15 Facts About Rodrigo Valdez

Rodrigo Valdez was a Colombian professional boxer who competed from 1963 to 1980.

Rodrigo Valdez was a two time middleweight champion, having held the WBC title from 1974 to 1976 and the undisputed WBA, WBC, and The Ring titles from 1977 to 1978.

Rodrigo Valdez is 29th on Ring Magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time.

Rodrigo Valdez won his next eight bouts, but on October 2,1965, he lost his undefeated record, beaten by knockout in six by Rudy Escobar.

At the time, nobody knew that Cassidy had hepatitis A As a consequence of this, Valdez became affected by the disease.

Rodrigo Valdez had nineteen wins in a row when he met Philadelphia legend Bennie Briscoe for the NABF middleweight title, in Noumea, New Caledonia, on September 1,1973, beating Briscoe in a 12-round decision to capture the regional championship and becoming a world-ranked middleweight contender.

Rodrigo Valdez won two more fights, and the WBC made him its number one contender at Monzon's title.

On May 25,1974, at Monte Carlo, Rodrigo Valdez became a world champion for the first time, by knocking Briscoe out in seven rounds.

Rodrigo Valdez subsequently retained his title against Rudy Rodrigo Valdez, Gratien Tonna, and Max Cohen, until Monzon finally agreed to meet him.

One week before the long-awaited match-up, on June 19,1976, Rodrigo Valdez's brother was murdered during a barroom fight in Colombia.

Already in Monte Carlo for the fight, Rodrigo Valdez wanted to pull out of it to join his family in mourning.

Rodrigo Valdez was leading after seven rounds, but Monzon mounted a late rally that allowed him to keep the title by a close decision.

Rodrigo Valdez recovered the world middleweight championship, with a 15-round decision over Briscoe.

Rodrigo Valdez fought only twice more, winning both fights by knockout.

Rodrigo Valdez had a record of 63 wins, eight losses and two draws as a professional boxer, with 42 wins by knockout.