What is the overall opinion of Rodrigo Valdez? Overrated or underappreciated?

combatesdeboxeo · Dec 29, 2010

about the topic valdez is a bit underrated

red cobra · Dec 29, 2010

combatesdeboxeo said: ↑

about the topic valdez is a bit underrated
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An understatement.

dpw417 · Dec 29, 2010

GPater11093 said: ↑

Just watched a whole lot of Valdez today, and here is my impressions on him.

I know this is a clique but he really is a 'great fighter from the waist up'. His footwork really does let him down, he is almost entirely static in the way he fights, any lateral movement can throw him off.

In his bout with Jose Rodriguez, Rodriguez was just a tidy wee boxer and his lateral movement kept Valdez having to reset constantly, and all he was doing was stepping to his right and 'round' Valdez's left foot. Valdez had to keep pivoting his foot round, or stepping again, and allowed Rodriguez to out-manuever him completely.

In this way he is slightly James Toney-esque as he struggles with movement specifically to his right. Although his footwork, even when static, is much poorer than Toney's IMO, his feet tend to be a bit all over the place and are constantly moving around for power in his shots. But he sure can hit, he at times jumps with his feet to get power into that left hook, it is just very unorganised (bit like this post) and untidy, but does generate him a lot of power.

Ok, now onto the waist. His head movement is generally very good. At times, especially earlier in his career he would bob and weave with sharp explosive movement and get inside brilliantly to land some hard counters. It was real nice to watch, he is slick with his head movement, but he can be hit as he often neglects it and his style is aggressive so getting hit is part of his job. In his bout with Bobby Cassidy he does it pretty well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N40VecIgZ3s&feature=related

Right onto the hands now. His punches are generally good and well delivered. He pack s a wallop in both hands, and is genuinely a chilling puncher in either hand. His left hook is what I would say his main weapon is, he tends to get inside with it as a counter, or is used to set up his big right, he is real dangerous with the left hook because of the angle he throws it and the way he uses it as a counter-punch. However, he does tend to throw it a bit wide and can leave himself a bit wide open. He has a nice but often underused jab, also.

His right hand is where the destruction lies, in either and overhand right or a short, sharp right uppercut. His longer over hand right tends to be delivered at long-mid range to cover him falling inside and it is a very dangerous punch. Once inside he tends to favour the right uppercut, which is destructive and he can really slot it up through the middle with brilliant accuracy. He often doubles up his right normally with a right hook to the body (but occasonally the side of the head) and then whips in the uppercut up the middle. It works real good, as it is very unexpected. Again, as with his left hook, he does tend to leave himself pretty open when he lets his hands go, but his offence is generally enough of a threat to keep him safe, and he has an iron chin.

People, say another weakness of his, is that he is a slow starter and he is. He just tends to mozy along in the early rounds and takes a slow pace. But he can up the pace when need be. When he sees the opening he will take advantage of it, and is still a dangerous puncher. He just tends to not put much pressure on and do very little, especially against movers. But as the fight progresses he tends to up his workrate and become a bit more awake.

Overrall, I think Valdez is a superb fighter. His offence is very good and he is a lovely counter-puncher, however he is one of those fighters that can look really good against certain styles but he has weaknesses that can be exploited badly by other styles. Still I think he is a great fighter, and not so much underrated as forgotten, or unremembered.
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Excellent analysis.:good

combatesdeboxeo · Dec 29, 2010

red cobra said: ↑

An understatement.
Click to expand...

generally he is not mentioned like a "great thing". but he was a great, he fought very good fights against escopeta and briscoe, he was very durable, a very good fighter, he was a great puncher(and counter puncher). with heart.

GPater11093 · Dec 29, 2010

cheers dpw.

lora · Dec 29, 2010

he was foolish to attempt a win against the crafty master in my avatar there

john garfield · Dec 29, 2010

itrymariti said: ↑

Over-rated plodder
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Three words-- that's it? i -- ta sum-up as smooth a combination puncher in the division. BIG DISSERVICE!

GPater11093 · Dec 29, 2010

Who is in your avatar Lora?

Its Corro aint it?

john garfield · Dec 29, 2010

GPater11093 said: ↑

Just watched a whole lot of Valdez today, and here is my impressions on him.

I know this is a clique but he really is a 'great fighter from the waist up'. His footwork really does let him down, he is almost entirely static in the way he fights, any lateral movement can throw him off.

In his bout with Jose Rodriguez, Rodriguez was just a tidy wee boxer and his lateral movement kept Valdez having to reset constantly, and all he was doing was stepping to his right and 'round' Valdez's left foot. Valdez had to keep pivoting his foot round, or stepping again, and allowed Rodriguez to out-manuever him completely.

In this way he is slightly James Toney-esque as he struggles with movement specifically to his right. Although his footwork, even when static, is much poorer than Toney's IMO, his feet tend to be a bit all over the place and are constantly moving around for power in his shots. But he sure can hit, he at times jumps with his feet to get power into that left hook, it is just very unorganised (bit like this post) and untidy, but does generate him a lot of power.

Ok, now onto the waist. His head movement is generally very good. At times, especially earlier in his career he would bob and weave with sharp explosive movement and get inside brilliantly to land some hard counters. It was real nice to watch, he is slick with his head movement, but he can be hit as he often neglects it and his style is aggressive so getting hit is part of his job. In his bout with Bobby Cassidy he does it pretty well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N40VecIgZ3s&feature=related

Right onto the hands now. His punches are generally good and well delivered. He pack s a wallop in both hands, and is genuinely a chilling puncher in either hand. His left hook is what I would say his main weapon is, he tends to get inside with it as a counter, or is used to set up his big right, he is real dangerous with the left hook because of the angle he throws it and the way he uses it as a counter-punch. However, he does tend to throw it a bit wide and can leave himself a bit wide open. He has a nice but often underused jab, also.

His right hand is where the destruction lies, in either and overhand right or a short, sharp right uppercut. His longer over hand right tends to be delivered at long-mid range to cover him falling inside and it is a very dangerous punch. Once inside he tends to favour the right uppercut, which is destructive and he can really slot it up through the middle with brilliant accuracy. He often doubles up his right normally with a right hook to the body (but occasonally the side of the head) and then whips in the uppercut up the middle. It works real good, as it is very unexpected. Again, as with his left hook, he does tend to leave himself pretty open when he lets his hands go, but his offence is generally enough of a threat to keep him safe, and he has an iron chin.

People, say another weakness of his, is that he is a slow starter and he is. He just tends to mozy along in the early rounds and takes a slow pace. But he can up the pace when need be. When he sees the opening he will take advantage of it, and is still a dangerous puncher. He just tends to not put much pressure on and do very little, especially against movers. But as the fight progresses he tends to up his workrate and become a bit more awake.

Overrall, I think Valdez is a superb fighter. His offence is very good and he is a lovely counter-puncher, however he is one of those fighters that can look really good against certain styles but he has weaknesses that can be exploited badly by other styles. Still I think he is a great fighter, and not so much underrated as forgotten, or unremembered.
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WHEW! GP. You've come of age -- not only as a savvier boxer, but light years as a writer/analyst. BIG PROPS!

red cobra · Dec 29, 2010

lora said: ↑

he was foolish to attempt a win against the crafty master in my avatar there

Click to expand...

Ah...I say with admiration...the Argentine Jimmy Young!!:good

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What is the overall opinion of Rodrigo Valdez? Overrated or underappreciated?

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What is the overall opinion of Rodrigo Valdez? Overrated or underappreciated?

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