ANOTHER FALLEN SOLDIER
Colombian hero passes away at 70, writes George Gigney
Saying goodbye to Rodrigo Valdes
FORMER world middleweight champion Rodrigo Valdes died last week at the age of 70.
Manuel Duque, Mayor of Cartagena City where Valdes came from, confirmed the news last Wednesday, describing ‘Rocky’ as “one of the greatest Colombian sportsmen of all history.”
Reports from Colombia claim he died after a massive heart attack, apparently brought on by coronary artery complications.
Born on February 22, 1946, Valdes made his professional debut in Cartagena at the age of 16. Initially only boxing in Colombia, Valdes suffered early career losses to Juan Escobar (rsf 6) and Daniel Guanin (pts 10). In 1969 he took his talents to America, but suffered more setbacks in 1970 when Pete Torro and Ralph Palladin both outpointed him over 10 rounds.
After that loss to Palladin he went on a lengthy unbeaten run. In 1973 he beat top American Bennie Briscoe, outpointing him over 12 to make a name for himself. They fought in a rematch just under a year later, this time with the vacant WBC middleweight title on the line. Cut in the second, Valdes dropped and stopped Bennie in the seventh – Rodrigo was the only man to ever stop Briscoe. Although he was not recognised as the division leader at the time, Valdes announced himself as Carlos Monzon’s biggest threat.
After a non-title win over unbeaten Vinnie Curto, Valdes retained his title against Gratien Tonna (ko 11), Ramon Mendez (rsf 8), Rudy Robles (pts 15) and Nessim Max Cohen (rsf 4).
Then came cash with Carlos Monzon, arguably the greatest middleweight of all time, who held the WBA title at the time. Five days before the fight, Valdes’ younger brother was murdered in a knife incident, sending the WBC champion to despair. Contractually obliged to go through with the fight, Valdes did not pull out and was outpointed over 15 rounds in Monaco. He needed six attempts to make the weight, which he eventually did, and was dropped in the 14th round off a straight right hand.
Valdes bounced back with two stoppage wins and a rematch with Monzon was ordered. They met in Monaco again but this time it was Carlos who would hit the canvas when a focused Valdes floored him in the second. He rose and the fight was a classic, but once again Monzon was declared the victor on the cards.
It would turn out to be Monzon’s last fight as he retired and vacated the two middleweight titles. Valdes was first in line to fight for them, and he was once again matched with Briscoe, who had built himself back into a contender after losing to Rodrigo. They went the full 15 rounds and Valdes won a unanimous decision, but it would be a short second reign for the Colombian.
His first defence came against classy Argentinian Hugo Pastor Corro. Now 32, Valdes was not the fighter he once was and Corro used a smart defence to frustrate a lethargic Rodrigo who, in the last third of the fight, looked spent but lasted the course. Corro won the decision and Valdes’ time as world champion was over for good.
After a routine stoppage win against an overmatched foe in Colombia, Valdes was given a second crack at Corro, this time in the champion’s home country, but once again came up short and lost on points.
He took a year-and-a-half out before returning to the ring twice in Colombia, thrashing inexperienced opposition, before walking away from the sport for good in 1980.
Though he seemed to age overnight when he lost to Corro, Valdes carved out a phenomenal career in a stellar era for the middleweight division. Perhaps his standing in history would be even higher had he not been overshadowed by the imperious Monzon, who he pushed so close. A hero in Colombia, Valdes is undoubtedly one of the finest middleweights in history, and will be sorely missed.