Edwin Valero: Boxing’s New #1 Threat
March 20th, 2010
By Michael Feliciano: In the wake of Edwin Valero’s knockout win over Antonio Demarco (23-2, 17 KOs) last month on February 6 which brought him to an incredible record of (28-0, 28 KOs), it is easy to assume that only blockbuster fights against caliber fighters lie ahead for him. However, the Venezuelan native may soon instead find himself begging boxers to join him in the ring. He has already called out Juan Manuel Marquez (50-5, 37 KOs) and boxing’s new golden boy Manny Pacquiao (50-3, 38 KOs) but I don’t think anyone really expects either of these fights to take place. A fight with Valero is just too risky for established pugilists like them.
However Pacquiao is much more disciplined. Where Valero is a hungry beast with a huge appetite, Pacquiao is a learned hunter and if Valero continues his reckless assaults in the ring, he’ll find his new found glory short lived. But like I said, I doubt Pacquiao will fight him since the risk is much greater than the reward and at the moment Valero is still in the lightweight division and is not nearly as well known.
Conceivably, Valero could face Juan Manuel Marquez especially since he recently pulled out of negotiations for a fight against the British star Amir Khan (22-1, 16 KOs) after being offered to little money. But again, Marquez has little to gain from fighting a guy like Valero and at his age it’d be a little dangerous considering all the wars he has been through already two of which were against Pacquiao.
Valero would be better off facing the other top-tier contenders in the lightweight division like Juan Diaz (35-3, 17 KOs) or Michael Kastidis (26-2, 21 KOs) for example. Both fights would be easy for him and knockout wins against either of them would get him even more recognition and acclaim. But as he has stated previously, he feels he is ready for the big time fighters. Perhaps a move to the Jr. Welterweight division would serve him well considering all the name talent at 140lb.
Usually, for a boxer take on a big challenge he has to feel there a chance to win and unfortunately, Valero’s astonishing 100% knockout ratio gives little room for comfort. At 28, Edwin Valero is in his prime and it’s logical that he and his camp want to face the superstars of the sport. Given his remarkable record, Valero has earned the right to call out anyone he wants and as long as his health and behavior remains in tact he can continue to do so. It seems however, that no one seems to be ready for him. Bad timing perhaps.
The ferocity and excitement that Edwin Valero brings to the ring on fight night are key elements to great boxing and it would be more than a shame if he is evaded by the current stars of the sport. Let’s just hope that some one of notoriety takes up the challenge and gives him a chance to become a superstar.
Tags: 31 Responses to “Edwin Valero: Boxing’s New #1 Threat”
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I like Valero, but Diaz and Katsidis are not easy fights for him. Also Lamont Peterson would give him a tough fight. Lamont is bigger and that would help him make up for whatever other advantages Valero would have on him. Lamont is naturally bigger (super lightweight), and Valero only had 3 fights at lightweight so far. I’d like to see Valero take on one of the big names at super lightweight next to see what he has.
who did valero beat again? antonio de marco? who the hell is that? he was probably a b- fighter to begin with. valero first needs tp get through atleast 2 people in light w.w then go to guys in the level of pacquiao or marquez.
What do all of you want with Valero beg, kiss everybody ass, so he could fight here in USA, common. Its year 2010 and i believe that the people her in USA are more smater 20 years ago. Whose fighter all of you want him to Fight the one selling pop-corn in the corner of the street.
all of you are taking thats theirs a dead person in the mountain but theirs no body comming down the mountain. Stop that talk that Valero is not good enough. When will you test his skill if he is 40 years old.
talk talk talk, Every body say Valero is not tested yet, then test him. If those moron feading a bad report to those moron brain then give him a good fight and let see if this guy Valero is really as good as he claim, not like prediction,talking no ending talk, but not moving.You are all like a person like to join the NAVY but afraid of water. Let him fight here in USA and let us show him that Americans have balls.
A part of me wants to see this guy fight.. A part of me says this guy shouldn’t be in the ring..
