Bogota: Colombian boxer Rodrigo "Rocky" Valdez, legendary opponent of Argentina's Carlos Monzon and a former world middleweight champion, has died at 71, his wife said on Wednesday.
Valdez, who won 68 of his 73 bouts including 42 by KO, according to the World Boxing Council (WBC), died in his hometown of Cartagena de Indias in Colombia.
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos paid tribute to the former boxer, tweeting a picture of him with Valdez and the words: "Today we say farewell to Rocky Valdez, who with his courage in the ring filled the country with glory and triumphs."
Born February 22, 1946, Valdez began his boxing career aged 16.
