Willie Monroe (boxer, born 1946)

Last updated
Willie Monroe
Statistics
Nickname(s)The Worm
Weight(s) Middleweight
Height6 ft (183 cm) [1]
Born(1946-06-05)June 5, 1946
Alabama, U.S.
DiedJune 22, 2019(2019-06-22) (aged 73)
Sicklerville, New Jersey, U.S.
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights51
Wins40
Wins by KO26
Losses10
Draws1

Willie "The Worm" Monroe (June 5, 1946 - June 22, 2019) [2] was a middleweight boxer who competed from 1969 to 1981. He was most notable for defeating Marvelous Marvin Hagler in 1976 before Hagler went on an eleven year undefeated streak. [3]

Contents

Monroe received his nickname "the Worm" for his slippery fighting style from Yank Durham. [4] He died on Saturday, June 22 2019, after complications with Alzheimers. [3]

He was inducted into the Pennsylvania boxing hall of fame in 1990 [5] and is the great uncle of American boxer Willie Monroe Jr. [4]

Early life and amateur career

Monroe was born in Alabama as the 13th of 17 children and spent his early years in Crestview, Florida. [3] He started boxing in Rochester, New York where he claimed an undefeated 43-0 amateur record. [4] He arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the autumn of 1969 to train for his pro-debut. [6]

Professional career

Monroe started his professional career with a perfect record of 20-0 before being stopped in a controversial split decision against Max Cohen. [7]

A string of mixed results would follow with a notable win over Eugene Hart and losses to Alvin Philipps and Bobby Watts. [6]

Monroe would go on to defeat Marvelous Marvin Hagler on March 9th, 1976 in decisive fashion. Unfortunately no footage of the fight exists as a snowstorm in the area prevented filming. [6] Two rematches would follow which were both won by technical knockout by Hagler [8]

