Thread: Edwin Valero...BOOM GOES THE DYNAMITE!!!

Hey everybody…it’s Wacko once again…just thought I’d drop in & ring a chime or two on last night’s bout between Valero & Demarco.

Now, I know that there are a shitload of Valero supporters on this site (or there used to be…I haven’t been here in so long that most of you imagine cobwebs flowing outta my ass as I blow all me bwoyo’s “angel’s kiss” ), there were as many rabid Valerites as there were Pacquiao fans…& I just couldn’t really jump on the boat with both feet for fear of it sinking…well…after last night…that ship sailed in a big way. Sadly to say…my heart skipped beats but my mind & feet are in relatively the same place as far as Valero goes.

While, I felt the Showtime crew seemed to lean towards DeMarco initially, I was fairly impressed with Valero throughout the bout & agreed with Bernstein (who is generally dead on the bill with most of his calls) that what I/we had just witnessed was the Venezuelan’s best performance to date…all things considered (that being: cuts & elbow gashes).

That being said, fantastic performance or not, Valero still just doesn’t do it for me. He’s shown better in sparring videos & personally I think that he’s fundamentally flawed in the same ways that Manny Paquiao used to be. He keeps his hands far too low & also takes too much in trade to earn the pay he nets…but dammit…his flaws, the risky trades, are what make boxing exciting.

The facts are simple, last night Valero defended his WBC lightweight title & improved his record to 27-0 with a devastatingly articulate drumming of the WBC interim titlist Antonio Demarco (23-2-1, 17 KOs), & shot himself straight to the top of the “man to beat” list…now the issue is just getting him a few more blast out battles like last night & then some state side shoot outs & we boxing fans have us a new superstar in the making.

Or do we?

In the past I’ve always felt that Valero was a bit one dimensional & that he relied on his power far too much in his bouts. It’s in his sparring sessions that Valero shines. The video’s show it, the sparring partners show it, & the pundits script it…so why not carry it into your stage performance? For years rumors have abounded the mighty “El Dinamita” hadgone toe to toe with, overpowered, & even outboxed the likes of the great Marco Antonio Barrera, Oscar De la Hoya, Erik Morales, & a few 160 pounders who dreaded his speed & power.

What I’ve always had an issue with? Why pull out all the stops in sparring but not carry it not the bouts? Last night Valero brought it all to the table…& ole’ Wacko’s man enough to admit when he’s wrong. Not only did Valero show out…he went toe to toe, boxed his ass off, & outclassed DeMarco last night. which is no easy task. In the first round, I was mortified that the cut on Valero’s cheek was going to be an issue…then comes the battered forehead. Truthfully the gash on his forehead was a show stopper, in Wacko’s humble opinion, but when DeMarco came out fighting with fire…Valero doused the heat immediately & blazed right through Antonio with the calmness of a true veteran.

So why not jump on the boat, right? Because, outside of last night, I’ve seen him fight 12 times now & its always the same issues that worry me as a fight fan…he leaves his hands down, relies on his power too much, & seems to have possible stamina issues rolling down the stretch.

Like I said…last night…totally different Valero…but what happens when Valero meets a Marquez, Pacquiao, or a Mayweather (God forbid) as mentioned on the telecast last night?

Honestly, I’m intrigued…but I hope that he stays in his weight class for a bit & builds up his name before having it torn down by a Marquez, Pacquiao, or a Mayweather…because in the end…with a little more time, self managing, & marketing…Valero could be a little more than a knockout artist…& as spectacular as they are…knockout artistes don’t last long without a backup plan.

I honestly think he is already past the knockout fighter scenario. Sure as I've said he had blazing handspeed last night, but the angles, footwork, and head movement he used last night were all very sophisticated. He also slipped punches very well when he chose to. I would be interested in seeing the compubox numbers for that fight because I know he got tagged a few times, but for the most part I didn't see him get hit that much, and I was really surprised to see a guy so much bigger than him really shy away from fighting him, I was very impressed by Demarco's chin but there is no question about the power that lies within Valero's gloves.

Welcome back. I was surprised at how much trouble Demarco seemed to have hitting Valero. He hit him but Valero seemed to do a good job with range. That said nothing has ever jumped out about Demarco to me and the only thing he really did well at times was the right hook and counter jabs.

It was a lot better than I expected though, Valero's performance I mean. I've never thought too much of him but I may have to reconsider some things.

By the way Wacko you should make an honorary appearance in the Lost thread.

Welcome back Wacko!!!

I was impressed also. My biggest problem though is he seems to cut easily. Aside from the elbow, he had 2 cuts within the first 3 rounds and his nose was bleeding before a punch was thrown.

Hello Wacko! Like it seems everybody else I was impressed with Valero's boxing skills. I read he's struggling to make 135 now and his next fight will be at 140, he's not going to have the same power that he had at 130 so he's going to need all the skills he's got. Can't wait for his next fight though.

Dude's a little mint beast. To do what he did especially with such a bad cut, pressure, etc. Nate cambell victor ortiz or guerrero would have quit or been crying like babies after seeing and being hit on that thing. He keeps his hands low but other than that looked great last night.