Rodrigo Valdez vs. Dick Tiger

Yeah he was better than Briscoe (different style too) but then Valdez was better than Fernandez & Carter. I bet Valdez would beat Fullmer too, actually.

I agree with anyone who says Valdez would be outboxed by several greats. The Monzon of 1972 would likely struggle less, for one. But for punching power, accuracy, strength, stamina, heart and durability, he's with the elite.

 

Fernandez and Carter were not the best fighters Tiger beat though. Fullmer, Giardello, Benvenuti, and Torres were, and every one of them was at least on the same level as Valdez, if not better.

Briscoe is the best level of fighter that Valdez ever showed he could beat. Tiger beat a number of Briscoe-level contenders throughout his career and often with much more ease than Valdez handled Briscoe.

 

Who claimed they were the best he beat? I didn't, you must have misunderstood me. I used Carter, Fernandez and Fullmer as parallels to Valdez, who certainly wouldn't be baiting and countering like Giardello.

And nobody is disputing the fact Tiger proved his worth twice as what Valdez did.

Can't anyone accept the fact that, if they did somehow fight, my faith would be in Valdez? It's just what I've seen on film, regardless of the level of opponent. I was stressing this to McVey the other day; who someone's fought is not the be-all and end-all. It gives a good indication of how a fight would go down but there is also another thing that lurks called potential. I mean, Tiger was also more proven than Marvin Hagler but I know who I'd pick.

That said, Valdez was fairly well seasoned.

 

I think it is very much to Monzon's credit that he rematched Valdez when he was one month away from 35 years old.