Hmm, let's see Valdez who was 5'''9 1/2 with a very short reach of 69" would have to deal with Hearns pistons like jab, smashing right hand, movement skills, and superior reach. It would not end well for him. Valdes lost to the follow fighters, pre-Monzon. He was not that special. Ralph Palladin Pete Toro 26-11-3 Daniel Guanin 33-6-3 Juan Escobar, KO Loss Hearns wins. TKO inside 9 rounds
Hearns by decision. His height would be a puzzle to valdez but if valdez got inside it could be a huge issue for hearns. If valdez can knock briscoe across the ring in their first fight and ko him in the second then hed crush hearns if he could catch him.
Gil Clancy had Vadez. Valdez put Monzon down in one fight...and the Monzon fights were at the end of Vadez's true prime, with family and political issues flying around. Hearns should win...but Vadez has the power to k.o. Hearns.
Valdez reached Monzon who wasn't too much shorter than Hearns and took a punch much better,...and he crushed Bennie Briscoe in bout 2....so, if Kinchen and Barkley could deck and stop him respectively, and Roldan wobbled him, then Valdez, a better puncher than these three, had a very good chance of flattening Tommy.
Different times. Valdez's losses were either before he came to the states or after Monzon (and Valdez and Monzon were past their primes when they FINALLY fought.) And...Hearns grew into a middle whereas Valdez seemed from all accounts comfortable at 160. Rodrigo packed more of a wallop then Leonard so this...Hearns has him out like a lite BS is just that...BS
Hi Red! The master speaks yet again! People should think about this. Rodrigo turned pro in 1962 at the ripe age of 16?? Then labored for 8 years in Columbia probably against some BMF'er's. By the time he came stateside he was already 'battleworn'. Another ATG who, had circumstances been different, would be a 'household word' among boxing pundits. Valdez, Liston, Benitez, Gregory....my humble $0.02
Big fan of Tommy, but I think some folks on here can only have seen his highlight reels, and not realised most of those KO's were at 147.
:thumbsupThank you my friend! I can't help but notice that these great early 70's middleweights get sold awfully short. Like you said,...another time, another place, and Rodrigo Valdez would be spoken of in the same hallowed tones as Hagler, at least. Of those 4 names, I couldn't possibly agree more with you...add ,my $0.02 and let's make it $.0.04, ok?