Just rewatched this one. One hell of a fight! Briscoe really firing on all cylinders and pressing. Valdez is equally sharp knowing when to give himself punching room and let loose. Fairly even fight depending on what you like until the Iron Jawed Briscoe walks into a perfectly timed rt hand. Definitely one to go back and watch.
One of the most impressive performances as well as one of the most impressive ko's that I've ever seen. When you consider the impregnable chin, relentlessness and toughness that Bad Bennie exhibited in his career up until then...that was one hell of a punch. Valdez was pantherlike with his moves and lowered the boom with perfect timing, as Robert just stated. Just a marvelous performance.
I’ll check it out, two very good fighters, how much credit do you give monzon for beating both of them?
A lot of credit. These guys looked great. Nonstop punching great head movement ..counter punching..distance and timing it was all there. Check it out the fight flyes bye it's so fast paced
It was one of those legitimately perfect punches, from an elite top tier banger. You see it sometimes, like when Robinson landed his "perfect punch". Sometimes even the iron chinned guys go down if the punch is just right.
So true. The fight was so good and tight I just didn't want the KO to happen to Briscoe. Just unfair to the man as they were both walking through HEAVY punches. Steller performance on both there parts. Briscoe's record was spotty but when he was on he was capable of taking anyone. Monzon himself I believe had more respect for Bennie than anyone else. As for Valdez a completely overlooked and somewhat forgotten ATG!! I would back Valdez against an awful lot of more popular Champions.
Very true....I watched that fight "live" on TV back in the "olden days". I was hoping Briscoe would finally get through to the MW title after his non-title & title bouts against the prime Monzon: "In his first fight with Carlos Monzon in Argentina, Briscoe walked away with a draw. He said getting a draw in Argentina is getting a victory in the United States. In this rematch with Monzon for the title, Briscoe badly stunned the champion in the 9th round, but failed to score a knockout. Monzon always respected Briscoe, and when the champion was New York, he gave Briscoe a warm greeting." 1974-05-25 : Rodrigo Valdes 157½ lbs beat Bennie Briscoe 157¼ lbs by TKO at 2:55 in round 7 of 15 Location: Stade Louis II, Fontvieille, Monaco Referee: Harry Gibbs 59-57 Judge: Dominico Carabellese 60-55 Judge: Paul Talairach 59-56 WBC vacant Middleweight Title A badly beaten Briscoe was knocked down in the seventh, prompting the immediate stoppage Rematch of an NABF middleweight title bout held on September 1, 1973 in New Caledonia, won by Valdez by 12 round decision
Although I regard this as somewhat of an anomaly (I think Rocky UD'd him in a subsequent fight) IMO it just shows what this ATG 'wrecking machine' could do if he is able to give you if you get careless and let Valdez land a "SUNDAY". For those who saw it, that shot left Bennie in a 'standing puddle' and, I think, a LH ending the proceedings. Bennie rose (a true great) but was slumped and gone! All hail Rodrigo who seems to rarely get into any ATG middle's what if threads!
Valdez had rocks in his hands. Full credit though to Briscoe that even after the savage ko that he stepped in with Valdez for a third fight.
And, please correct me if I'm wrong but I believe that was the only time Bennie was stopped, and he had more than 90 fights! Whew!
