Willie Monroe, Jr. is ready for another major opportunity after a year where he defeated two world title challengers.
The native of Rochester, New York scored unanimous decision victories over John Thompson and Gabriel Rosado in 2016 to put himself in position to be mentioned for an early-2017 bout with Canelo Alvarez or a world title opportunity with WBO champion Billy Joe Saunders. Monroe is also looking for showdowns with contenders David Lemieux and Curtis Stevens.
By Patrick McHugh: It looks like Willie Monroe Jr. (21-2, 6 KOs) is out of the equation for Saul “Canelo’ Alvarez’s next fight in December, according to his trainer Eddie Reynoso. He doesn’t appear to fancy the fighting style of the 29-year-old former world title challenger Monroe Jr., who defeated #10 WBO Gabriel Rosado (23-10, 13 KOs) by a 12 round unanimous decision last Saturday night to capture the vacant World Boxing Organization Inter-Continental middleweight title.
It was believed that the winner of the Rosado vs. Monroe fight had a chance to fight Canelo in December, but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen judging by Reynoso’s comments. Perhaps Monroe was someone that was never really considered for the fight in the first place against Canelo.
By Patrick McHugh: Middleweight contender Willie Monroe Jr. (21-2, 6 KOs) decided to chime in on his thoughts last night in who will come out on top in the Saul “Canelo” Alvarez vs. Gennady Golovkin fight if it gets made next year in September. Monroe has sparred with Canelo in the past, and he fought Golovkin last year in getting stopped in the 6th round.
Monroe says he believes that Canelo will beat Golovkin. Monroe is totally convinced that Canelo has the goods to win that fight. He thinks it’ll be a good match due to their different styles, but he believes that Golovkin’s habit of coming forward to pressure his opponents will be perfect for the counter punching Canelo to beat him.
By Patrick McHugh: After his 12 round unanimous decision win over #10 WBO middleweight fringe contender Gabriel Rosado (23-10, 13 KOs) last Saturday night, #14 WBO Willie Monroe Jr. (21-2, 6 KOs) is now saying that he’s earned a fight against fellow Golden Boy Promotions fighter Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, and he’s ready to get that fight in December on HBO.
Monroe Jr., 29, defeated Rosado by the scores 118-110, 117-111 and 116-112. In truth, neither fighter looked good. Monroe won, but it wasn’t the kind of fight where it created any demand from the boxing public to see the southpaw Monroe fighting Canelo in September or any time in the future.
By Eric Baldwin: Former middleweight world title challenger Willie Monroe Jr. (21-2, 6 KOs) defeated #10 WBO Gabriel Rosado (23-10, 13 KOs) by a one-sided 12 round unanimous decision on Saturday night on HBO pay-per-view at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The final judges’ scores were 118-110, 117-111, and 116-112. Rosado fought at a slow pace, allowing Monroe Jr. to pot shot him all night long.
By Allan Fox: #11 WBO middleweight contender Gabriel Rosado (29-3, 13 KOs) is saying that he plans on making #15 WBO Willie Monroe Jr. (20-2, 6 KOs) quit when the two of them fight next month on September 17 in the co-feature bout on HBO pay-per-view at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The winner of the Rosado-Monroe Jr. is expected to be matched against fellow Golden Boy Promotions fighter Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.
“The big prize is Canelo,” Golden Boy Promotions executive Eric Gomez said on Monday. “The winner of (Rosado-Monroe) could very well be fighting Canelo in December.”
Just when that fight will take place is unknown. It could either be this December or in May of 2017. It probably won’t be in September next year, because supposedly that will be when Canelo will be fighting Golovkin; although many boxing fans highly doubt that will be happening. They expect Golden Boy to be using a walker or a cane and eating pureed food by the time Canelo finally fights him.
By Dan Ambrose: Middleweights Willie Monroe Jr. (20-2, 6 KOs) and Gabriel Rosado (23-9, 13 KOs) have been added to the September 17 undercard of the Saul “Canelo” Alvarez vs. Liam Smith card on HBO pay-per-view from the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Monroe Jr. and Rosado will be fighting a 12 round fight.
Golden Boy Promotions is obviously putting the Rosado vs. Monroe fight together to build up the winner as a future opponent for their flagship fighter Canelo Alvarez. Rosado was one of the potential opponents for Canelo’s September fight. They went with unbeaten World Boxing Organization Liam Smith instead so that Canelo could win a title.
By Allan Fox: 29-year-old former middleweight world title challenger Willie Monroe Jr. (20-2, 6 KOs) got back to his winning ways last Saturday night in defeating John Thompson (17-3, 6 KOs) by an impressive 10 round unanimous decision in a fight televised by Showtime Boxing on their Showtime Extreme at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino, in Verona, New York.
Monroe Jr. was credited with two knockdowns in the fight in the 2nd and 5th rounds. Both knockdowns were questionable, however. The first knockdown came from a cuffing left hook in round two in which Monroe’s left wrist brought Thompson down. Monroe’s glove never made contact with Thompson’s head.
By Dan Ambrose: Former world title challenger Willie Monroe Jr. (19-2, 6 KOs) says he’s still in the running for a big fight against WBC middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (46-1-1, 32 KOs) for May 7 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Canelo and his promoters at Golden Boy Promotions apparently haven’t yet decided on an opponent. Monroe Jr., 29, is one of several names that is being considered for Canelo’s next fight. The other names are Gabriel Rosado, Liam Smith and Miguel Cotto.
By Dan Ambrose: Next week WBC middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (46-1-1, 32 KOs) will be meeting with the Golden Boy Promotions executives to try and pick out his next opponent. Canelo, 25, is taking a voluntary defense of his WBC title, and they need someone who is popular enough for him to fight on HBO pay-per-view.
According to bleacherreport.com, Willie Monroe Jr. and Gabriel Rosado are the two top candidates thus far. Golden Boy will continue to look at other fighters as well in the middleweight and junior middleweight divisions. Canelo will be fighting on May 7, on Cinco de Mayo holiday. It’s important for him to pick out a popular enough opponent to get fans interested in purchasing his fight on pay-per-view on HBO.