Niño Valdés (born Geraldo Ramos Ponciano Valdés, also known as Nino Valdés) (December 5, 1924 – June 3, 2001) was a Cuban professional boxer who was Cuba's national heavyweight boxing champion in the 1940s and 1950s. Statistical boxing website BoxRec rates Valdés as the 8th best Cuban boxer ever across all weight divisions.[1]

Niño Valdés
Born
Geraldo Ramos Ponciano Valdés

(1924-12-05)December 5, 1924
DiedJune 3, 2001(2001-06-03) (aged 76)
Statistics
Weight(s)Heavyweight
Height1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Reach198 cm (78 in)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights70
Wins48
Wins by KO36
Losses18
Draws3
No contests1

Professional career

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Heavyweight contender

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Valdés was a top contender for the heavyweight title during the mid 1950s, although he never received a shot due to his mixed results in the ring. Ring Magazine ranked Valdez as high as the #2 contender in its annual rankings for 1958 and he was highly ranked in several other years.[2]

After a string of four losses to notable fighters such as Harold Johnson, Archie Moore, and Bob Baker in 1952 and 1953, he went undefeated in an impressive run of 11 consecutive victories which saw him defeat Ezzard Charles and Tommy "Hurricane" Jackson. However, the streak came to an end when he lost a rematch to Moore by a fifteen-round unanimous decision on May 2, 1955. He lost another fight to Bob Satterfield three months later. After beating former title contender Don Cockell, he lost a ten-round unanimous decision to Bob Baker on December 7, 1955, costing him a potential title bout against Rocky Marciano.

Later career and retirement

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He continued boxing, losing to heavyweight contenders Zora Folley, Eddie Machen, and Sonny Liston. After defeating contender Brian London in December 1959, Valdés retired due to eye problems.

After retirement, he worked as a security guard and a bouncer.


