Can't call a winner here but I think Tiger would take advantage of Valdez's tendency to scrap. Thoughts?
Now this would be a war. I like Tiger in this won but would not be surprised if Valdez pulled it out. He would definitely need to move. Toe to toe with a prime Tiger is usually not a good thing. I love Gene Fullmer's quote about trading punches with Tiger. "I wouldn't even trade Stamps with him let alone punches".
Rodrigo Valdes owns thre wins over Bad Bennie Briscoe, even kayoing him in their second fight, KO 7, which was for the vacant WBC Woeld Middleweight Title in 1974. He had given the great Carlos Monzon two hard fights despite losing both by unanimous decision, even became the second man in Monzon's career to deck him. Rodrigo possessed a dynamite right hand, he was a counter puncher as well, he was quick. But he could be hurt as well, tasting the canvas against Carlos Monzon in their first fight in 1976, in round 14, for Carlos to secure the decision, and to unify the WBA and WBC Titles. D. Tiger was one tough fighter, defeating the likes of Gene Fullmer, Ruben Hurricane Carter, and Joey Giardello. Tiger would bore in on Valdes, looking to batter the body of Rodrigo, who would stay back, looking to counter a relentless Tiger. D. Tiger would bust up Valdes early, even rattle him, but Valdes would eventually wear down Tiger, forcing a stoppage in round 14.
Both great fighters, but given how Valdez knocked out Briscoe, I could see him doing the same to Tiger in the middle rounds. Tiger and Briscoe had several similarities. A lot of ebbs and flows with Tiger ahead at the time of the knockout in round 7.
Ain't neither of them getting knocked out despite what Valdez was able to do to Briscoe. Lightning in a bottle. Still, maybe my all-time fave fantasy fight at middle that would probably register on the Richter Scale. Both excelled against aggression because of their work-rate, chin, countering accuracy, punch slipping and ability to brawl with finesse. I like Tiger's size, monstrous strength, firmer grounding and quicker hands over Valdez's huge power and slightly more fluid/pleasing upper body movement. Brutal though. I think Terry Downes said that every punch from Tiger was like being hit with a sack of coal despite his unspectacular stoppage ratio.
I could settle for a draw, man. It is interesting, Tiger's power that is. Watching him, he looked like a big puncher, and I tend to think of him as one, but when you look at the record, he doesn't have an impressive knockout-to-win ratio like you said. Maybe the reason he won so many decisions was because he faced so many quality opponents.
The toughness and durability of opponents was a factor for sure, plus he didn't always seem to up the ante and go for the kill when he had a man hurt. Not a great finisher despite his accuracy. Yeah, he looks really heavy handed in film. I can hack people digging a Valdez win tbh, it's a reasonable call.
Really, they are pretty similar as well. Both Tiger and Valdez were good punchers (with either hand), they were fast-handed, could move around well, could last a while, and could both last. Both were good boxers as well as good punchers.
It'd be a war for the ages, and as Tin said it's reasonable to pick Valdez, but I think Tiger is the safer pick. Tiger by competitive, yet clear decision.
Valdez was more versatile. Id pick him. He also fought like a meaner Griffith, being his stablemate, so yeah Id pick Valdez.
I'm not sure any come forward middleweight in history beats Tiger. I'll take him by decision in a brutal one.
