# Niño Valdés

Niño Valdés (born Geraldo Ramos Ponciano Valdés, also known as Nino Valdés) (December 5, 1924 – June 3, 2001) was a Cuban professional boxer who was Cuba's national heavyweight boxing champion in the 1940s and 1950s. Statistical boxing website BoxRec rates Valdés as the 8th best Cuban boxer ever across all weight divisions.

## Professional career
### Heavyweight contender

Valdés was a top contender for the heavyweight title during the mid 1950s, although he never received a shot due to his mixed results in the ring. Ring Magazine ranked Valdez as high as the #2 contender in its annual rankings for 1958 and he was highly ranked in several other years.
After a string of four losses to notable fighters such as Harold Johnson, Archie Moore, and Bob Baker in 1952 and 1953, he went undefeated in an impressive run of 11 consecutive victories which saw him defeat Ezzard Charles and Tommy "Hurricane" Jackson. However, the streak came to an end when he lost a rematch to Moore by a fifteen-round unanimous decision on May 2, 1955. He lost another fight to Bob Satterfield three months later. After beating former title contender Don Cockell, he lost a ten-round unanimous decision to Bob Baker on December 7, 1955, costing him a potential title bout against Rocky Marciano.

### Later career and retirement

He continued boxing, losing to heavyweight contenders Zora Folley, Eddie Machen, and Sonny Liston. After defeating contender Brian London in December 1959, Valdés retired due to eye problems.
After retirement, he worked as a security guard and a bouncer.

