Edwin Valero could-and should-be
the future draw of boxing

By Marshall Garvey


Almost any hardcore boxing junkie knows the pack of Venezuelan dynamite that is Edwin Valero, thanks to bootlegging and the ever-handy youtube.com. He’s 20-0, with all wins coming by KO and only two ending after the first round. He’s young, having recently turned 25 earlier this month. And, until he (hopefully) passes medical tests in each state (being suspended due to a failed MRI of the brain), he’s unable to tread the canvas anywhere in the U.S. This career roadblock has kept Valero slugging it out as best he can elsewhere, and although his cult following is fervent, he merits widespread viewing. And if anything, “El Inca” (or “Dinamita,” if you prefer) has the awesome potential to bring significant popularity back to boxing.

The saying goes that seeing is believing. For me, seeing one Valero fight is believing he’s enough to quench the sport’s thirst for a superstar. He’s not the most calculated of boxers, but boy, is he among the most exciting. The moment the bell clangs, Valero puts on a show that thrills and dazzles everyone watching. He has a relentless killer instinct, with exhilarating speed and walloping body shots that drill opponents into the ropes. His knockouts are the kind a viewer hungers for when sitting down to watch a fight. And above all, he possesses an utter desire to wipe out whoever stands in his way. Whether on HBO, Showtime, or (perhaps preferably) ESPN’s “Friday Night Fights,” Valero’s volcanic display would be an invigorating treat for viewers across America.

In downswings of boxing popularity, most might look to the heavyweight division to boast a remedy. But with modern HW leaders like John Ruiz and Nikolay Valuev carrying wet torches, it wouldn’t hurt to bring traditional heavyweight hunger down 70 or 80 pounds to Valero’s level. The guy is an absolute joy to watch, and I hope that in due time he’s slugging it out for waves of television viewers everywhere.

Valero is scheduled to fight Michael Lozada next, on January 3 of next year in Tokyo. The fight will be for the WBA Super Featherweight Title.