He was able to beat London a few months later so must have had something left. But prob way past his best. Still a good win
Although Nino was just 2-3 that year, this is still a very solid win for Sonny at the period his career was at when the match was made. Sonny was 24-1 prospect. So this was a good step up fight. An important fight for a young fighter. So an excellent win. Whist Valdes had seen better day this was a period where contenders fought a lot of competitive matches and didn’t just sit on a rank. It meant that a contender could lose then keep a ranking because somebody higher had also lost. So everyone still knew who Nino was because he was trading wins and losses around the fringe at this time. This win put Sonny on the cusp of recognition as a future player. Nino was no longer a threat to the title, he had lost too many times for that, but he was still a name in the division and worthy stepping stone for future stars of the division. Certainly, a fighter who could knock out Nino even at that stage was a good fighter. "Being hit by Liston," Valdez observed, "was like being kicked by a mule. By the time I fought Liston I was over the hill. I hit him a couple of solid shots and he did not buckle. Sonny was the strongest man I ever fought and he was very tough. When I fought him I still could hit very hard but my reflexes were not there anymore." From Time Magazine: "Whatever his connections, many boxing buffs see Liston as the U.S.'s most promising challenger for Sweden's Johansson, even though Liston has so far fought only second-raters." -August 1959 (right after Liston had KO'd Nino Valdes)
The 4 inches shorter, London was on the way to a handy win, until the ref called it off because of a cut eye. Check it out, it’s on YouTube.
I agree with this. Brian had a surefire win taken from him that night. Nino smothered and used his head to the best advantage.
Interesting never knew that. Think he was 3 inches shorter but that’s neither here nor there. Yeah he wasn’t near his best that’s for sure.
London suffered the same fate in the notorious Richardson fight. Brian was clearly winning until the billy goat resorted to his usual tactics, when losing. Cut eye, yet again. Richardson had done the same when he was losing to DeJohn and Williams, but stronger refs threw him out. Can’t remember if he tried “massaging” Ingo’s eyes when being outclassed, only memory, is of him being stretched out.
No, not 3, 4 inches. I know it’s only an inch, but so many posters on here, make a big deal about “size.” One of the most popular words in use on here.
