Sonny Liston vs. Nino Valdes 'The Chicago Test'

August 5, 1959

Wednesday Night - Chicago Stadium

ABC-TV

The 'mobster backers' of Charles 'Sonny' Liston were not totally convinced
if their Heavyweight was 'the goods', despite his 3rd Round destruction
over Cleveland Willams in May 1959 in Miami Beach.

The Chicago Boys wanted to see Sonny Liston perform, up close.

The 6' 1" - 211 'muscle-bound' Sonny, now the #3 Heavyweight with a
record of 24-1-0 (15 KO's) appeared ready to make the move. But, questions
about Sonny's past and age (32 years-old) started to circulate.

Some had questioned Sonny's skills and heart, and others said there was
a 'little dog' in him, after witnessing several sparring sessions.

'The Chicago Test' was former Top-ranked Heavyweight Contender,
34 1/2 year-old - Cuban, Nino Valdes. The 6' 3" - 211 lb. Nino, with a record
of 47-17-3 (35 KO's) was faded, but still considered a dangerous heavyweight,
and one not to be taken lightly.

Since losing to Zora Folley in May 1956, Nino had gone 13-3-0 (9 KO's)
over the past 3-years, and was still a Top 20 Heavyweight. In 1958 alone,
Nino had scored wins over Mike DeJohn (twice), Johnny Summerlin, Harold Carter,
Pat McMurty and Wayne Bethea.

But, 'upset losses' in 1959, to Charlie Powell and Alonzo Johnson, dropped Nino from the
#7 Heavyweight to #18.

 

The night before the bout,

Pep Barrone, Sonny Liston's Manager,

'I can't get my boy anywhere. Zora Folley won't fight him. I even suggested that Floyd Patterson
and Sonny fight for the American Heavyweight Championship.'

'The current Heavyweight Champion - Ingemar Johansson, he doesn't want to defend his Title,
he wants to be a Playboy. Nobody wants to fight my boy'.

Bobby Gleason, Nino Valdes' Manager,

'If they think my guy came here to lose, then they're looking at the wrong opponent. That's what
Pat McMurty thought, and Nino took him down in the 1st-Round.'

'Sonny better be ready, because Nino has the best left hand in the Heavyweight Division. Nino is
the Underdog, but I dont look at the 6-1 odds, as one-punch can change anything. When you have
two big guys who weigh 210 lbs. fighting, anything can happen.'

 

The Fight,

Chicago Stadium (Attendance; 2282)

Both Sonny and Nino did not exhibit any special skills in the 1st-Round, as both
plodders appeared to be going through opening round motions.

The taller Valdez, was able to land a few snappy left hands into Sonny's face,
causing his right eye to swell. Sonny did not press, as he was wary of Nino's power
and good sharp left hand.

Late in the round, Nino attempted a left-right combination, and Sonny froze as the
punches bounced off his head. Sonny did clumsily press, but his attack were punches
of slow pushes, not snapping ones. Near the end of the Round, Nino shot in two good
left jabs, again catching Sonny's right eye.

Round 1 for Nino Valdez.

 

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Sonny Liston's cornermen were a bit nervous in Round 2, as Sonny again
seemed to freeze when he was getting hit.

Nino poked with his long left hand, and scored with some nice left jabs,
which started to close Sonny's right eye.

The two got involved in some close quarter exchanges, and both seemed
fairly 'even' in trading punches.

After 2-Rounds, Sonny was ahead 1-0-1 in Rounds on two Scorecards,
and Nino was ahead 1-0-1 on the other card.

Sonny came back to his corner after Round 2, with a nearly closed right eye.
His cornermen were waiting for hism with an ice-pack, and immediately applied it
to the closing right eye, in an effort to stop the fast swelling.

At the bell sounding Round 3, Sonny was slow getting out of his corner, and was
met by an aggressive Valdes, who came quickly from across the ring.

In a flash, Nino fired a 3-punch volley, followed by a stunning left hook that crashed
off of Sonny's exposed jaw.

Stunned for a 'flash', Sonny retaliated with a volley of solid punches that seemed to
take everything out of the 34 1/2 year-old Nino's legs, as he rocked back on his heels.

Sonny then crashed a big left hook on Ninos' jaw.

With a stunned Nino in front of him, Sonny fired a solid combination that drove Nino into
the ropes where he bounced off into a whistling right cross by Sonny, that dropped Nino
crashing into the ropes at the 0:37 Mark.

Nino, with his right arm dangling over the lower rope strand was on his knees until the
7-Count, then rolled onto the canvas to be counted out a 0:47 of the Round by
Referee - Bernie Weissman.

Blinky Palermo had his 'associates' give a full report on Sonny Liston.

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Mr. Un,

March 4, 1959

Nino Valdes was 'upset' {L TKO 8} by 4-1 Underdog - Charley Powell in Miami Beach.

34 year-old - Nino, who was riding '12' wins in '13 bouts' was supposedly 'one fight'
away from a Heavyweight Championship bout.

Nino came in at a flabby 224 lbs., and was not in top shape. 26 year-old - Charley Powell
with a record of 19-3-2 (12 KO's) was supposed to be a good work out for Nino, nothing more.

Nino fought very fast-paced, and by Round 6 was 'sucking wind'. Charley Powell scored
'3-knockdowns' over an exhausted and extremely tired Valdes in Round 8. Nino got up
after the 'third knockdown' but he was so tired, he nearly fell over.

8-months later (November 6, 1959), Charley lasted about 1-Minute against Mike DeJohn.

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'The Chicago Test'

The buzz was, that Sonny did 'Pass the Test', and received an 'A' for his
powerful punching performance.

The 2282 fans at the Chicago Stadium witnessed an awesome display of power,
but some thought that 'Sonny Boy' still looked somewhat cumbersome.

Against 'selected stiff opponents' like Nino Valdez, Sonny Boy would look great,
but a boxer and mover may give the bulky Liston some trouble. And the age question
was popping up, was Sonny Boy 27, 29 or 32 ?

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