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Edwin Valero following his latest win (Photo: Tom Casino)
For a fighter who had experienced many setbacks in recent years, WBC Lightweight champion Edwin Valero seemed poised for a big 2010 campaign. On February 6th of this year the Venezuelan completely controlled highly talented challenger Antonio DeMarco over nine lopsided rounds. Valero’s precise punching and overall power was too much for his Tijuana foe to handle and DeMarco didn’t answer the bell for the tenth round.
The win introduced Valero to many US households and talks of potential opponents such as Manny Pacquiao, Timothy Bradley, and Lamont Peterson began circulating. Win or lose it appeared as though Valero was set to move up to 140 pounds and receive his coveted shot. But that is now all in question as word from his native Venezuela has spread that the 28-year old pugilist was arrested for allegedly assaulting his wife.
Valero's wife was later taken to a hospital in nearby Los Andes and was said to be suffering from a list of injuries including a collapsed lung and multiple bruises. It was also reported that several of the doctors spoke to the media and questioned Valero’s mindset, as he appeared to be abrasive while threatening staff members.
While it is unknown what is going to happen from this point forward this could potentially be a crippling blow to Valero and his championship aspirations. When taking a look back at his career everything is put into perspective.
Career progression
Valero was born in Merida, Venezuela and began boxing at the age of two, eventually becoming a Venezuelan amateur champion for three years as well as a Central and South American champion, beating Francisco ‘Panchito’ Bojado in the process.
He began his professional career on July 9th, 2002 with a first round stoppage over Eduardo Hernandez in Caracas. Over the next four years he fought mainly in Venezuela while also branching out to Panama, Argentina, France, and even California on repeated occasions. Through eighteen professional fights he amassed an 18-0 record with all of his victories coming by way of first round knockout.
By that time noted columnist Doug Fischer of the Ring, who was then contributing to MaxBoxing, began heaping heavy praise on Valero, claiming him to be a diamond in the rough and one to look out for. Valero backed those proclamations with honor in August of 2006 by stopping Vicente Mosquera in ten wild rounds to capture the WBA Jr. Lightweight championship of the world.
He defended his belt four times before moving up in weight in April of 2009 to face off with Antonio Pitalua for the vacant WBC Lightweight strap. Valero would stop his elder in the second round and defended his belt on two occasions afterwards, the last being his domination over DeMarco. At the moment his record stands at 27-0 with 27 knockouts.
Life struggles
Valero’s career is certainly one that has seen its share of roadblocks, drama, and frustration.
In February of 2001 Valero was involved in a serious motorcycle accident, one it which he was without his helmet. He ended up fracturing his skull and required surgery to remove a blood clot. This occurred before he began his professional career and while he claimed to be cleared by a doctor to fight in Venezuela, the injury would later come back to cause him much trouble.
Valero was signed by Golden Boy Promotions following his 12th professional fight and he was scheduled to make his HBO debut on the network’s Boxing After Dark series shortly thereafter. In January of 2004, however, Valero would fail an MRI due to brain scan irregularities in New York and was banned from fighting in the United States. He would continue to fight outside of America and as of March 25, 2008 he had been cleared to box in Texas.
In September 27th, 2009 it was reported that Valero had been arrested for charges of assuault, as a man claimed that he had attacked his mother and sister following an argument. Valero was quick to deny the allegations, citing them as a ploy to damage his reputation. The latest incident only further adds to his troubles in life.
End of the road?
Valero’s future is certainly in question now and depending on what happens regarding his latest situation he may not ever find himself in the ring again. While bouts with Pacquiao and Bradley may have been cases of him biting off more than he could chew a step up one division north agaisnt Peterson seemed like an ideal move towards future recognition in America. Unfortunatley now Valero’s biggest battles may be outside of the ring.
The sport of boxing is full of stories of both hope and heartbreak. For years Edwin Valero was known merely as a Youtube sensation and many wondered if he ever would cross the threshold and fully fulfill his potential. Just as he was beginning to make a serious name for himself he could have everything taken away from him. It could be a heartbreaking ending but such is the way of boxing and such is life.
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Chris Robinson is based out of Las Vegas, Nevada. He can be reached at Trimond@aol.com, www.Twitter.com/CRHarmony, and www.Twitter.com/CRHarmony.com. More of his work can be found HERE
Comments
Valero should be sent to jail for beating his wife. Lowlife like that don't deserve a single minute in the public eye.
another wife beater like floyd mayweather jr. and SR, and roger mayweather.
by contrast look at pacquiao - its jinkee who beats the crap out of him, when she thinks hes cheating.
