# Rodrigo Valdez

Rodrigo Valdez (February 22, 1946 – March 15, 2017) was a Colombian professional boxer who competed from 1963 to 1980. He was a two time middleweight champion, having held the WBC title from 1974 to 1976 and the undisputed WBA, WBC, and The Ring titles from 1977 to 1978. His rivalry with Carlos Monzón has long been considered among the most legendary boxing rivalries. Valdez was trained by International Boxing Hall of Fame coach Gil Clancy. Many people consider him, Antonio Cervantes and Miguel "Happy" Lora to be the three greatest boxers ever to come from that country. He is 29th on Ring Magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time.

## Professional boxing career

Born in Bolívar, Colombia, Rodrigo Valdez began his professional boxing career with a win over Orlando Pineda in a four-round decision on October 25, 1963, at Cartagena. He won his next eight bouts, but on October 2, 1965, he lost his undefeated record, beaten by knockout in six by Rudy Escobar.
After that defeat, he went on another undefeated streak of fifteen fights, of which he won thirteen and tied two. However, on his first fight abroad, February 16, 1969, in Ecuador, he lost a ten-round decision to Daniel Guanin. After one more fight in Cartagena, he moved to the United States. Trying to gain more recognition, he campaigned, from 1969 to 1970, in the states of New York, Nevada and California, winning seven fights and losing two. Then, he returned to South America for four more fights in his homeland, winning all.

### Hepatitis

In his next match, held at the Madison Square Garden in New York City, with Bobby Cassidy on August 9, 1971, Valdez won by knockout in round six, because the fight doctor deemed Cassidy not fit to continue from a cut around his eye which had been ruled as produced by a Valdez punch. At the time, nobody knew that Cassidy had hepatitis A. As a consequence of this, Valdez also became affected by the disease. Given a quarantine, he refused to quit boxing periodically and continued training during his time of illness. Separated from most of the world, he was fit enough to win two more fights within three months of his initial diagnosis of hepatitis.
Valdez had nineteen wins in a row when he met Philadelphia legend Bennie Briscoe for the NABF middleweight title, in Nouméa, New Caledonia, on September 1, 1973, beating Briscoe in a 12-round decision to capture the regional championship and becoming a world-ranked middleweight contender. After this win, Valdez claimed for a world title shot at Monzon.

### World title

He won two more fights, and the WBC made him its number one contender at Monzon's title. But Monzon did not feel like fighting the Colombian at that moment, so the WBC stripped Monzon of the world title (Monzon retained the WBA title) and made Valdez and Briscoe rematch, this time with the WBC world middleweight title on the line. On May 25, 1974, at Monte Carlo, Valdez became a world champion for the first time, by knocking Briscoe out in seven rounds. Valdez subsequently retained his title against Rudy Valdez, Gratien Tonna, and Max Cohen, until Monzon finally agreed to meet him.
One week before the long-awaited match-up, on June 19, 1976, Valdez's brother was murdered during a barroom fight in Colombia. Already in Monte Carlo for the fight, Valdez wanted to pull out of it to join his family in mourning. But he was contractually bound to fight Monzon, so he had to stay in Europe, and on June 26, Valdez, who to many observers seemed rather uninterested, lost in the unification bout to Monzon in a 15-round unanimous decision. Valdez won two more fights after returning to Colombia.
The WBA and WBC, recognizing that Valdez probably wasn't in the best of moods to fight during his first confrontation with Monzon, ordered a second fight between the rivals, and so they fought again, on July 30, 1977, once again at Monte Carlo. This time around, Valdez knocked down Monzon in the second round, becoming the only man to send the Argentine to the floor in Monzon's long career. Valdez was leading after seven rounds, but Monzon mounted a late rally that allowed him to keep the title by a close decision.

### Monzon's retirement

Monzon announced his retirement from boxing afterwards, and so Valdez and Briscoe were matched once again, on November 5, 1977, for the vacant undisputed world middleweight championship, in Campione d'Italia, which belonged back then not to Italy, but actually to Switzerland. Valdez recovered the world middleweight championship, with a 15-round decision over Briscoe. This time around, however, he would lose his title on his first defense, on April 22, 1978, by points in 15 rounds to another Argentine, Hugo Corro, in San Remo, Italy.
On November 11 of that same year, they had a rematch, at Buenos Aires' Luna Park Stadium, and Corro repeated his 15-round victory to retain the world title.