Professional boxing record

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70 fights 48 wins 18 losses
By knockout 36 5
By decision 12 13
Draws 3
No contests 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Age Location Notes
70 Win 48–18–3 (1) Brian London RTD 7 (10) Dec 1, 1959 34 years, 361 days Empire Pool, Wembley, London, England, U.K.
69 Loss 47–18–3 (1) Sonny Liston KO 3 (10) Aug 5, 1959 34 years, 243 days Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
68 Loss 47–17–3 (1) Alonzo Johnson UD 10 May 29, 1959 34 years, 175 days Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
67 Win 47–16–3 (1) Danny Hodge TKO 8 (10) Apr 28, 1959 34 years, 144 days Forum, Wichita, Kansas, U.S.
66 Loss 46–16–3 (1) Charlie Powell TKO 8 (10) Mar 4, 1959 34 years, 89 days Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
65 Win 46–15–3 (1) Pat McMurtry TKO 1 (10) Dec 19, 1958 34 years, 14 days Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
64 Win 45–15–3 (1) Mike DeJohn SD 10 Aug 15, 1958 33 years, 253 days War Memorial Auditorium, Rochester, New York, U.S.
63 Win 44–15–3 (1) Harold Carter TKO 9 (10) Jul 9, 1958 33 years, 216 days Coliseum, Spokane, Washington, U.S.
62 Win 43–15–3 (1) Johnny Summerlin KO 5 (10) May 24, 1958 33 years, 170 days Fairground Racing Oval, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
61 Win 42–15–3 (1) Mike DeJohn SD 10 Apr 23, 1958 33 years, 139 days State Fair Coliseum, Syracuse, New York, U.S.
60 Win 41–15–3 (1) Wayne Bethea SD 10 Apr 3, 1958 33 years, 119 days Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado, U.S.
59 Loss 40–15–3 (1) Alex Miteff SD 10 Feb 21, 1958 33 years, 78 days Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
58 Win 40–14–3 (1) Jeff Dyer KO 10 (10) Nov 19, 1957 32 years, 349 days Auditorium, Bangor, Maine, U.S.
57 Win 39–14–3 (1) John Holman UD 10 May 8, 1957 32 years, 154 days Auditorium, Portland, Oregon, U.S.
56 Win 38–14–3 (1) Joe Erskine KO 1 (10) Feb 19, 1957 32 years, 76 days Earls Court Arena, London, England, U.K.
55 Win 37–14–3 (1) Hans Friedrich TKO 6 (10) Dec 30, 1956 32 years, 25 days Arena Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Nordrhein-Westfalen, West Germany
54 Win 36–14–3 (1) Dick Richardson RTD 8 (10) Dec 4, 1956 31 years, 365 days Harringay Arena, London, England, U.K.
53 Win 35–14–3 (1) Bob Woodall KO 3 (10) Oct 25, 1956 31 years, 325 days Arena, Boston, Massachsuetts, U.S.
52 Loss 34–14–3 (1) Zora Folley UD 10 Sep 25, 1956 31 years, 295 days Softball Park, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
51 Loss 34–13–3 (1) Eddie Machen KO 8 (10) Jul 11, 1956 31 years, 219 days Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
50 Win 34–12–3 (1) Ken Hammer TKO 8 (10) Jun 1, 1956 31 years, 179 days Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
49 Loss 33–12–3 (1) Eddie Machen UD 10 Apr 16, 1956 31 years, 133 days Cow Palace, Daly City, California, U.S.
48 Loss 33–11–3 (1) Bob Baker UD 10 Dec 7, 1955 31 years, 2 days Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
47 Win 33–10–3 (1) Don Cockell RTD 3 (10) Sep 13, 1955 30 years, 282 days White City Stadium, London, England, U.K.
46 Loss 32–10–3 (1) Bob Satterfield UD 10 Aug 17, 1955 30 years, 255 days Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
45 Loss 32–9–3 (1) Archie Moore PTS 15 May 2, 1955 30 years, 148 days Cashman Field, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. For vacant world heavyweight title recognized only by Nevada
44 Win 32–8–3 (1) Jack Flood KO 7 (10) Jan 25, 1955 30 years, 51 days Radio Center Arena, Huntington, West Virginia, U.S.
43 Win 31–8–3 (1) Jimmy Walls KO 2 (10) Dec 11, 1954 30 years, 6 days King's Stadium, Hamilton, Bermuda
42 Win 30–8–3 (1) Tommy Jackson TKO 2 (10) Jul 14, 1954 29 years, 221 days Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
41 Win 29–8–3 (1) Karel Sys TKO 4 (10) May 22, 1954 29 years, 168 days Palais des Sports, Schaerbeek, Belgium
40 Win 28–8–3 (1) James J. Parker UD 10 Mar 12, 1954 29 years, 97 days Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
39 Win 27–8–3 (1) Archie McBride SD 10 Feb 20, 1954 29 years, 77 days Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba
38 Win 26–8–3 (1) Heinz Neuhaus KO 4 (10) Nov 15, 1953 28 years, 345 days Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Nordrhein-Westfalen, West Germany
37 Win 25–8–3 (1) Matt Daniels TKO 2 (10) Sep 29, 1953 28 years, 298 days Fort Homer Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida, U.S.