Professional boxing record

51 fights40 wins10 losses
By knockout264
By decision146
Draws1
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
51Loss40–10–1Willie EdwardsKO4 (6)Oct 24, 1981Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan, US
50Win40–9–1Jimmy McClainUD10Jul 28, 1980Martin Luther King Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
49Loss39–9–1Dwight DavidsonUD10Nov 15, 1979 Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan, US
48Loss39–8–1Curtis ParkerUD10Jul 16, 1979Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
47Win39–7–1Keith BroomUD10May 31, 1979Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
46Loss38–7–1Richard OfosuPTS10Mar 3, 1979Accra, Ghana
45Win38–6–1Frank LucasTKO8 (10)Apr 22, 1978Teatro Ariston, San Remo, Italy
44Loss37–6–1 Marvelous Marvin Hagler TKO2 (12), 1:46Aug 23, 1977Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
43Win37–5–1Larry DavisPTS10Jun 15, 1977Wagner Ballroom, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
42Loss36–5–1 Marvelous Marvin Hagler TKO12 (12), 1:20Feb 15, 1977 Hynes Convention Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USFor vacant North American middleweight title
41Win36–4–1Lenny HardenTKO3 (10)Jan 21, 1977War Memorial Auditorium, Rochester, New York, US
40Win35–4–1 Angel Robinson Garcia TKO7 (10), 3:00Dec 3, 1976 War Memorial Auditorium, Rochester, New York, US
39Loss34–4–1David LoveTKO4 (10), 2:11Aug 16, 1976Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
38Win34–3–1Felton MarshallTKO7 (10), 1:37May 19, 1976Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
37Win33–3–1 Marvelous Marvin Hagler UD10Mar 9, 1976Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
36Win32–3–1Carlos MarksUD10Jan 28, 1976Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
35Win31–3–1Carlos MarksMD10Jun 2, 1975Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
34Win30–3–1Rennie PinderKO4 (10)Apr 28, 1975Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
33Loss29–3–1 Bobby Watts UD10Nov 12, 1974Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
32Win29–2–1 Billy Douglas UD10Aug 19, 1974Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
31Win28–2–1Stanley HaywardTKO7 (10)Apr 8, 1974Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
30Win27–2–1 Eugene Hart UD10Feb 18, 1974Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
29Draw26–2–1Fabio BettiniPTS10Nov 5, 1973Palais des Sports, Paris, France
28Win26–2Jose GonzalezUD10Aug 14, 1973Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
27Win25–2Roy McMillanTKO3 (10), 0:36May 10, 1973Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
26Win24–2Don CobbsUD10Mar 5, 1973Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
25Win23–2Roy LeeTKO1 (10), 2:40Jan 22, 1973National Stadium, Kingston, Jamaica
24Win22–2George DavisTKO6 (10), 0:08Dec 5, 1972Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
23Win21–2Leroy RobertsKO1 (10)Oct 24, 1972Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
22Loss20–2Alvin PhillipsSD10Sep 6, 1972Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana, US
21Loss20–1Nessim Max CohenSD10Mar 27, 1972Palais des Sports Porte de Versailles, Paris XV, France
20Win20–0Luis Miguel GalvanUD10Mar 21, 1972Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, US
19Win19–0Alvin PhillipsPTS10Jan 15, 1972Rivergate Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana, US
18Win18–0Willie WarrenUD10Oct 19, 1971 Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, US
17Win17–0Elgie WaltersTKO4 (10)Jul 14, 1971Astro Hall, Houston, Texas, US
16Win16–0Abraham CabreraKO3 (10), 1:41May 27, 1971Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
15Win15–0Adam MooreKO2 (10)Apr 12, 1971Fort Homer Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida, US
14Win14–0Alvin PhillipsUD10Jan 18, 1971Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
13Win13–0Luis VinalesTKO6 (6), 1:25Nov 17, 1970Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
12Win12–0Nojeen AdigunKO4 (8)Oct 6, 1970Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
11Win11–0Adam MooreTKO3 (6)Sep 14, 1970Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana, US
10Win10–0Oscar CoorTKO2 (6), 1:59Jul 20, 1970 Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
9Win9–0Santiago RosaTKO2 (10), 0:22Jul 13, 1970 Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida, US
8Win8–0Harold GlaspyTKO2 (6), 1:36Jul 6, 1970 Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana, US
7Win7–0Ruben FigueroaKO2 (8)Jun 15, 1970 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
6Win6–0Alberto MillanKO3 (8)May 18, 1970Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
5Win5–0Luis Ted HamiltonKO1 (6)Apr 22, 1970Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
4Win4–0Luis RiveraTKO1 (6)Mar 25, 1970Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
3Win3–0Fred ThomasKO1 (6)Feb 25, 1970Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
2Win2–0Joe WilliamsTKO4 (4)Dec 9, 1969Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
1Win1–0Vince NeratkaKO1 (4)Nov 11, 1969 Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US

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References

  1. ↑ "Willy Monroe". Boxrec. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  2. ↑ "Willy Monroe". Philly Boxing History. Fairhill Street Productions, LLC. Archived from the original on 3 Sep 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 "Willie 'the Worm' Monroe, 73, Philly boxing legend". The Philadelphia Inquirer. The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC. 27 June 2019. Archived from the original on 3 Sep 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 "R.I.P. Willie the Worm and Billy Joiner, Emblems of a Bright and Bygone Era". The Sweet Science. 5 July 2019. Archived from the original on 3 Sep 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  5. ↑ "Willie The Worm - PA Boxing Hall of Fame". Philly Boxing History. Fairhill Street Productions, LLC. Archived from the original on 14 Aug 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 "A Look Back at The Career of Willie "The Worm" Monroe". BoxingScene. 23 June 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  7. ↑ "Knocks Man Down, Still Loses Bout". The Gettysburg Times. Associated Press. 1972-03-28. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
  8. ↑ "Hagler takes middle bout". Lewiston Morning Tribute. Associated Press. 1977-08-24. Retrieved 2023-08-16.

Footage of the second and third bout against Marvin Hagler

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