By Ryan Dunn: With 27 knockouts in 27 wins and 0 defeats, Edwin Valero is nothing if not one of the most exciting young prospects in boxing today. His first 18 fights were first round knockouts, and he is growing with every fight. What began as a relentless, two-fisted attack has evolved into a relentless, two-fisted attack with some improved defense and an improving jab. So what to make of this cultish figure?
On one hand Valero remains largely untested, though extremely talented. His punching power at Super Featherweight and Lightweight has been unprecedented, and he throws with such reckless abandon each and every round that it’s a wonder he hasn’t accidentally knocked HIMSELF out by now. His biggest win came over Antonio DeMarco, who himself managed to KO Adjaho in 9 rounds but hasn’t really proven he can outclass the elite fighters yet either.
And now Valero’s looking to move from lightweight up to 140 to fight Lamont Peterson, in what would clearly be his biggest test to date. Valero left behind his belt to move up to Jr. Welterweight, and is currently considered by the WBC to be a “champion in recess” (which basically means he can come back down to 135 for an immediate match with whomever holds the title at that time). Lamont Peterson, while a technically sound boxer, recently lost a bravely fought, but lop-sided decision to Timothy Bradley, and doesn’t have all that deep a resumé himself (do we count Willy Blain and Lanardo Tyner?).
But there is something slowing this bout down, and it has nothing to do with the promoters or the fighters. It has to do with Edwin Valero’s brain. Several years ago, Valero was in a motorcycle accident, and suffered some minor damage. He was diagnosed with a blood clot in his brain which has prevented him from receiving a license in all states he has applied in except for Texas (where he knocked Antonio Pitalua out in 2 rounds). After the fight, Texas suspended his license again, leaving him knocking on USA’s door with nobody to answer.
But Top Rank’s Bob Arum, who has a “firm contract” with Valero, is working on ways to get his fighter into the states for the fight with Peterson. “Valero has to get his U.S. Visa and get into this country,” Arum said, “which I believe is happening. And then, we have to figure out where to put the fight, because the only state where Valero is licensed now is Texas.” We’ll see what happens with Nevada in particular, who has changed the rules to allow a fighter with a previously negative MRI to re-apply if his MRI comes back clear.
Regardless of his lack of experience with top fighters, many are already saying Valero is the second coming of Manny Pacquiao, and that he might be just the guy to put Manny on the canvas. There’s no question these two brawlers have much in common. Both love to trade, both leave themselves open for sharp counter shots, and both have managed to amass a resumé of impressive knockouts on their way up the ladder. Their highlight reels will be on constant loop in Boxing’s Hall of Fame long after they are both dead and gone.
In all the speculation about Valero, I see another fighter who he reminds me of, and that is Ricardo Mayorga. Like Mayorga, Valero will unload the kitchen sink with wide, looping shots from both hands. Where Pacquiao was a one-fisted power puncher through his pre-Roach days, Valero and Mayorga both celebrate natural strength with both hands. Mayorga could knock anyone down if given the opportunities, but showed major flaws when going toe-to-toe with smart boxers like De La Hoya, Trinidad, and Mosley, but also proved that he could overwhelm a natural boxer like Vernon Forrest. Some boxers don’t do well when overwhelmed with punches, but a guy like Mayweather can keep his cool and weather the storm with razor-sharp counter shots.
But can Valero contend with boxing’s elite? Can he knockout a Timothy Bradley, or an Andre Berto? Can he outpoint a Shane Mosley, or a Miguel Cotto? The questions are out there, and Valero’s poised to answer them all. He’s hungry. He thinks he’s ready to enter the ring with Pacquiao right now, but it would be in his best interest to test his strength at 140 first, and get a couple fights under his belt before moving up and knocking on the P4P King’s door.
So, will Valero prove similar in strength and deficiency to Mayorga? Or does he have the makings of a new-and-improved Pacquiao? Or is he a creature all unto himself, looking to carve out his own name in boxing’s book of legend? Time will definitely tell, and there is no question Valero’s star, no matter how scarred, is on the rise.
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