were duran and monzon given there just do in the seventies?

[rightsideup]

Ali seemed to dominate the news in the decade. Duran and him were co fighters of the decade.

[Ray Corso]

Absolutely, however when you have a personality like Ali no one is going to take precedence over him.
The only figures that equaled Ali's persona was Joe Louis and the other who
was as popular and was THE number one athlete in his era was Jack Dempsey.
When Dempsey ruled the heavyweight championship he was more popular and more world wide known than Babe Ruth!! Funny that today more people know Babe
Ruth's name than Dempsey's!

Boxing people gave Duran and Monzon all the praises and respect they deserved. Both great fighters but Ali was a first as a heavyweight, no one ever saw a heavyweight move like he could and the hand and foot speed made him an anomaly.

Three greats in boxing!

[miamike]

Most of history the heavy weights have dominated boxing. Perhaps not the last 15 years but before that they did. Even so there have been several fighters like Robinson that have escaped their shadow.

[joemama]

Ali was in the news a lot when he wasn't fighting. That never hurts.

[Dynamite76]

They were, Duran and Monzon were great fighters who, in a way, dominated their division more solidly than Ali did.But, as mentioned before, the personality of Ali wasn't going to be overcome by anyone at that time.

[Ben Bolt]

When we who are living in the US or Western Europe refer to what are important news, we believe most news of importance are the ones we are fed with.
I can imagine the personalities, and their battles, of Monzon and Duran drew more attention than Ali in the Latin American part of the world.

[zdiddy]

Duran shared Fighter of the Decade with Ali from the Ring Magazine. So it would seem people were recognizing his reign.