The Man Of Steel Tony Zale and Rodrigo (Rocky) Valdes would have turned out to be a classic. Zale with his brutal body attack that took down Rocky Graziano and Valdes who kayoed the granite jawed Bad Bennie Briscoe in 7 rounds in 1974, with his deadly right hand. Tony would fight a cautious fight, avoiding that right hand thrown by Valdes, concentrating on the body. But Rocky's right hand time and again staggers Zale, who starts to clinch more often as Valdes counters him, driving him to the ropes. The scar tissue on the left eyebrow begins to leak on a very exhausted Rodrigo in round 5. By round 9 Valdes begins to turn on his jets at the urging of his trainer Gil Clancy, landing the same right hand that floored defending World Middleweight Champion Carlos Monzon in round 2 of their July 30 1977 battle in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Tony crumbles to the canvas as though he was hit by a brick to the face, he attempts to climb up to the referees count, then collapses. Valdes is declared the victor as Clancy soaks up the bloody eyebrow with Q Tip, applying ice to the injured ribs of Valdes.
