FIGHT OF THE WEEK 14- Rodrigo Valdes vs Bad Bennie Briscoe II

Brings back some lovely memories, not the fight as such, saw this many years after 74 think I bought a CD from an American outfit that made up detailed fights for its customers, no it was the waiting for the Boxing News to see how the fight played out, like many a fight fan of the early to mid 70s BB was one of my favs, so I was crest fallen when I saw the front page, a pic of BB on his way to the canvas curtesy of a perfect combo from the hugely underrated Valdes , oh to be young again..... keep well.

 

Valdez may possible be the most underrated MWC in history

 

I love this fight.

 

Outstanding fight. Here we go.

Rodrigo Valdez v Bennie Briscoe (WBC middleweight title)

Round 1: 10-9 Valdez
Round 2: 10-9 Briscoe
Round 3: 10-9 Briscoe
Round 4: 10-9 Valdez
Round 5: 10-9 Valdez
Round 6: 10-10 Even
Round 7: Valdez stops Briscoe

Total through 6 completed rounds: 58-57 Valdez (actual scores: 59-57, 60-55 and 59-56 all for Valdez)

Keith Jackson, the commentator for WWS in this event, was what you might call a Utility Announcer. He could fill in practically at any sport without being a pro at a specific one. Although Football and College Football seemed to be his forte. Anyways, I thought he did a credible job on this fight except for the fact that he largely ignored Briscoe's body-punching, which I was always impressed with and felt was outstanding in this bout. Clearly this is reflective in my score, but maybe not others. Nevertheless, an outstanding bout and outstanding choice for review, @PhillyPhan69.

 

Good fight between two very good middleweights.
I saw it almost exactly the same as Scartissue:
Valdez 10-9
Briscoe 10-9
Briscoe 10-9
Valdez 10-9
10-10 Even
Valdez 10-9
58-57 Valdez

I also thought the commentator ignored a lot of Briscoe's work to the body. Valdez landed the more eye-catching punches, but Briscoe was doing good work consistently for the duration of the rounds I gave him.
I thought round 5 was too close to give it to either man.
Good knockout at the end.
This fight was before my time, but it's really good to watch two quality fighters going at it.

 

Beautiful war. I love this fight.

 

I liked Briscoe's aggression and that he went to the body. Valdes wasn't as aggressive, but his inside punches were tighter and when he flurried he was able to use his straight inside punches to good effect on Briscoe. I had RV up 59-56 at the time of the knockout. I scored the first round EVEN although RV hurt BB, I thought BB won the first round before and after being hurt. I also scored round 3 for BB, I scored 2,4,5,6, for RV.

BB threw a lot of body punches but his punches were mostly wide and to RV's side/elbows. RV didn't throw as many to the body, but his body shots were "stab like" punches that were straighter and to the front of BB's body. RV would flurry with his straight body shots and then bring up uppercuts to the head. In the 7th round, BB had straightened out some of his body shots and was using the uppercut prior to RV hurting him. Good fight, but RV's punches were hurting BB throughout.

 

Rodrigo Valdes and Bennie Briscoe previously fought in New Zealand in Sept 1973 in a middleweight eliminator, Rodrigo won a split decision, therefore he earned a no. 1 ranking, making him the WBC mandatory challenger to Carlos Monzon's title. When Carlos stopped World Welterweight Champion Jose Mantequilla Napoles in the 7 th round on Feb 9 1974 in Paris, France, he was told by the WBC that he was obligated to fight Valdes next, he refused to be forced to honor that obligation. Monzon was stripped of the WBC title. The Valdes vs Briscoe II was televised live on ABC's Wide World Of Sports on May 25 1974 from Monte Carlo, Monaco. Keith Jackson kept alluding to the fact that this fight was due to the retirement of Monzon. Anyhow, it was a very good fight, then Rodrigo landed that booming right hand to the jaw of Bennie in round 7, and Briscoe hit the canvas. He looked intoxicated as he arose up, unable to beat the count.

 

Richard, do you know why Monzon refused to fight Valdez in 1974?

 

Perhaps not New Zealand either.

 

Round 1: Valdez (10-9), Good punches by Valdez.
Round 2: Briscoe (10-9), Great body punches by Briscoe at the beginning.
Round 3: Briscoe (10-9)
Round 4: Valdez (10-9)
Round 5: Valdez (10-9)
Round 6: Valdez (10-9), close round
Round 7: Valdez wins by knockout. Strong beginning by Briscoe. He landed a good right hand and subsequently some punches. Valdez fought back though and knocked Briscoe out with a right-hand punch.

I scored it: 58-56 Valdez

 

Forty-seven years ago today.

Rodrigo Valdez v Bennie Briscoe 2

I was watching this again and thinking that if film ever surfaces of either Zale-Graziano war, it might look something like this. Honestly, this might be the best high quality middleweight slugfest on film and that's including Hagler-Hearns.

1 10-9 (great opening round)
2 9-10 (just relentless. Zero quarter given)
3 9-10 (big combos from Briscoe)
4 10-9 (some huge punching but Valdez probably edged it in terms of power shots)
5 10-9 (Valdez doing some great sharpshooting)
6 10-9 (more terrific back and forth action but I think Valdez is getting on top)
7 Valdez TKO Briscoe (Bennie was on top in this round but then Rodrigo levelled him with a colossal punch)

 

I was incorrect, it was unanimous for the NABF title.