## Retirement

Valdez fought only twice more, winning both fights by knockout. After beating Gilberto Amonte on November 28, 1980, in the first round, he retired from boxing for good.
Valdez had a record of 63 wins, eight losses and two draws as a professional boxer, with 42 wins by knockout.

## Death

According to Colombian sources, Valdez died of a massive heart attack on March 14, 2017. Cartagena mayor Manuel Duque confirmed the two time former world champion's death, calling him "one of the greatest Colombian sportsmen of all time".

## Professional boxing record

| 73 fights | 63 wins | 8 losses |
| By knockout | 43 | 1 |
| By decision | 20 | 7 |
| Draws | 2 | 2 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 73 | Win | 63–8–2 | Gilberto Almonte | TKO | 1 (10), 1:41 | Nov 28, 1980 | Coliseo El Campin, Bogotá, Colombia | |
| 72 | Win | 62–8–2 | Charles Hayward | TKO | 7 (10), 1:25 | May 14, 1980 | Coliseo El Campin, Bogotá, Colombia | |
| 71 | Loss | 61–8–2 | Hugo Corro | UD | 15 | Nov 11, 1978 | Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina | For WBA, WBC, and The Ring middleweight titles |
| 70 | Win | 61–7–2 | Mayfield Pennington | TKO | 7 (10), 1:22 | Sep 30, 1978 | Coliseo El Campin, Bogotá, Colombia | |
| 69 | Loss | 60–7–2 | Hugo Corro | UD | 15 | Apr 22, 1978 | Teatro Ariston, Sanremo, Liguria, Italy | Lost WBA, WBC, and The Ring middleweight titles |
| 68 | Win | 60–6–2 | Bennie Briscoe | UD | 15 | Nov 5, 1977 | Casinò di Campione, Campione d'Italia, Lombardy, Italy | Won vacant WBA, WBC, and The Ring middleweight titles |
| 67 | Loss | 59–6–2 | Carlos Monzón | UD | 15 | Jul 30, 1977 | Stade Louis II, Fontvieille, Monaco | For WBA, WBC, and The Ring middleweight titles |
| 66 | Win | 59–5–2 | Oreste Lebron | TKO | 5 (10) | Mar 19, 1977 | Coliseo Humberto Perea, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia | |
| 65 | Win | 58–5–2 | Ramon Beras | KO | 7 (10) | Oct 24, 1976 | Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia | |
| 64 | Loss | 57–5–2 | Carlos Monzón | UD | 15 | Jun 26, 1976 | Stade Louis II, Fontvieille, Monaco | Lost WBC middleweight title; For WBA and The Ring middleweight titles |
| 63 | Win | 57–4–2 | Nessim Max Cohen | TKO | 4 (15), 2:45 | Mar 28, 1976 | Pavillon de Paris, Paris, Île-de-France, France | Retained WBC middleweight title |
| 62 | Win | 56–4–2 | Rudy Robles | UD | 15 | Aug 16, 1975 | Plaza de Toros de Cartagena de Indias, Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia | Retained WBC middleweight title |
| 61 | Win | 55–4–2 | Ramón Mendez | TKO | 8 (15) | May 31, 1975 | Coliseo El Pueblo, Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia | Retained WBC middleweight title |
| 60 | Win | 54–4–2 | Gratien Tonna | KO | 11 (15) | Nov 30, 1974 | Palais des Expositions, Paris, Île-de-France, France | Retained WBC middleweight title |
| 59 | Win | 53–4–2 | Vinnie Curto | UD | 10 | Oct 25, 1974 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 58 | Win | 52–4–2 | Cubby Jackson | TKO | 2 (12) | Sep 6, 1974 | Coliseo El Campin, Bogotá, Colombia | |
| 57 | Win | 51–4–2 | Bennie Briscoe | TKO | 7 (15), 2:55 | May 25, 1974 | Stade Louis II, Fontvieille, Monaco | Won vacant WBC middleweight title |
| 56 | Win | 50–4–2 | Ernie Burns | KO | 2 (10) | Mar 16, 1974 | Plaza de Toros de Cartagena de Indias, Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia | |
| 55 | Win | 49–4–2 | Joey Durelle | KO | 2 (10) | Dec 14, 1973 | Coliseo El Campin, Bogotá, Colombia | |
| 54 | Win | 48–4–2 | Bennie Briscoe | UD | 12 | Sep 1, 1973 | Omnisports Stadium, Nouméa, South Province, New Caledonia | Won NABF middleweight title |
