Ruben Valdes

Ruben Valdes, known in the boxing world as "La Cobra," is a retired Colombian featherweight boxer. He boxed from an orthodox stance and had a reach of 66.9 inches. Born on July 21, 1954, in Ciénaga, Colombia, Valdes went on to box on the world stage.

Valdes debuted professionally on December 22, 1971, against Donald Leon in Maria La Baja, Colombia. He won this initial four-round bout by points, which was a promising start for the young fighter. Valdes developed a reputation for being a formidable competitor in his homeland.

One of the early highlights of Valdes's career came on August 5, 1977, when he won the South American Super Bantamweight title against Livio Nolasco in Barranquilla, Colombia. This victory by unanimous decision was pivotal for Valdes, showcasing his ability to compete at a higher level and earn accolades in the sport.

Valdes also took on Jose Cervantes in Cartagena for the WBC FECARBOX Super Bantamweight title. Although he lost this bout by unanimous decision, he faced a top-level opponent who had beaten Ruben Olivares in a WBC final eliminator and went on to challenge for world honours against Dong Kyun Yum.

The most memorable fight of Valdes's career was his challenge against Wilfredo Gomez for the WBC World Super Bantamweight Title on February 3, 1980, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada. This bout was part of Gomez's eleventh defence of his title. Valdes faced an uphill battle against one of the most formidable fighters in the division. Although he ultimately fell short, losing by TKO in the sixth round after his corner threw in the towel, he had arrived on the world stage.

Ruben Valdes retired from professional boxing on April 17, 1982, marking the end of a career that spanned over a decade. His final professional record stood at 57 bouts, 46 wins (26 Ko's), 10 losses and 1 draw.