 2-1-1 Leija.

[JAB5239]

They fought four times, with the total being 2-1-1 Leija.

Thank you my good man!