VALERO SCORES 25TH KNOCKOUT WIN

Inching closer to the elite status and worldwide acclaim where he says he rightfully belong, Edwin Valero of Venezuela added another knockout victim to his perfect record in Antonio Pitalua of Mexico at Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas Saturday night (Sunday morning in Manila) to capture the WBC lightweight belt recently vacated by Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao.

Showing speed and accuracy, Valero (25-0-0) dominated Pitalua (46-4-0) in and round one and sends the game Mexican to the canvas in the second round with a perfectly timed right hook. Sensing blood, Valero jumped on Pitalua with a flurry of punches and sends the Mexican to the canvas for the second time where Pitalua was able to beat the count but was clearly hurt. Valero then finished him off with a barrage of unanswered punches before Texas referee Laurence Cole intervened to stop the carnage.

Fighting for the first time in the United States since December, 2003, Valero put the top dogs of the division on notice that certainly he has arrived on the scene. After the devastating win, Valero called out WBO and WBA lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez for a unification bout.