## Professional boxing record

| 70 fights | 48 wins | 18 losses |
| By knockout | 36 | 5 |
| By decision | 12 | 13 |
| Draws | 3 | 3 |
| No contests | 1 | 1 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Age | Location | Notes |
| 70 | Win | 48–18–3 (1) | Brian London | RTD | 7 (10) | Dec 1, 1959 | 34 years, 361 days | Empire Pool, Wembley, London, England, U.K. | |
| 69 | Loss | 47–18–3 (1) | Sonny Liston | KO | 3 (10) | Aug 5, 1959 | 34 years, 243 days | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 68 | Loss | 47–17–3 (1) | Alonzo Johnson | UD | 10 | May 29, 1959 | 34 years, 175 days | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 67 | Win | 47–16–3 (1) | Danny Hodge | TKO | 8 (10) | Apr 28, 1959 | 34 years, 144 days | Forum, Wichita, Kansas, U.S. | |
| 66 | Loss | 46–16–3 (1) | Charlie Powell | TKO | 8 (10) | Mar 4, 1959 | 34 years, 89 days | Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 65 | Win | 46–15–3 (1) | Pat McMurtry | TKO | 1 (10) | Dec 19, 1958 | 34 years, 14 days | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 64 | Win | 45–15–3 (1) | Mike DeJohn | SD | 10 | Aug 15, 1958 | 33 years, 253 days | War Memorial Auditorium, Rochester, New York, U.S. | |
| 63 | Win | 44–15–3 (1) | Harold Carter | TKO | 9 (10) | Jul 9, 1958 | 33 years, 216 days | Coliseum, Spokane, Washington, U.S. | |
| 62 | Win | 43–15–3 (1) | Johnny Summerlin | KO | 5 (10) | May 24, 1958 | 33 years, 170 days | Fairground Racing Oval, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 61 | Win | 42–15–3 (1) | Mike DeJohn | SD | 10 | Apr 23, 1958 | 33 years, 139 days | State Fair Coliseum, Syracuse, New York, U.S. | |
| 60 | Win | 41–15–3 (1) | Wayne Bethea | SD | 10 | Apr 3, 1958 | 33 years, 119 days | Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado, U.S. | |
| 59 | Loss | 40–15–3 (1) | Alex Miteff | SD | 10 | Feb 21, 1958 | 33 years, 78 days | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 58 | Win | 40–14–3 (1) | Jeff Dyer | KO | 10 (10) | Nov 19, 1957 | 32 years, 349 days | Auditorium, Bangor, Maine, U.S. | |
| 57 | Win | 39–14–3 (1) | John Holman | UD | 10 | May 8, 1957 | 32 years, 154 days | Auditorium, Portland, Oregon, U.S. | |
| 56 | Win | 38–14–3 (1) | Joe Erskine | KO | 1 (10) | Feb 19, 1957 | 32 years, 76 days | Earls Court Arena, London, England, U.K. | |
| 55 | Win | 37–14–3 (1) | Hans Friedrich | TKO | 6 (10) | Dec 30, 1956 | 32 years, 25 days | Arena Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Nordrhein-Westfalen, West Germany | |
| 54 | Win | 36–14–3 (1) | Dick Richardson | RTD | 8 (10) | Dec 4, 1956 | 31 years, 365 days | Harringay Arena, London, England, U.K. | |
| 53 | Win | 35–14–3 (1) | Bob Woodall | KO | 3 (10) | Oct 25, 1956 | 31 years, 325 days | Arena, Boston, Massachsuetts, U.S. | |
| 52 | Loss | 34–14–3 (1) | Zora Folley | UD | 10 | Sep 25, 1956 | 31 years, 295 days | Softball Park, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. | |
| 51 | Loss | 34–13–3 (1) | Eddie Machen | KO | 8 (10) | Jul 11, 1956 | 31 years, 219 days | Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 50 | Win | 34–12–3 (1) | Ken Hammer | TKO | 8 (10) | Jun 1, 1956 | 31 years, 179 days | Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. | |
| 49 | Loss | 33–12–3 (1) | Eddie Machen | UD | 10 | Apr 16, 1956 | 31 years, 133 days | Cow Palace, Daly City, California, U.S. | |
| 48 | Loss | 33–11–3 (1) | Bob Baker | UD | 10 | Dec 7, 1955 | 31 years, 2 days | Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 47 | Win | 33–10–3 (1) | Don Cockell | RTD | 3 (10) | Sep 13, 1955 | 30 years, 282 days | White City Stadium, London, England, U.K. | |
| 46 | Loss | 32–10–3 (1) | Bob Satterfield | UD | 10 | Aug 17, 1955 | 30 years, 255 days | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 45 | Loss | 32–9–3 (1) | Archie Moore | PTS | 15 | May 2, 1955 | 30 years, 148 days | Cashman Field, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | For vacant world heavyweight title recognized only by Nevada |
| 44 | Win | 32–8–3 (1) | Jack Flood | KO | 7 (10) | Jan 25, 1955 | 30 years, 51 days | Radio Center Arena, Huntington, West Virginia, U.S. | |
| 43 | Win | 31–8–3 (1) | Jimmy Walls | KO | 2 (10) | Dec 11, 1954 | 30 years, 6 days | King's Stadium, Hamilton, Bermuda | |
| 42 | Win | 30–8–3 (1) | Tommy Jackson | TKO | 2 (10) | Jul 14, 1954 | 29 years, 221 days | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 41 | Win | 29–8–3 (1) | Karel Sys | TKO | 4 (10) | May 22, 1954 | 29 years, 168 days | Palais des Sports, Schaerbeek, Belgium | |
| 40 | Win | 28–8–3 (1) | James J. Parker | UD | 10 | Mar 12, 1954 | 29 years, 97 days | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 39 | Win | 27–8–3 (1) | Archie McBride | SD | 10 | Feb 20, 1954 | 29 years, 77 days | Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba | |
| 38 | Win | 26–8–3 (1) | Heinz Neuhaus | KO | 4 (10) | Nov 15, 1953 | 28 years, 345 days | Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Nordrhein-Westfalen, West Germany | |
| 37 | Win | 25–8–3 (1) | Matt Daniels | TKO | 2 (10) | Sep 29, 1953 | 28 years, 298 days | Fort Homer Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida, U.S. | |
