Edwin Valero article:his next opponent is Mosquera

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VALERO FACES TOUGHEST BATTLE

By Mark Staniforth, PA Sport

Even in this era of bloated records stuffed with so-called 'tomato can' opponents, the career statistics of Venezuelan super-featherweight Edwin Valero merit an extra-special mention.

The 24-year-old from Merida won every one of his first 18 professional fights by first-round knockout, finally being extended beyond three minutes for the first time in March this year.

Even then his opponent Genaro Tranzancos lasted only one-and-a-half minutes into round two before he went the way of all Valero's previous 18 opponents.

Valero had long since surpassed the previous world record for consecutive first knockouts held by the New York lightweight Young Otto, who won 15 early bouts in 1905.

Ordinarily such a concussive puncher would have been feted long ago as a future pay-per-view superstar. Oscar De La Hoya certainly saw star quality when he signed him to his Golden Boy Promotions stable in 2003.

"Edwin Valero is one of the hardest punchers I have seen come into the sport in the last few years," said De La Hoya.

"He has the type of power that attracts fans to the sport, and with his willingness to fight anyone, we are counting on him to become a star."

Valero was slated to make his Golden Boy debut on a Home Box Office 'Boxing After Dark' show in early 2004, but the fight never took place. Instead Valero faced two years out of the ring.

A routine pre-fight medical revealed a black spot on an MRI scan which Valero believes was caused following a motorcycle accident in his homeland in 2001.

Valero told maxboxing.com: "The head neurosurgeon told me before the operation that it was minor, not major, and that it would not interfere with my boxing career.

"After the operation they told me I had to take three months off before returning to the gym. Everything happened so fast. I never thought it would jeopardise my boxing career."

Valero was placed on medical suspension by the New York State Athletic Commission, and while Golden Boy rigorously appealed the ban, he kept busy sparring Mexican super-feather star Erik Morales.

Reporters and fans who flocked to their gym sessions in New York reported Valero more than held his own and on occasion even bloodied his distinguished opponent.

Those who had seen him fight said Valero was more than just a come-forward banger who would be exposed by higher-calibre men with sturdier chins: he was a superstar waiting to happen.

Frustrated by the delays in his appeals process, Valero split with Golden Boy and successfully applied for a licence in Argentina. In doing so he automatically incurred a permanent suspension in the United States.

Since returning to action in Buenos Aires in 2005, Valero has taken his show on the road, boxing in seven different countries including France, Panama and Japan - and each time the result has been the same.

In February, Valero destroyed Whyber Garcia back home in Venezuela in an eliminator for the WBA super-featherweight title. Now he is scheduled to fight Vicente Mosquera for the belt in August.

Valero may be destined to continue his fighting career away from the pay-per-view worlds which appeared made for him. The chances are this fighting phenomenon will soon be doing it with a world title strapped around his waist.

:: Boxing draws are generally treated with suspicion, especially where a home fighter is involved or a multi-million dollar rematch is looming on the horizon.