Nino Valdes vs. Wayne Bethea
Wayne Bethea 204 lbs lost to Nino Valdes 206 lbs by SD in round 10 of 10
- Date: 1958-04-03
- Location: Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado, USA
- Referee: Don Perko 47-45
- Judge: Ray Keech 46-47
- Judge: Jack Ullmer 46-47
"Nino Valdes got a lot of mileage out of one left hook Thursday night in his split decision victory over Wayne Bethea in a 10 rounder at Denver Auditorium Arena. Valdes got most of his 206 pounds behind the blow that put the New Yorker down for a four-count in the 7th round. But since Bethea was slipping backward because of his own awkwardness at the time, the blow didn't cause much bodily damage. It just lost the fight for him. The crowd booed throughout, especially when Valdes was announced the winner. Bethea kept inside as Valdes had the long-range advantage. The fight never got out of the clinching stage. Valdes scored well in the 1st round on left jabs, which Bethea neutralized later in the bout with his close-in tactics." -United Press
- Unofficial UP scorecard - 48-47 Bethea
- Unofficial AP scorecard - 48-46 Bethea
- Attendance - 2,242
- Gate - $7,928
Post-fight comments
- "That big bum can't fight. All he wanted to do was hold and block punches." -Wayne Bethea
- "It takes two to make a fight and Nino couldn't push him away to make a fight of it." -Bobby Gleason, Valdes' manager