_ Edwin Valero_ an overview of 'UN ARTISTA DEL NOCAUT'

Amateur Career

Valero started boxing at the age of 12, reportedly compiling a amateur record of 86-6 with 57 KO's. He was Venezuelan amateur champion three years running, as well as Central and South American Champion (beating Francisco "Panchito" Bojado).

Professional Career

Valero is best known for setting a world record by winning the first 18 fights of his career by first-round knockout. The previous record for consecutive first-round knockouts was 15 by Young Otto (record), who accomplished the feat in 1905. In Valero's nineteenth fight (March 25, 2006), Genaro Trazancos ended the first-round KO streak by surviving until the second round.

Valero defeated Vicente Mosquera by tenth-round TKO on August 5, 2006. With this win, Valero won the WBA super featherweight title. He also kept his any-round knockout streak intact, with 20 consecutive knockouts. The world record for consecutive knockouts is 44 by American Lamar Clark (record).

Career Roadblocks

On Feb 5, 2001, Valero was involved in a severe motorcycle accident in which he wasn't wearing a helmet. He fractured his skull and had surgery to remove a blood clot. This injury was sustained prior to him launching his pro career, and it has created roadblocks to major bodies sanctioning his fights. Valero claims that his Venezuelan doctor cleared him to fight on Jan 17, 2002 and he turned pro that July with a first-round KO.

Valero appeared to hit the jackpot when he was signed after his 12th pro fight by Golden Boy Promotions. Valero was scheduled to appear on HBO's Boxing After Dark, but in January 2004, he failed an MRI in New York and thus was not allowed to fight in the United States. As a result, the fight did not take place. Although he continues to fight outside the United States, he will not be allowed to fight in the US until he clears his medical tests with a state athletic commision.

VALERO'S HIT LIST from last year:-

"I follow boxing, and I see who is out there in my division," Valero said. "Two fighters that I have my eye on are Joel Casamayor and Carlos Hernandez."

An experienced and dangerous former champ and a current world title holder. So when does Valero think he'll be ready?

"Right now," he says. "I see them as stepping stones. I know Hernandez is a champion but I don't see myself having any problems with him. How long he lasts with me depends on how hard I train."

And what about Casamayor (who I consider to be the best 130 pounder in the game)?

"I know Casamayor was hurt many times in his fight with Diego Corrales, seriously hurt," Valero said. "Corrales doesn't have the power I have. If Corrales hurt Casamayor, my punches, which are sharper and faster, would knock him out. Casamayor is on his way out and I am on my way in, so I'd like to fight him to announce my arrival."

Other fighters he'd like to one day fight include Erik Morales, Acelino Freitas and Francisco Bojado.

"I would fight Freitas with my eyes closed," Valero said. "I would fight him without hesitation. He hits hard but there's no boxing skills with that guy.

"In a year, I'll be ready for Bojado," he added. "We can meet at 135 pounds, or I can go up to 140 to face him. He's not the talented fighter I knew in the amateurs any more. He's not as fast as he once was, and he's flat footed. I don't know what happened to him, maybe he's too heavy, but that's a fight I want."

It should be noted that Valero beat Bojado in the amateurs. The pro rematch would be quite an event. But back to the present.

Considering he is prepared to fight even as high as 140 - the kid, could potentially fight not only the Pac's and Guzman's of the world - but maybe even the Castillo's and Hattons at 140. Especially being 5'7 he seems to potentially have the height and body structure to do well - what does everyone else think?