Nino Valdes vs. Tommy Jackson

Nino Valdes 204 lbs beat Tommy Jackson 190 lbs by TKO at 2:35 in round 2 of 10

• Date: 1954-07-14
• Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, USA
• Referee: Al Berl

"Nino Valdes, an 11-5 underdog, overwhelmed the listless Hurricane Jackson, who showed only one brief flash of the fiery newcomer who beat Rex Layne, Clarence Henry and Dan Bucceroni in his exciting rise from prelim boy to No. 5 contender. In the 1st round, the Cuban thumped at Jackson's body with both hands. Shifting to the head when Jackson came out for the 2nd, Valdes drove his man half through the ropes with a solid right. Although the timekeeper counted to four, referee Al Berl ruled no knockdown. Another right sent Jackson to the floor and he was up at '2'. Another flurry drove Jackson to his knees for the count of '1'. The 3rd knockdown that ended the bout was disputed by many in the crowd as a push, but referee Berl ruled knockdown and the fight was over at 2:35 of the 2nd." -Associated Press

Post fight comment

• "He had nothing. Everybody expect us to go to body, we go to head in 2nd round. I knock out Marciano in 4 rounds." -Nino Valdes

• "Valdes rates the next shot at Marciano after the rematch with Charles that we hope to run in September." -Harry Markson, managing director of the IBC