That is the end of the line
He cares enough for his wife, but because he has heavy hands, his caress ended up being a blow. The result? Glorious wifey is in the hospitak
no chance to fight against manny lol
ANG YABANG YABANG MO VALERO...PANGIT MO NMAN,PERO MAY KAMUKHA KANG ARTISTA,SI PALITO.TAYO KYA ANG MAGSUNTUKAN
valero is overrated bcoz of his record.it's excellent on paper but he still has to face a top caliber opponent that i think can counterpunch him,or take his best shot,and then it's lights out for this venezuelan.i still think he's like katsidis who comes up short against world class fighters.but i'm a fan of katsidis,valero is not that impressive
Obviously Valero has psychological problems! He may be strong in the ring but weak in personality especially in dealing with anger. If reports are accurate, it appears that Valero is a male chauvinist pig! Whatever marketing tactics his promoter will do would bound to fail! He is not on par with the PACMAN. He should retire in prison!
I mean..I will give valiro a lisson. You know..beating a wife is bad, not good for boxing. I mean I wanna fight him anytime, anywhere and teach this ugly valero a boxing lisson. You know! Beating wife is not good. I mean, you know. I wanna fight him and I will knock out him. You know! And after I knock out him, I mean, I hope he realize how pinpul valero's wife suffering because of assaulting his wife. I mean, that's not good.
Oh, that latin temper.
no matter how good you are in your own profession, but you never take care of your life you will end up like a bum.
he should not beat his wife, if his mad, file her a divorce. I will not wonder if the wifey will poison Valero someday. or made him drunk then the wifey will hit him with a frying pan on the head.
CSI pls. read!
It will give a negative impact on valero's image being that his boxing superstar status would suffer but i dont agree that it will end his carreer.there are some boxers despite being ex p4p king got involve several crimes like gunshooting ,woman mauling drug trafficking,public slander and more still get the support of many fans whereas valero's offense is minor i can see there is unjust and malicious intent towards valero who is being named to be pacman's next opponent to discredit a fight between the two.
If the reports are true, Valero is no longer in Pacquiao's radar for future opponents.
All this bashing of Valero but you forget about mike tyson and robbin givens. He went to prison and the boxing world still knows and loves him. Why don't all of you get off the HATE train and try a little bit of stfu. Some of you speak and your ignorance is ridiculously apparent either you're 12yrs old or a hate filled person. Look in the mirror or the reflection on your computer screen and decide. Until then only God can judge if you doubt me ask you mentor, hero, idol Manny.
I guess he is 27 wins 26 ko's now, he didnt KO her wife lol! :P
Last year he bat up his mom and sister. A couple of months later they dropped the charges. Things can be arranged.
But i do hope the collapsed long of the pretty lady recovers.
valero records: 29 wins, 29 ko: 26 ko's against tricycle drivers, one each to his mother, sister and wife. What a dumb @ss
Edwin Valerio should fight Anne Curtis.
I have lost respect for Edwin Valero. Real men love women--they do not beat them up. The Mayweathers are also proven batterers of women, but that should come as no surprise because they are really mentally incapacitated and criminally insane (Chicken Little Floyd's fans are simply retarded and deserve pity). Valero, on the other hand, should know better. Shame on you, Edwin Valero!
All this bashing of Valero but you forget about mike tyson and robbin givens. He went to prison and the boxing world still knows and loves him. Why don't all of you get off the HATE train and try a little bit of stfu. Some of you speak and your ignorance is ridiculously apparent either you're 12yrs old or a hate filled person. Look in the mirror or the reflection on your computer screen and decide. Until then only God can judge if you doubt me ask you mentor, hero, idol Manny.
Hey Edwin Valero, you are Baleryo...nabuking ka cguro ng asawa mo kaya sinuntok mo!!! Yari ka..wag ka ng mangarap makalaban si Pacman.. only in your dreamms...thunder!!
EDWIN IS CRAZY! A pretty thing like that should never be punched or kicked. If she was my girl i'd treat her like a queen like the queen she is. The only time i would hit her is from BEHIND!! bang bang! baby! bang bang! doogy style
Valero... well he is good... but great? far from reality...
if he want a shot to the biggest name in boxing today... he needs to pave a very rocky road way ahead of him first to reach the road that great boxers is walking now...
I think Juan Manuel Marquez or Cotto is a nice tune-up fight for Valero... but the million dollar question is... does he have enough skill to beat those guys? again... far from reality.
conclusion: Valero...(i hate to say this) wake up!
Richard Eclevia... hindi komo free ang magsign dito sa guestbook ay pwede ka na manglait... e kung may magkomento sa iyo.. BAKIT POGI BA SI PACMAN?
Syempre masakit para sa ating mga fans ni Manny na ganyanin din...
Tayo ay Filipino... hindi Mayweather ang apelyido natin... kundi dela Cruz...
peace!
