Eladio Valdés

Who was Eladio Valdés?

Eladio "Black Bill" Valdés was a Cuban boxer of the 1920s.

Small of stature at 5 ft 3½ and weighing between 109–115 lbs, he was managed by Luis "Pincho" Gutiérrez and trained by Moe Fleischer. He made his first official appearance on September 11, 1920 aged 15 in a fight in Havana, his native city, where he defeated Diego Blanco in the 4th round. He continued to fight throughout the 1920s dividing his fights between Havana and New York City where the vast majority of his battles took place. Although he was not a power-hitter and small, he was known for his agility and angled punches in his attack which would throw his opponents off-guard. During his career, he defeated such men as Johnny McCoy, Willie Davies, "Corporal" Izzy Schwartz, Sammy Bienfield, the French boxer Eugène Huat, Happy Atherton, Genaro Pino, Marty Gold, Bobby Green, Henry Catena and Benny Marks.

He committed suicide while in Harlem, New York City on May 14, 1933.