| 53 | Win | 47–4–2 | Antonio Aguilar | PTS | 10 | Jul 19, 1973 | Coliseo El Campin, Bogotá, Colombia | |
| 52 | Win | 46–4–2 | Leon Washington | KO | 7 (10) | May 30, 1973 | Coliseo El Campin, Bogotá, Colombia | |
| 51 | Win | 45–4–2 | Kim Booker | TKO | 5 (10), 2:12 | Apr 16, 1973 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 50 | Win | 44–4–2 | José Rodríguez | TKO | 5 (10) | Mar 5, 1973 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 49 | Win | 43–4–2 | Carlos Marks | PTS | 10 | Dec 18, 1972 | Parc des Expositions, Paris, Île-de-France, France | |
| 48 | Win | 42–4–2 | Lloyd Duncan | UD | 10 | Sep 29, 1972 | Sunnyside Gardens, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 47 | Win | 41–4–2 | Roy Edmonds | KO | 2 (10), 1:11 | Aug 28, 1972 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 46 | Win | 40–4–2 | Juan Evangelista Córdoba | KO | 6 (?) | Aug 10, 1972 | Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia | |
| 45 | Win | 39–4–2 | Milton Mendez | KO | 2 (?) | Apr 2, 1972 | Valledupar, Cesar, Colombia | |
| 44 | Win | 38–4–2 | Thurman Doc Holliday | TKO | 4 (10), 2:38 | Nov 25, 1971 | Sunnyside Gardens, New York City, New York, U.S. | Fought while quarantined with Hepatitis |
| 43 | Win | 37–4–2 | Perry Abney | TKO | 1 (10), 2:59 | Oct 19, 1971 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | Fought while quarantined with Hepatitis |
| 42 | Win | 36–4–2 | Bobby Cassidy | TKO | 7 (10), 0:44 | Aug 9, 1971 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | Cassidy did not know he had Hepatitis, Valdez later developed the disease |
| 41 | Win | 35–4–2 | Edmundo Leite | TKO | 4 (10) | Jun 28, 1971 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 40 | Win | 34–4–2 | Marcos Tordoya | TKO | 4 (10) | May 14, 1971 | Coliseo Humberto Perea, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia | |
| 39 | Win | 33–4–2 | Arturo Lang | KO | 5 (10), 2:59 | Mar 26, 1971 | Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia | |
| 38 | Win | 32–4–2 | Juan Jimenez | KO | 2 (10) | Jan 24, 1971 | Estadio 11 de Noviembre, Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia | |
| 37 | Win | 31–4–2 | Juan Evangelista Córdoba | TKO | 9 (10) | Jul 31, 1970 | Atanasio Girardot Coliseum, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia | |
| 36 | Loss | 30–4–2 | Ralph Palladin | SD | 10 | May 11, 1970 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 35 | Win | 30–3–2 | Cassius Greene | UD | 10 | May 1, 1970 | Sunnyside Gardens, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 34 | Loss | 29–3–2 | Pete Toro | MD | 10 | Mar 2, 1970 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 33 | Win | 29–2–2 | Dave Oropeza | KO | 1 (10), 1:29 | Feb 14, 1970 | The Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. | |
| 32 | Win | 28–2–2 | Denny Stiletto | TKO | 1 (10) | Dec 10, 1969 | Silver Slipper, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 31 | Win | 27–2–2 | Raul Rodríguez | TKO | 9 (10) | Oct 17, 1969 | The Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. | |
| 30 | Win | 26–2–2 | David Melendez | TKO | 5 (10), 2:08 | Sep 17, 1969 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 29 | Win | 25–2–2 | Mike DeFeo | TKO | 1 (10), 1:27 | Sep 3, 1969 | Silver Slipper, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 28 | Win | 24–2–2 | Peter Cobblah | UD | 10 | Aug 6, 1969 | Silver Slipper, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 27 | Win | 23–2–2 | Linfer Contreras | KO | 2 (?) | Jun 4, 1969 | Teatro Circo, Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia | |
