Rodrigo Valdez vs. Bennie Briscoe (3rd meeting)

Rodrigo Valdes 158 lbs beat Bennie Briscoe 158 lbs by UD in round 15 of 15

• Date: 1977-11-05
• Location: Casino di Campione, Campione d'Italia, Lombardia, Italy
• Referee: Wally Thom 146-144
• Judge: Aime Leschot 149-142
• Judge: Pierre Talayrac 148-143

• Vacant WBA & WBC Middleweight Titles

"Rodrigo Valdes of Columbia boxed and counter-punched his way to a unanimous 15 round decision over Bennie Briscoe of Philadelphia Saturday to win the world middleweight title left vacant by the retirement of Carlos Monzon of Argentina. Valdes showed his superior technique as early as the 3rd round and built up a lead on points to the 11th before faltering in the 12th and then coming back with three strong rounds to take the decision. Briscoe's best round was the 12th when he opened up with a hard right hook that bloodied Valdes' mouth and sent his mouthpiece spinning out of the ring. Both men weighed in at 158." -United Press International

Post-fight comments

• "I thought for a while I might go down in the 12th round. He was hitting hard but once I got through that, it was all okay." -Rodrigo Valdes

• "The judging was lousy. They stole the fight from Bennie." -Georgie Benton, Briscoe's trainer

• "I don't know what fight they were looking at. I did everything a winner has to do. I guess they just didn't see it." -Bennie Briscoe

Preceded by: Monzon vs. Valdez II

WBA Middleweight Title Fight # 32 WBC Middleweight Title Fight # 32

Succeeded by: Valdez vs. Corro I