EDWIN VALERO: THE MOST AVOIDED FIGHTER TODAY!
Los Angeles, CA- Showtime finally comes through with another installment of it’s World Championship Boxing series Saturday when it features explosive power puncher, WBC lightweight (135 lbs) champion Edwin Valero (26-0, 26 KOs) of Venezuela versus Tijuana’s WBC interim champion Antonio DeMarco (23-1-1, 17 KOs). Valero is a relative unknown to the American public due to only fighting on US soil once in the last five years. He was denied a boxing license in 2004 after failing an MRI in New York. A brain injury from a motorcycle accident in 2001 led to the failed test.
VALERO GOT HIS “BONES” BEATING ON “EL TERRIBLE”
DeMarco, a regular on the Showtime Show Box series is probably his most difficult assignment yet. The lanky 5’10 southpaw is a boxer puncher, who is not known for having exceptional speed, but is solid technical fighter. This is an opportunity for both guys to rise to the top of the lightweight division. Valero’s stunning knockout ratio (100%) should make him a fan favorite in the US if he can dispose of the Mexican impressively and quickly. It’s a feat that many boxing experts anticipate and look forward to.
VIDEO OF EDWIN HURTING MORALES
Valero first gained notoriety as a sparring partner for former three time world champion Eric Morales (48-6, 34 KOs).
VALERO NOT A “NICE GUY” IN GYM
The Venezuelan has been known to put hurt on his sparring mates, and many think that same hurt will be applied to DeMarco who appears frail, but is a very capable prizefighter. His considerable height advantage over the shorter southpaw (5’7 ½) will be something he must utilize, and it would be wise to not get into a slugfest with the sometimes wide punches but powerful onslaughts of Valero. While each of the combatants is relatively unknown, both know how important it is to put on a fine performance in front of a national TV audience.
FIGHTS NO-NAMES BECAUSE THE NAMES ARE SCARED!
If Valero can win this fight with a highlight reel KO, he should have a spot on most mythical top ten pound for pound lists. Even though the Venezuelan’s record consists of a lot of nondescript fighters, the fact that 19 of his foes couldn’t last the first stanza shows tremendous ability, potential and makes him a threat to any and all of the champions at 135 and 140 pounds. DeMarco, a slight underdog, has the perfect opponent in front of him to make a statement that he is a fighter to watch in the coming years and he best be prepared for the obstacle in front of him.
DEMARCO HAS SHOWN HIS TOUGHNESS TOO!
Even though Valero is favored, De Marco has faced an equally or tougher set of opponents thus far beating the likes of Kid Diamond (27-1-1, 15 KOs) (TKO 9), and former WBA lightweight titlist Jose Alfaro (23-5, 20 KOs)(TKO 10). While the Mexican continues to improve, it appears that the Venezuelans boxing skills have begun to regress. That being said, Valero’s punching power and De Marco’s lack of solid defensive skills should put another knockout on Valero’s ledger. Expect the Venezuelan puncher to go some rounds here, but in time Valero will prevail by TKO.
Kevin Perry