Valdez was capable of giving Tiger what he gave Briscoe in that 2nd match, don't kid yourself, but most probably it would go the limit with Valdez winning a close decision...because he could outfinesse a pure slugger/pressure fighter, which both Tiger and Briscoe were.
I also thought close decision but said Tiger. I don't think either one was going to put a dent in either. So the fans would be the true victors here with a terrific fight on paper going 15 at close quarters. I think valdes could box but he gets sucked in too many times with the kid of pressure Tiger exhibits.
Tiger was no pure slugger or pressure fighter.He was a fairly sophisticated boxer-puncher, much like Valdez....a very fine counterpuncher and punchpicker in general. This is one of the great middle fights imo.No way this wouldn't be awesome. Tiger's greater strength and base vs Valdez more supple upperbody work and power...neither guy has great footwork or will be outmaneauvering the other.I don't have too strong an opinion on this anymore, but i lean towards Tiger taking the play away enough and backing Valdez up for a close win.
This is a very astute post (as always with lora) Watch Tiger box from the back foot against Jose Torres in the first fight. Tiger is a very well rounded fighter from a deep era. This would be a great fight, but I would pick Tiger by clear decision. I wouldn't discount Valdez's chances against any middleweight who has a come forward style...but the pick here is Tiger.
But as the saying went in the 60's, "a good trombone player could beat Tiger".....and don't get me wrong, I KNOW that he was, in his own way, a clever, resourceful boxer/puncher, as he proved vs Fullmer, and two times vs Jose Torres I believe that the same Valdez who won 3 out of 3 with Bennie Briscoe could fight cleverly like his friend Emile Griffith...maybe not exactly as clever, but with Gil Clancy as his mentor, he would have a good chance of beating Tiger...again, if he was disciplined and listened to " mean mahn, Mr. Clauncy" as Griffith used to say....and that one shot he did in BB with and decked Monzon with would be a sinister factor for Tiger and his team to consider. Griffith was the first to deck Tiger, and Emile wasn't exactly know for being a one-shot hitter. All considered I lean slightly to Valdez by a close, narrow and gruelling decision.
Great "what if-er" I've never thought about this one. Tiger always gets his recognition but it seems like Valdez doesn't. ****'s ATG reputation preceeds him. I feel the two Monzon-Valdez fights never highlighted them in prime. King Carlos was older but Rodrigo turned pro at age 16 in 1962! Tho I would agree that Monzon was superior, I don't think you can judge their two fights as classic as both were on the downside... Tiger-Valdez? Give me a ringside seat for that one!!