I guess Valero is a better villain than Mayweather. The chicken-duck guy is all quack. Valero have the punch.
I think you got it all wrong here, the media just twisted Valero's situation, as far as i know, Valero did not beat his wife, it's one of their sparring session that gone out of control. There is no truth to the allegation of wife beating.
"Sports don't build character, they reveal it"
Valero who? Dawg, anyone who beats his wife is a coward. He is not worthy to face pretty boy Floyd nor is he worthy to face the Pacman. I want you Manny! After I beat the hell outta Shane, I'll make you retire!
LOL @ Don Juan Pinoy's comments. Very sad outcome.
What a pity to both.
valero's notoriety exceeds his talent, he's a good fighter, but he'll probably go down as a 'what if...' man. in truth, maybe this is the best thing for him, before tragedy might potentially befall him in the ring, the major sanctioning bodies in boxing don't want to touch him and licenses in las vegas and l.a are not forthcoming, he's not fit to fight.
bleacherreport.com/articles/369050-manny-pacquiao-could-potentially-face-edwin-valero-in-his-next-fight
valero improves his record at 28-0 beating his wife
it's apparent that there's something wrong with valero's brain.. maybe an effect of the accident or the surgery.
Hey Chris... typo on assault.. it's in the paragraph about his struggles. Valero doesn't have to worry about any legal issues in Venezuela... heck he's got Chavez's face on his chest. I'm sure the president there will give him a pass on anything. lol Nice article!
what's wrong with valero? i saw his wife many times and i find her very pretty. if he wants i can accomodate his wife
You like beating up on women, then challenge me!
I'm an old timer and remember well the bloodbath that was Jack Dempsey Vs Gene Tierney. Poor Jack was to much of a gent to his a lady and the fiesty "Brooklyn Bad-Ass" mopped the floor with him.
Forget about Valero's life, what about his wife?!
To the guy who signed as Floyd Mayweather Jr. above, YOUR IDOL KENTUCKY FLOYD ALSO HITS WOMEN!!!!
now 28&0..26 cabbie and tricycle driver one legitimate fighter and one woman..disgusting pathetic maderpaker..
ESTE BOCA ABIERTA SENIOR(?)VALERO HAY QUE CERRAR LA BOCA ANTES QUE ENTREN LOS PUNIOS DE PACMAN!! EL NO TIENE LUGAR DE NINGUN TIPO EN EL DEPORTE BOXEO!! SORRY FOR YOU VALERO AKA WIFE BEATER!! OR MAYBE BECAUSE YOU'RE BLOODY BENT ON SQUARING OFF WITH THE PINOY CHAMP YOU THOUGHT YOUR SENIORA WAS ALSO A PUNCHING BAG!! MALA SUERTE TUYA HOMBRE!! ANDATE A LOS CAMPOS A CULTIVAR YUCAS!! ES LO QUE MERECES!! VAYA PUES!!! NO TE METES CON EL PAC!! EL PAC TE ODIA POR SER UN GOLPEADOR DE MUJERES!! COMPRENDESTE??
Wow, Valero's record now is 28-0, with 28 knock-outs! I'm sure his wife was just knocked-out in few seconds in round one!
Ganito kasi ang nangyari dyan, kasalukuyang nagluluto ang misis ni Valero habang nagloloving-loving sila, eh sa likot nilang dalawa biglang nahulog yung kaserola, nagulat si Valero at medyo may Bell Shock (parang war shock)pa sya kaya akala nya nagbell na para sa first round kaya inulan nya kagad ng suntok yung misis nya, kaya ayun knock-out sa ospital ang bagsak ng misis nya...
HAHAHA! HAYOP ANG PAGKAKA DETALYE! THAT GUY REALLY HAVE A PROBLEM IN HIS BRAIN, THAT ONCE WAS DAMAGE BY THE ACCIDENT, THATS WHY PACMAN IS AFRAID..YOU KNOW WHY? IF VALERO FIGHT PACMAN, WELL THAT WOULD BE VALERO'S PERMANENT VACATION.. GOODLUCK PACMAN! GODSPEED!MABUHAY!
Look at this picture, all the veins popping out + mood swings and uncontrollable rage...high probability of steroid/HGH use.
HEY I GUESS WE ALL KNOW WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO HIM FOR NOT WEARING A HELMET DURING HIS ACCIDENT. THE LIGHTS ARE ON BUT NOBODY IS HOME!!!!!!
wife beater..
wont watch this moron even in youtube.
valero vs roger.....for the greatest women-beaters of the world......
Congratulation Valero for 28-0 record.You just beat your wife you bum!
f..k this valero we don't need a criminal fighting here in USA
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