Valero sustained a head injury while riding his motorcycle without a helmet. He has been having the hardest time getting a boxing licensed cleared due to failure to pass his physical.. Yes they can find ways to clear him, but when he faces elite fighters that will give him hard blows to the head, it may just cost him everything in the long run…
pacquiao can ko this valero inside 4 rounds!jmm might have unanimous decision againts valero!not a threat yet!he can fight those guys if he wants to retire early!
he is nothing and i dint know who valero is…
valero is strong but do not have the sophistication to fight the caliber of Manny. Besides he has to be able to fight in the US for him to fight Manny.
premature….nuff said. not worthy regardless of record or ko ratio.
This site is all about Mayweather! He’s the #1 P4P of all time! He’d kill Ali even if they just sparred back then.
Be careful Valero. Mayweathers might accuse you that you are on something. Something that Venezuelan soliders used 500 years ago to bounce off bullets.
@Atlas yeah.. i agree with you! Floyd is the GREATES COWARD of all time!
MANNY would half kill this guy.
he is nothing
I´m a bit hesitant about Valeros health and mental state of mind. If he manages to have a fight with the elite disciplined fighters, big possibily he will end up invalid or handicap. That blood clot in his brain will surely make damages in the long run. I hope his camp and family are thinking the possibilities. On the other, maybe that´s why they are challenging Pacquiao, surely he´ll earn millions fighting with him and goes through retirement rightaway!
But I doubt it, again his mental state of mind is really questionable!
devon alexander is the class of the division. i dont think this valero dude can beat mallinaggi
manny pacman pacquiao the greatest boxer of all time…….. floyd’s greatest ugly ducking boxer ever………..
Why did the fight with Bradley fall through? Hmmm… So, Valero isn’t fighting Bradley, but is fighting the guy that just lost to Bradley. Hmmm…#1 threat, huh?
Valero is raw.As in Pacquiao that fought with jab-jab-straight of old would tell him to calm down and get some boxing lessons.He looked great against DeMarco because DeMarco was scared to pick his shots and counter even though he had a lot of oppurtunities.Valero needs to fight someone good,don’t look at him having 27 straight KOs against nobodies and say he’s awesome.
hype job.
Valero has never faced any real competition (at least professionally). Let’s see him fight some contenders before he calls out any superstars.
I’d like to see him against the top boxer right now, he established himself as a fighter, he is not scared of circumstances….He will be the next Pacquiao!
@Feliciano
You beat me to it. I just submitted an article about Valero! Many similar points, and it’s good to see I’m not the only one who thinks Valero is worth writing about!
A couple points… his record (to my knowledge) is 27-0. Also, he’s in negotiations with Top Rank to fight Lamont Peterson at the moment, so a JMM fight would have to wait for later.
…ryan
Valero is 2 to 3 fights on national tv before he can face the top tier of fighters in the Jr. welter division. That said he had to win those fights by KO to attract more boxing fans.
How is someone that has NEVER fought any A grade fighter the #1 threat??? Valero actually has very few B level opponents too, he’s build up an impressive record against mostly C,D, and F level competition. Arum said Valero wanted Bradley after Valero’s last fight and as soon as Bradley accepted the offer and Showtime agreed to show the fight and a venue in Mexico was set up, all by Bradley’s people, Arum quit answering his phone and started making up excuses. If Valero wants to fight the big names, than he first needs to fight some top contenders and champions that aren’t huge names. Valero has said he’s going to be at 140, so there is Bradley, Alexander, Maidana, Ortiz, Juan Diaz, Khan, Malignaggi, even a Urango would be a big step up from anyone he’s fought. Valero isn’t a threat, but a much overhyped brawler, that will be exposed if he is ever put in with top level competition. You might as well say Chavez Jr. is the new #1 threat, his opponents are about the same quality as Valero’s.
Peterson will be knock out with in 6 rounds agnist Valero
We’ll see what happens when he faces Lamont Peterson. If he can keep up his skills when putting on weight, then he may have a shot w/top guys. That being said he swings way too wide to fight Pacquiao, same type of fighter, but very few are able to keep speed and power moving up in weight. Only time will tell if Valero can do it.
Floyd’s the greatest of all time!
One more thing i want to enphasize on yes this guys power is incredble but at the moment he is knocking out lightweights it will be slithly more diffcult for him to take his oppents out by knockout if he were to move up to the welterweight division, but then again i could be wrong.
Valero is a very dangerous boxer of his own caliubar and im really getting annoyed with people compairing him to Manny Pacquiao.There not the same.