10: Best middleweight titleholders of the last 50 years

1. Carlos Monzon

Record: 87-3-9, 59 knockouts

Years active: 1963-1977

Title reign: 1970-’77; 14 defenses

Hall of Fame induction: 1990

Style: Stand-up boxer-puncher with infighting ability and a mean streak.

Strengths: Piston-like jab, iron will, ring generalship, economic punching, good power, height (6-feet tall) and reach (76-inch wingspan), ability to fight tall but also adept at roughing-up opponents in close, stamina, and rock-solid chin (never knocked out in 100 bouts; only down once, in final bout).

Why is he ranked? The proud Argentine, one of the most dominant champions of any division during the 1970s, reigned for seven years and set a long standing division record for title defenses (14). All three losses, suffered in first two years of his career, were avenged during the amazing 80-bout unbeaten streak he carried to his retirement.

Who did he fight? Fellow hall of famers Nino Benvenuti (KO 12, TKO 3), Emile Griffith (TKO 14, W 15) and Jose Napoles (TKO 7).

Also faced: Top-10 contenders Denny Moyer (TKO 5), Jean Claude Bouttier (TKO 13, W 15), Bennie Briscoe (D 10, W 15), Tony Mundine (KO 7), Tony Licata (TKO 10), Gatien Tonna (KO 5), and Rodrigo Valdez (W 15, W 15).

Honorable mention

Michael Nunn, Roy Jones Jr., Chris Eubank, Nigel Benn, Iran Barkley, Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran, Vito Antuofermo, Alan Minter, Gerald McClellan and Julian Jackson.

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