By Dan Ambrose: Top Rank promoter Bob Arum wants World Boxing Council lightweight champion Edwin Valero (27-0, 27 KO’s) to get some fights under his belt at light welterweight (140 pounds) before he can even consider matching him up with his cash cow, WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao according to the latest boxing news. Arum is looking to have the 28-year-old Valero move up in weight five pounds and take on someone like WBO light welterweight champion Timothy Bradley in his next fight.

Arum has already spoken to Gary Shaw, the promoter for Bradley, about a fight between Valero and Bradley. But it’s a fight that could have problems being put together because Valero was previously denied a visa to get into the U.S. because of a past DUI charge, and he also has a medical suspension in the U.S. because he reportedly failed an MRI exam in 2002. Valero would have to be able to receive a license to fight in the U.S. for a fight against Bradley.

Valero is interested in fighting Pacquiao, saying after last Saturday night’s stoppage win over Antonio DeMarco in Mexico, “That’s the fight [Pacquiao-Valero] that all true fans want to see. It would be explosive with lots of blood.” You can say that again. Valero was cut badly on the forehead against DeMarco after getting hit with a hard elbow early in the 2nd round.

The elbow opened up a huge gash on Valero’s forehead, causing blood to drip down into Valero’s face for the remainder of the fight. Had the fight taken place in the United States rather than Mexico, there’s a good chance that the bout would have been stopped early in the fight and ruled either a no contest of a technical decision.

Valero looked impressive in making his first appearance on American television. Valero controlled the entire fight using power shots and a constant flow of punches to keep DeMarco on the defense and totally bottled up offensively. DeMarco rarely attempted to throw any punches and just looked confused and out of his league. For boxing fans who had seen DeMarco’s other fights in which he had looked impressive in dominating his opponents, it was startling to see how badly he was dominated by Valero. It was never even remotely close.

It’s a gamble for Valero to move up in weight. He hasn’t proven yet that he’s the best lightweight in the division by fighting other top lightweights like Juan Manuel Marquez, Ali Funeka, Joan Guzman, Michael Katsidis, Kevin Mitchell, Paulus Moses, Joel Casamayor, Juan Diaz and Anthony Peterson. For Valero to move up without fighting any of those guys to see if he has what it takes, Valero could end up failing badly if they put him in with a fighter that he’s not ready for like Bradley.

There’s a huge difference between Bradley and DeMarco. I hope Arum realizes that before moving Valero too quickly. The upside is if Valero can beat a couple good light welterweights, he’ll greatly speed up the time needed for a fight against Pacquiao. Valero doesn’t have much time, and has to move more quickly than he’d like to get a shot against Pacquiao before the Filipino star retires from boxing.