36 Win 24–8–3 (1) Charley Williams UD 10 Sep 15, 1953 28 years, 284 days Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
35 Win 23–8–3 (1) Ezzard Charles UD 10 Aug 11, 1953 28 years, 249 days Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
34 Win 22–8–3 (1) Omelio Agramonte TKO 10 (12) Jul 18, 1953 28 years, 225 days Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba
33 Loss 21–8–3 (1) Bob Baker UD 10 May 21, 1953 28 years, 167 days Radio Center Arena, Huntington, West Virginia, U.S.
32 Loss 21–7–3 (1) Billy Gilliam SD 10 Apr 20, 1953 28 years, 136 days War Memorial Arena, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
31 Loss 21–6–3 (1) Archie Moore UD 10 Mar 11, 1953 28 years, 96 days Arena, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S.
30 Loss 21–5–3 (1) Harold Johnson UD 10 Nov 24, 1952 27 years, 355 days Eastern Parkway Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
29 Win 21–4–3 (1) Jimmy Walker KO 6 (8) Jun 13, 1952 27 years, 191 days Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
28 Draw 20–4–3 (1) Joe McFadden PTS 8 Mar 29, 1952 27 years, 115 days Ridgewood Grove, New York City, New York, U.S.
27 Win 20–4–2 (1) Sandy McPherson UD 8 Feb 28, 1952 27 years, 85 days Sunnyside Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
26 Win 19–4–2 (1) Keene Simmons UD 10 Feb 7, 1952 27 years, 64 days Sunnyside Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
25 Win 18–4–2 (1) Joe McFadden KO 7 (8) Jan 4, 1952 27 years, 30 days Sunnyside Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
24 Win 17–4–2 (1) Aldo Rodriguez TKO 1 (8) Sep 23, 1950 25 years, 292 days Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba
23 Win 16–4–2 (1) Juan Carlos Vigo KO 1 (8) Aug 19, 1950 25 years, 257 days Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba
22 Win 15–4–2 (1) Tommy Bevil TKO 3 (10) Feb 21, 1950 25 years, 78 days Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
21 Loss 14–4–2 (1) Archie McBride PTS 8 Nov 26, 1948 23 years, 357 days Armory, Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S.
20 Win 14–3–2 (1) Doc Bee PTS 6 Nov 15, 1948 23 years, 346 days Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
19 Draw 13–3–2 (1) Jimmy Freeman PTS 6 Oct 19, 1948 23 years, 319 days Auditorium, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
18 NC 13–3–1 (1) Cheo Morejon NC 5 (10) Jul 19, 1947 22 years, 226 days Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba Fight stopped for "poor effort"
17 Win 13–3–1 Aldo Rodriguez PTS 8 Jun 28, 1947 22 years, 205 days Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba
16 Win 12–3–1 Kid Carbajal KO 7 (10) Sep 19, 1946 21 years, 288 days Cienfuegos, Cuba
15 Draw 11–3–1 Cheo Morejon PTS 10 Mar 9, 1946 22 years, 3 days Sancti Spiritus, Cuba
14 Win 11–3 Federico Malibran KO 8 (12) Dec 8, 1945 21 years, 3 days Ciego de Avila, Cuba Won Cuban heavyweight title
13 Loss 10–3 Federico Malibran KO 4 (12) Sep 15, 1945 20 years, 284 days Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba For Cuban heavyweight title
12 Win 10–2 Epifanio Perez KO 2 (8) Sep 24, 1944 19 years, 294 days Candelaria, Cuba
11 Loss 9–2 Mario Raul Ochoa PTS 8 Sep 3, 1944 19 years, 273 days Candelaria, Cuba
10 Win 9–1 Andres Ferrer KO 2 (8) Jul 30, 1944 19 years, 238 days Candelaria, Cuba
9 Win 8–1 Julio Lazaro Diaz TKO 7 (10) Apr 3, 1943 18 years, 119 days Arena Cristal, Havana, Cuba
8 Win 7–1 Benito Garcia Malpica TKO 2 (10) Feb 20, 1943 18 years, 77 days Arena Cristal, Havana, Cuba
7 Win 6–1 Andres Dominguez KO 2 (8) Jan 20, 1943 18 years, 46 days Arena Cristal, Havana, Cuba
6 Win 5–1 Jose Andres Hornedo KO 2 (6) Oct 10, 1942 17 years, 309 days Arena Cristal, Havana, Cuba
5 Win 4–1 Epifanio Perez KO 2 (4) Aug 15, 1942 17 years, 253 days Arena Cristal, Havana, Cuba
4 Loss 3–1 Julio Lazaro Diaz KO 3 (6) May 30, 1942 17 years, 176 days Arena Cristal, Havana, Cuba
3 Win 3–0 Wilfredo Ferrer KO 1 (6) Mar 28, 1942 17 years, 113 days Arena Cristal, Havana, Cuba
2 Win 2–0 Andres Dominguez KO 1 (6) Jan 31, 1942 17 years, 57 days Arena Cristal, Havana, Cuba
1 Win 1–0 Basilio Ayestaran KO 3 (6) Dec 27, 1941 17 years, 22 days Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba

References

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  1. ^ All-Time Pound-for-Pound Rankings (Cuba). BoxRec.com. Retrieved on 2014-05-18.
  2. ^ "Ring Magazine rankings".retrieved Feb. 27,2014
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