Rodrigo 'Rocky' Valdez

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Senor Pepe', Nov 8, 2012.


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  1. Senor Pepe'

    Senor Pepe' Boxing Junkie banned

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    Rodrigo 'Rocky' Valdez,

    'The Cartagena Cement Mixer'

    Started out in October 1963 as a 16 year-old 5' 9 1/2" Lightweight, and through
    the end of 1967 - the 21 year-old was a rising Light-Welterweight prospect with
    a record of 20-1-1 (12 KO's).

    Rodrigo was steadily building punching power, to go with his quick fists, and
    the locals called him 'La Hormigonera', also known as the 'cement mixer'.

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    Senor Pepe', Nov 8, 2012
    Senor Pepe', Nov 8, 2012
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  2. Hands of Iron

    Hands of Iron #MSE Full Member

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    KO'ed Bennie Briscoe!
     
    Hands of Iron, Nov 8, 2012
    Hands of Iron, Nov 8, 2012
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  3. Senor Pepe'

    Senor Pepe' Boxing Junkie banned

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    Some think, that Rodrigo could have made 147 lbs. (Welterweight)
    on his 5' 9 1/2" frame, and maybe gone down as one of the 'Great'
    boxers in that division.

    Rodrigo was campaigning at 144 lbs. in early 1969 (age 22)...:deal

    Then they brought him up to Las Vegas in August 1969, with a
    record of 23-2-2 (12 KO's), and pushed him up to 150 lbs.
     
    Senor Pepe', Nov 8, 2012
    Senor Pepe', Nov 8, 2012
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  4. Senor Pepe'

    Senor Pepe' Boxing Junkie banned

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    Rodrigo 'Rocky' Valdez may have had the 'goods' over Jose Napoles in 1971.

    It was a possible bout.
     
    Senor Pepe', Nov 8, 2012
    Senor Pepe', Nov 8, 2012
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  5. red cobra

    red cobra Loyal Member Full Member

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    If it weren't for Monzon, Valdez would have been an awesome middleweight champion.
     
    red cobra, Nov 8, 2012
    red cobra, Nov 8, 2012
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  6. dpw417

    dpw417 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Wow...That is a wild thought. Valdez at welter. Valdez very underrated IMO...Gives any stylistically come forward, aggressive, middleweight major trouble.
    Addendum: Valdez may have had the goods at that time...but Napoles was the goods!
     
    dpw417, Nov 8, 2012
    dpw417, Nov 8, 2012
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  7. red cobra

    red cobra Loyal Member Full Member

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    What a great matchup that would be!
     
    red cobra, Nov 8, 2012
    red cobra, Nov 8, 2012
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  8. dpw417

    dpw417 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    yeah...I've never ever considered that match up before! Very tough for a young fighter to figure out Napoles though..imo.
     
    dpw417, Nov 8, 2012
    dpw417, Nov 8, 2012
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  9. Senor Pepe'

    Senor Pepe' Boxing Junkie banned

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    Rodrigo Valdez could make 147 lbs. in 1970.

    1971, at age 24, not so sure. But, he could make 154 lbs. Light-Middleweight
    with no problem.

    June 1971, Rodrigo with a record of 35-4-2 (23 KO's) - was tough, durable and
    could punch.

    I have the feeling, he could have walked away with a Light-Middleweight Championship
    and held it easily for 5 years, before taking on Carlos Monzon in 1976.

    WBA / WBC Light-Middleweight Champions in 1971 - Carmelo Bossi and Koichi Wajima

    Rodrigo was 'not' a big Middleweight at 5' 9 1/2"
     
    Senor Pepe', Nov 8, 2012
    Senor Pepe', Nov 8, 2012
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  10. jowcol

    jowcol Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Another good post senor!
    IMO it's a shame that when Monzon/Valdez finally fought they were both past their primes. Valdez turning pro in 62 at 16! Monzon already having, basically, run thru the division. Not that Valdez could have beaten Monzon at 160 pvp but I have him extremely underrated in the all time middle rankings.
    As most know, I'm extremely hesitant to rank fighters in different eras but can you imagine a Valdez in the forties/fifties? Zale? Graziano? LaMotta? And the other great middles in the 40's/50's?
    Whiskers perhaps not the greatest but I think he would have held his own in the old eras. What a two-fisted counter punch attack he could launch at a moment's notice.
    In closing, all things being the way they should have been, I simply don't see ten all time great middles being better than him. My rather weak $0.02.
     
    jowcol, Nov 8, 2012
    jowcol, Nov 8, 2012
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  11. Hands of Iron

    Hands of Iron #MSE Full Member

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    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujf3ld5HhcA&feature=youtube_gdata_player"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujf3ld5HhcA&feature=youtube_gdata_player[/ame]
     
    Hands of Iron, Nov 8, 2012
    Hands of Iron, Nov 8, 2012
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  12. dpw417

    dpw417 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    ^^^^^^^ No one ever did that before to Briscoe...and it speaks volumes.
     
    dpw417, Nov 8, 2012
    dpw417, Nov 8, 2012
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  13. Lord Tywin

    Lord Tywin Guest

    Valdez was a great fighter. I had the good fortune to see him live twice in Paris.

    He had only two weaknesses that I could see: He was a tad undersized against some of the larger guys he fought, and he tended to make fights harder than they had to be. He would brawl when he could have boxed. Other than that he was tremendous.

    His sparring sessions with Emile Griffith werr a joy to watch even though Griffith was on the downside.
     
    Lord Tywin, Nov 8, 2012
    Lord Tywin, Nov 8, 2012
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  14. Hands of Iron

    Hands of Iron #MSE Full Member

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    Nobody did that after, either.

    How many times was Monzon dropped in 100 bouts? Valdez managed to do that too, however brief.
     
    Hands of Iron, Nov 8, 2012
    Hands of Iron, Nov 8, 2012
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  15. red cobra

    red cobra Loyal Member Full Member

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    Beautiful fighter!
     
    red cobra, Nov 8, 2012
    red cobra, Nov 8, 2012
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