Boxing Profile: Edwin Valero

Bigfoot Or Boxing’s Next Superstar?

The sweet science may be the sport more tethered in archaic tradition than any other currently in existence. Not that this is necessarily a bad thing, as boxing’s rich history is just as important and meaningful to the sport as say, baseball’s is.

So forgive me if I find it a bit perplexing that we fans of the savage science must flock to the internet, of all places, to get our fix of the sport that we hold in zealous reverence. Who would have thought that in a sport that is so immersed in the heritage of old is now being covered using the tools of the future? With such a diverse forum, the ascension back to prominence for our wonderful sport is all but guaranteed.

Hyperbole and boxing are as much as tandem as Mike Tyson and disaster. Many of us can recall the tales of our fathers and grandfathers as the regaled us with stories of fighters from their generation. Each story seemed as fantastic and riveting as any Hollywood screenwriter could ever envision in their wildest dream.

Enter one Edwin Valero. To all but the most diehard fight fans, the name rings no bells of recollection. Through the magic of the information superhighway and reinforced with the continued whispers of hearsay and boxing discussion boards, the mystery of Edwin Valero continues to grow.

The man known as “Dinamita” is but a myth to some. In the same way that basketball fans tell of the playground finesse that Earl “The Pearl” Monroe displayed, fight fans gleefully point to the classic Valero sparring sessions with the likes of Mike Anchondo and Urbano Antillon.

Perhaps the sparring session that seems to be fanning the flames of Valero’s popularity are his storied sessions with the Erik Morales. Most reports seem to suggest that Edwin was more than capable of handling himself against the future Hall of Fame inductee.

So you are asking yourself, if this man is such a world beater, why has he yet to be showcased on any American telecast? The answer lies somewhere in the oft confusing mandates of local commissions. In Valero’s case it was the New York State Athletic Commission, who may have likely ended any hope of him plying his craft in the very lucrative American market due to a failed MRI that showed the presence of brain trauma.

Now don’t get me wrong as I would never want a fighter to put his or hers life on the line if their health was a factor, but such is not the case with Valero. Before turning pro in his native country of Venezuela, Valero had a terrible motorcycle accident that required surgery to drain a ruptured vein in near his brain. According to Valero, he was given the ok to fight by a list of doctors in South America and feels that his life is in no more danger than that of any fighter who laces up their gloves in pursuit of a better existence.

Still, the myth continues to gain steam, with little doubt given the very distinct record that Valero holds. The dynamite fisted super featherweight’s first 18 bouts all resulted in 18 first round knockout victories. Impressive? Sure, but also know that all of Valero’s wins have come by way of knockout garnering him an impressive record on 20-0 (20).

Not bad for a newly crowned champion and all at the aged of 25. Valero captured the WBA Super Featherweight title in scintillating fashion by stopping the rugged Panamanian, Vincent Mosquera, this past August. Through the magic of YouTube, fight fans got a chance to catch a glimpse of this barnburner, one that saw both combatants taste the canvas before Valero’s youth and conditioning finally wilted the tough champion.

Tonight Valero steps into the squared circle in his first defense of his newly acquired title in Tokyo. The challenger of sorts is Michael Lozada of Tijuana. Not that Lozada is a tomato can, but don’t expect an upset of any sorts.

While Valero’s footwork and defense are in desperate need of fine tuning, his offensive arsenal is not to be overlooked. Possessing power in either hand, not to mention a real drive to lay his man out, many consider it a foregone conclusion that Valero’s 21st fight will end in the exact same way his previous 20 have.

2007 looks to be the year that Valero makes his breakthrough onto the world stage and he has a perfect foil to get him there. Manny Pacquiao. Valero himself admits that at this present juncture, he is not ready to handle the ferocious Pacman. Three to four more fights is his ideal scenario before possibly facing the Philippine’s favorite son sometime in early 2008.

Exaggeration is the spice of the fight game. Perhaps one day we will captivate our children and grandchildren with tales of the fighting Venezuelan with cement in his gloves by the name of Edwin Valero.