| 26 | Loss | 22–2–2 | Daniel Guanin | PTS | 10 | Feb 16, 1969 | Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador | |
| 25 | Win | 22–1–2 | Humberto Trottman | PTS | 10 | Aug 6, 1968 | Bogotá, Colombia | |
| 24 | Win | 21–1–2 | Cartagenita Kid | KO | 7 (?) | Apr 15, 1968 | Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia | |
| 23 | Draw | 20–1–2 | German Gastelbondo | PTS | 10 | Jan 21, 1968 | Estadio 11 de Noviembre, Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia | |
| 22 | Win | 20–1–1 | Richard Morales | KO | 2 (?) | Dec 3, 1967 | Coliseo Cubierto de Monteria, Monteria, Bolívar, Colombia | |
| 21 | Win | 19–1–1 | Humberto Trottman | PTS | 10 | Oct 1, 1967 | Estadio 11 de Noviembre, Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia | |
| 20 | Win | 18–1–1 | Alfonso Franco | KO | 12 (12) | Aug 20, 1967 | Estadio 11 de Noviembre, Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia | |
| 19 | Win | 17–1–1 | Baby Mendez | KO | 3 (?) | Aug 12, 1967 | El Carmen, Colombia | |
| 18 | Win | 16–1–1 | Kid Revolledo | PTS | 10 | Jun 10, 1967 | Sincelejo, Sucre, Colombia | |
| 17 | Draw | 15–1–1 | Mario Rossito | PTS | 10 | Apr 2, 1967 | Estadio 11 de Noviembre, Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia | |
| 16 | Win | 15–1 | Eugenio Espinoza | UD | 10 | Mar 5, 1967 | Estadio 11 de Noviembre, Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia | |
| 15 | Win | 14–1 | Julio Novella | TKO | 2 (10) | Jan 22, 1967 | Estadio 11 de Noviembre, Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia | |
| 14 | Win | 13–1 | Alfonso Franco | KO | 7 (12) | Nov 4, 1966 | Estadio 11 de Noviembre, Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia | |
| 13 | Win | 12–1 | Elias Lian | PTS | 10 | Jul 29, 1966 | Estadio 11 de Noviembre, Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia | |
| 12 | Win | 11–1 | Luis Ascary Lucero | KO | 2 (10) | Jun 24, 1966 | Estadio 11 de Noviembre, Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia | |
| 11 | Win | 10–1 | Sixto Ulloa | PTS | 10 | Apr 29, 1966 | Estadio 11 de Noviembre, Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia | |
| 10 | Win | 9–1 | Rafael Luna | UD | 10 | Mar 13, 1966 | Estadio 11 de Noviembre, Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia | |
| 9 | Loss | 8–1 | Juan Escobar | TKO | 6 (10), 3:00 | Oct 2, 1965 | Coliseo Humberto Perea, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Elias Hidalgo | KO | 6 (?) | Jul 9, 1965 | Coliseo Humberto Perea, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Manuel Jack Hernandez | PTS | 10 | Sep 12, 1964 | Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Fernando Alvarez | TKO | 8 (10) | May 15, 1964 | Coliseo Humberto Perea, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Alejandro Parra | PTS | 8 | Feb 28, 1964 | Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Humberto Hurtado | PTS | 6 | Feb 6, 1964 | Plaza de Toros de la Serrezuela, Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Alejandro Parra | KO | 5 (?) | Jan 15, 1964 | Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Eliecer de Avila | KO | 4 (?) | Nov 6, 1963 | Teatro Circo, Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Orlando Pineda | PTS | 4 | Oct 25, 1963 | Estadio Once de Noviembre, Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia | |

## Titles in boxing
### Major world titles

* WBA middleweight champion (160 lbs)
* WBC middleweight champion (160 lbs) (2×)

### The Ring magazine titles

* The Ring middleweight champion (160 lbs)

### Regional/International titles

* NABF middleweight champion (160 lbs)

### Undisputed titles

* Undisputed middleweight champion