By Erwin Lastimosa
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Since WBC lightweight champion Edwin Valero put on a gutsy winning performance on Showtime last Saturday night against Mexican boxer Antonio DeMarco, the boxing fans and scribes have been clamoring for a Manny Pacquiao vs. Edwin Valero showdown.
Edwin Valero is an undefeated, tough, power punching Venezuelan boxer who is not allowed to fight in the United States(except for Texas) due to a serious brain injury he suffered in a past motorcycle accident.
The reason many boxing fans are craving this match up is the two styles would equal a sure fire shoot out and likely end in a knockout.
Valero has won every single one of his 27 pro fights by Knockout or stoppage and he is a southpaw to boot. Pacquiao has the edge in speed and footwork and carries also heavy hands from the southpaw stance.
Edwin Valero has been chasing Manny Pacquiao for years and even signed with Bob Arum and Top Rank, Pacquiao’s promoter, in hopes of landing a shot against the ferocious Filipino welterweight champion.
The only downside is market value, like Joshua Clottey, Edwin Valero presents a high risk and low reward type of match up for Pacquiao.
If Manny gets by Joshua Clottey on March 13, his best bet is to take on the winner of Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Sugar Shane Mosley.
Valero is a virtual unknown in the American sports conscious and not being able to fight in United States accept for Texas, it presents a tough sell to the American public.
If I were Arum I would try to promote Edwin Valero separately as another star, Valero doesn’t need to fight Pacquiao to be someone, and Pacquiao doesn’t need Valero at this point in his career.
If Arum can get Valero cleared in the United States and pit him against the top guys at lightweight and junior welterweight he could have another guaranteed action star on his hands so when the Pacman retires a guy like Valero could easily fill the void of most exciting fighter in boxing.
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Erwin Lastimosa is a long time boxing fan and enjoys boxing discussion with his peers. Some of his favorite fighters are Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Marvin Hagler, Muhammad Ali, Flash Elorde, Mike Tyson and Manny Pacquiao.