Niño Valdés


Niño Valdés 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.

Professional career

Heavyweight contender

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.
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

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

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateAgeLocationNotes
70WinBrian LondonRTD7 Dec 1, 1959Empire Pool, Wembley, London, England, U.K.
69Loss47–18–3 Sonny ListonKO3 Aug 5, 1959Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
68Loss47–17–3 Alonzo JohnsonUD10May 29, 1959Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
67Win47–16–3 Danny HodgeTKO8 Apr 28, 1959Forum, Wichita, Kansas, U.S.
66Loss46–16–3 Charlie PowellTKO8 Mar 4, 1959Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
65Win46–15–3 Pat McMurtryTKO1 Dec 19, 1958Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
64Win45–15–3 Mike DeJohnSD10Aug 15, 1958War Memorial Auditorium, Rochester, New York, U.S.
63Win44–15–3 Harold CarterTKO9 Jul 9, 1958Coliseum, Spokane, Washington, U.S.
62Win43–15–3 Johnny SummerlinKO5 May 24, 1958Fairground Racing Oval, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
61Win42–15–3 Mike DeJohnSD10Apr 23, 1958State Fair Coliseum, Syracuse, New York, U.S.
60Win41–15–3 Wayne BetheaSD10Apr 3, 1958Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado, U.S.
59Loss40–15–3 Alex MiteffSD10Feb 21, 1958Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
58Win40–14–3 Jeff DyerKO10 Nov 19, 1957Auditorium, Bangor, Maine, U.S.
57Win39–14–3 John HolmanUD10May 8, 1957Auditorium, Portland, Oregon, U.S.
56Win38–14–3 Joe ErskineKO1 Feb 19, 1957Earls Court Arena, London, England, U.K.
55Win37–14–3 Hans FriedrichTKO6 Dec 30, 1956Arena Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Nordrhein-Westfalen, West Germany
54Win36–14–3 Dick RichardsonRTD8 Dec 4, 1956Harringay Arena, London, England, U.K.
53Win35–14–3 Bob WoodallKO3 Oct 25, 1956Arena, Boston, Massachsuetts, U.S.
52Loss34–14–3 Zora FolleyUD10Sep 25, 1956Softball Park, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
51Loss34–13–3 Eddie MachenKO8 Jul 11, 1956Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
50Win34–12–3 Ken HammerTKO8 Jun 1, 1956Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
49Loss33–12–3 Eddie MachenUD10Apr 16, 1956Cow Palace, Daly City, California, U.S.
48Loss33–11–3 Bob BakerUD10Dec 7, 1955Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
47Win33–10–3 Don CockellRTD3 Sep 13, 1955White City Stadium, London, England, U.K.
46Loss32–10–3 Bob SatterfieldUD10Aug 17, 1955Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
45Loss32–9–3 Archie MoorePTS15May 2, 1955Cashman Field, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.For vacant world heavyweight title recognized only by Nevada
44Win32–8–3 Jack FloodKO7 Jan 25, 1955Radio Center Arena, Huntington, West Virginia, U.S.
43Win31–8–3 Jimmy WallsKO2 Dec 11, 1954King's Stadium, Hamilton, Bermuda
42Win30–8–3 Tommy JacksonTKO2 Jul 14, 1954Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
41Win29–8–3 Karel SysTKO4 May 22, 1954Palais des Sports, Schaerbeek, Belgium
40Win28–8–3 James J. ParkerUD10Mar 12, 1954Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
39Win27–8–3 Archie McBrideSD10Feb 20, 1954Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba
38Win26–8–3 Heinz NeuhausKO4 Nov 15, 1953Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Nordrhein-Westfalen, West Germany
37Win25–8–3 Matt DanielsTKO2 Sep 29, 1953Fort Homer Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida, U.S.
36Win24–8–3 Charley WilliamsUD10Sep 15, 1953Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
35Win23–8–3 Ezzard CharlesUD10Aug 11, 1953Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
34Win22–8–3 Omelio AgramonteTKO10 Jul 18, 1953Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba
33Loss21–8–3 Bob BakerUD10May 21, 1953Radio Center Arena, Huntington, West Virginia, U.S.
32Loss21–7–3 Billy GilliamSD10Apr 20, 1953War Memorial Arena, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
31Loss21–6–3 Archie MooreUD10Mar 11, 1953Arena, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S.
30Loss21–5–3 Harold JohnsonUD10Nov 24, 1952Eastern Parkway Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
29Win21–4–3 Jimmy WalkerKO6 Jun 13, 1952Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
28Draw20–4–3 Joe McFaddenPTS8Mar 29, 1952Ridgewood Grove, New York City, New York, U.S.
27Win20–4–2 Sandy McPhersonUD8Feb 28, 1952Sunnyside Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
26Win19–4–2 Keene SimmonsUD10Feb 7, 1952Sunnyside Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
25Win18–4–2 Joe McFaddenKO7 Jan 4, 1952Sunnyside Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
24Win17–4–2 Aldo RodriguezTKO1 Sep 23, 1950Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba
23Win16–4–2 Juan Carlos VigoKO1 Aug 19, 1950Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba
22Win15–4–2 Tommy BevilTKO3 Feb 21, 1950Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
21Loss14–4–2 Archie McBridePTS8Nov 26, 1948Armory, Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S.
20Win14–3–2 Doc BeePTS6Nov 15, 1948Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
19Draw13–3–2 Jimmy FreemanPTS6Oct 19, 1948Auditorium, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
1813–3–1 Cheo MorejonNC5 Jul 19, 1947Palacio de Deportes, Havana, CubaFight stopped for "poor effort"
17Win13–3–1Aldo RodriguezPTS8Jun 28, 1947Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba
16Win12–3–1Kid CarbajalKO7 Sep 19, 1946Cienfuegos, Cuba
15Draw11–3–1Cheo MorejonPTS10Mar 9, 1946Sancti Spiritus, Cuba
14Win11–3Federico MalibranKO8 Dec 8, 1945Ciego de Avila, CubaWon Cuban heavyweight title
13Loss10–3Federico MalibranKO4 Sep 15, 1945Palacio de Deportes, Havana, CubaFor Cuban heavyweight title
12Win10–2Epifanio PerezKO2 Sep 24, 1944Candelaria, Cuba
11Loss9–2Mario Raul OchoaPTS8Sep 3, 1944Candelaria, Cuba
10Win9–1Andres FerrerKO2 Jul 30, 1944Candelaria, Cuba
9Win8–1Julio Lazaro DiazTKO7 Apr 3, 1943Arena Cristal, Havana, Cuba
8Win7–1Benito Garcia MalpicaTKO2 Feb 20, 1943Arena Cristal, Havana, Cuba
7Win6–1Andres DominguezKO2 Jan 20, 1943Arena Cristal, Havana, Cuba
6Win5–1Jose Andres HornedoKO2 Oct 10, 1942Arena Cristal, Havana, Cuba
5Win4–1Epifanio PerezKO2 Aug 15, 1942Arena Cristal, Havana, Cuba
4Loss3–1Julio Lazaro DiazKO3 May 30, 1942Arena Cristal, Havana, Cuba
3Win3–0Wilfredo FerrerKO1 Mar 28, 1942Arena Cristal, Havana, Cuba
2Win2–0Andres DominguezKO1 Jan 31, 1942Arena Cristal, Havana, Cuba
1Win1–0Basilio AyestaranKO3 Dec 27, 1941Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba