BoxRec

This would have been a very exciting fight whilst it lasted,both have dodgy chins and both can punch,who wins ,Cooper with his powerful left or Valdes the man who single handedly put paid to British interest in the heavyweights back in the mid to late 1950's.Valdes fought in better class but was like Cooper inconsistant if this fight had taken place it would have probally been around 1958/9,cooper was at that time running hot and cold losing a few and winning a few ,Valdes was winding down after a long career.An old guy told me Valdes was considered at that time to have dodgy legs,something to do with Varicose veins ,anyone know!

Valdes wins this by stoppage, IMO. Leaving aside Cooper's knock down of Clay/Ali he generally came up short against the better class fighters (Folley second time, Patterson, Ali). IMO Valdes would have cut him early - Cooper was far more vulnerable than most heavys to cut eyes - and stopped him around 5-7 rounds.

J

As much as I love 'Enry' he wouldn't have the tools or the assets to stand in there with the big Cuban. Valdes was a very solid boxer with plenty of power, good sized fighter, knew how to use it to his advantage. Cooper was a tough guy, but he'd be cut up worse than he was with Ali. He'd look like he went through a shredder.

Valdes by TKO 6-7 rounds.

I personally feel Valdes would have knocked Cooper out in about 5 rounds although Cooper did cut easilly I believe he only lost about 3 or 4 fights on cuts (two of which were against Ali).As several on this boards have said Cooper was a bit overated In England at world level but one thing you have to admit is he was probally one of the calmest fighters ever at dealing with cuts.Some fighters get a cut and go to pieces or panick ,Cooper never did and won many fights after getting cut.The fact is he never lost many on a cut. Coopers only chance against Valdes would have been to get to him early with his hammer!

I appreciate that Cooper lost very few on cuts compared to the number of times he was cut. But against top drawer heavies like Valdes he would be put under more pressure and I feel would be either stopped ot KOd in 5-7. Against a lower level opponent, I agree, he would have a good chance of boxing his way out of trouble and maybe even landing a decent KO punch.

J

john2345 wrote:I appreciate that Cooper lost very few on cuts compared to the number of times he was cut. But against top drawer heavies like Valdes he would be put under more pressure and I feel would be either stopped ot KOd in 5-7. Against a lower level opponent, I agree, he would have a good chance of boxing his way out of trouble and maybe even landing a decent KO punch.

J

We agree! I said he would be ko'd in 5 ,just pointing out although he cut easilly ,very few of his fights were stopped due to cuts.

If Nino turns up in shape he breaks Cooper down inside 6 rounds.

Valdes within 5 rounds, Henry's chin couldn't have stood up to the test from a prme Valdes.

great matchup! i like a prime nino valdez TKO 5 by cuts