Carlos Monzon vs Rodrigo Valdes

The June 26, 1976, unification bout at Monaco's Stade Louis II paired WBA/WBC middleweight champion Carlos Monzon against Rodrigo Valdez under emotionally charged circumstances. Five days before the fight, Valdez's preparation was impacted by the death of his younger brother in a knifing incident.

The Colombian challenger struggled at the weigh-in, requiring six attempts to reach the 160-pound limit, eventually scaling 160 to Monzon's 159½. This difficulty would prove significant as the fight progressed.

Through thirteen rounds, Valdez demonstrated why he held claim to a portion of the title, but Monzon's experience showed in round fourteen when he dropped Valdez to his knees with a straight right hand. This knockdown proved crucial on the final scorecards: referee Raymond Baldeyrou (146-144), Judge Andre Bernier (147-145), and Judge Pierre Talayrac (148-144) all favoured the champion.

The purse distribution reflected the fight's championship significance, with Monzon earning $250,000 to Valdez's $200,000. The result unified the middleweight titles and demonstrated Monzon's continued dominance late in his career. At the same time, Valdez's performance, given his pre-fight trauma and weight struggles, suggested the potential for a competitive rematch.