| 36 | Win | 24–8–3 (1) | Charley Williams | UD | 10 | Sep 15, 1953 | 28 years, 284 days | Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 35 | Win | 23–8–3 (1) | Ezzard Charles | UD | 10 | Aug 11, 1953 | 28 years, 249 days | Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 34 | Win | 22–8–3 (1) | Omelio Agramonte | TKO | 10 (12) | Jul 18, 1953 | 28 years, 225 days | Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba | |
| 33 | Loss | 21–8–3 (1) | Bob Baker | UD | 10 | May 21, 1953 | 28 years, 167 days | Radio Center Arena, Huntington, West Virginia, U.S. | |
| 32 | Loss | 21–7–3 (1) | Billy Gilliam | SD | 10 | Apr 20, 1953 | 28 years, 136 days | War Memorial Arena, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 31 | Loss | 21–6–3 (1) | Archie Moore | UD | 10 | Mar 11, 1953 | 28 years, 96 days | Arena, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S. | |
| 30 | Loss | 21–5–3 (1) | Harold Johnson | UD | 10 | Nov 24, 1952 | 27 years, 355 days | Eastern Parkway Arena, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 29 | Win | 21–4–3 (1) | Jimmy Walker | KO | 6 (8) | Jun 13, 1952 | 27 years, 191 days | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 28 | Draw | 20–4–3 (1) | Joe McFadden | PTS | 8 | Mar 29, 1952 | 27 years, 115 days | Ridgewood Grove, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 27 | Win | 20–4–2 (1) | Sandy McPherson | UD | 8 | Feb 28, 1952 | 27 years, 85 days | Sunnyside Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 26 | Win | 19–4–2 (1) | Keene Simmons | UD | 10 | Feb 7, 1952 | 27 years, 64 days | Sunnyside Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 25 | Win | 18–4–2 (1) | Joe McFadden | KO | 7 (8) | Jan 4, 1952 | 27 years, 30 days | Sunnyside Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 24 | Win | 17–4–2 (1) | Aldo Rodriguez | TKO | 1 (8) | Sep 23, 1950 | 25 years, 292 days | Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba | |
| 23 | Win | 16–4–2 (1) | Juan Carlos Vigo | KO | 1 (8) | Aug 19, 1950 | 25 years, 257 days | Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba | |
| 22 | Win | 15–4–2 (1) | Tommy Bevil | TKO | 3 (10) | Feb 21, 1950 | 25 years, 78 days | Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. | |
| 21 | Loss | 14–4–2 (1) | Archie McBride | PTS | 8 | Nov 26, 1948 | 23 years, 357 days | Armory, Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 20 | Win | 14–3–2 (1) | Doc Bee | PTS | 6 | Nov 15, 1948 | 23 years, 346 days | Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. | |
| 19 | Draw | 13–3–2 (1) | Jimmy Freeman | PTS | 6 | Oct 19, 1948 | 23 years, 319 days | Auditorium, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. | |
| 18 | NC | 13–3–1 (1) | Cheo Morejon | NC | 5 (10) | Jul 19, 1947 | 22 years, 226 days | Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba | Fight stopped for "poor effort" |
| 17 | Win | 13–3–1 | Aldo Rodriguez | PTS | 8 | Jun 28, 1947 | 22 years, 205 days | Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba | |
| 16 | Win | 12–3–1 | Kid Carbajal | KO | 7 (10) | Sep 19, 1946 | 21 years, 288 days | Cienfuegos, Cuba | |
| 15 | Draw | 11–3–1 | Cheo Morejon | PTS | 10 | Mar 9, 1946 | 22 years, 3 days | Sancti Spiritus, Cuba | |
| 14 | Win | 11–3 | Federico Malibran | KO | 8 (12) | Dec 8, 1945 | 21 years, 3 days | Ciego de Avila, Cuba | Won Cuban heavyweight title |
| 13 | Loss | 10–3 | Federico Malibran | KO | 4 (12) | Sep 15, 1945 | 20 years, 284 days | Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba | For Cuban heavyweight title |
| 12 | Win | 10–2 | Epifanio Perez | KO | 2 (8) | Sep 24, 1944 | 19 years, 294 days | Candelaria, Cuba | |
| 11 | Loss | 9–2 | Mario Raul Ochoa | PTS | 8 | Sep 3, 1944 | 19 years, 273 days | Candelaria, Cuba | |
| 10 | Win | 9–1 | Andres Ferrer | KO | 2 (8) | Jul 30, 1944 | 19 years, 238 days | Candelaria, Cuba | |
| 9 | Win | 8–1 | Julio Lazaro Diaz | TKO | 7 (10) | Apr 3, 1943 | 18 years, 119 days | Arena Cristal, Havana, Cuba | |
| 8 | Win | 7–1 | Benito Garcia Malpica | TKO | 2 (10) | Feb 20, 1943 | 18 years, 77 days | Arena Cristal, Havana, Cuba | |
| 7 | Win | 6–1 | Andres Dominguez | KO | 2 (8) | Jan 20, 1943 | 18 years, 46 days | Arena Cristal, Havana, Cuba | |
| 6 | Win | 5–1 | Jose Andres Hornedo | KO | 2 (6) | Oct 10, 1942 | 17 years, 309 days | Arena Cristal, Havana, Cuba | |
| 5 | Win | 4–1 | Epifanio Perez | KO | 2 (4) | Aug 15, 1942 | 17 years, 253 days | Arena Cristal, Havana, Cuba | |
| 4 | Loss | 3–1 | Julio Lazaro Diaz | KO | 3 (6) | May 30, 1942 | 17 years, 176 days | Arena Cristal, Havana, Cuba | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Wilfredo Ferrer | KO | 1 (6) | Mar 28, 1942 | 17 years, 113 days | Arena Cristal, Havana, Cuba | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Andres Dominguez | KO | 1 (6) | Jan 31, 1942 | 17 years, 57 days | Arena Cristal, Havana, Cuba | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Basilio Ayestaran | KO | 3 (6) | Dec 27, 1941 | 17 years, 22 days | Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba | |