It appears that Manny Pacquiao will make the first defense of his newly minted World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight title against Venezuelan Edwin ?Dinamita? Valero on November 8.
The big names in the 135-pound division are all fully booked. American Nate Campbell, the World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) lightweight champ, is headed for a September 13 clash with Joan Guzman. On the same month, former two-time world lightweight champ Joel Casamayor will square off with Juan Manuel Marquez, the former WBC jr. lightweight champ who is moving up in weight in pursuit of a third showdown with Pacquiao.
Ricky ?Hitman? Hatton, the only marketable opponent for Pacquiao in the heavier jr. welterweight class (140 lbs), is leaning on rubbing mitts with IBF jr. welter titlist Paulie Malignaggi later this year. Hatton holds the fringe International Boxing Organization (IBO) jr. welter crown and it would serve Pacquiao better if he waits for Hatton to snare the legitimate IBF belt before issuing a formal challenge to the hard-hitting Briton. Hatton is the favorite to prevail against the pillow-fisted Malignaggi.
With no one to mess with, Pacquiao has been left to settle for Valero. It?s not a bad choice. Valero, the reigning WBA jr. lightweight champ (130 lbs.), totes an unbeaten record of 24-0, with all the victories coming by way of knockout?19 in the first round. Valero holds the world record for the most number of first round knockouts to start a career. He turned pro in 2002 and demolished his first 18 opponents in the opening round?breaking the previous record of 15 set by Young Otto in 1905. The first-round knockout streak ended in March 2006, when Valero needed two rounds to annihilate Genaro Trazancos.
The rap on Valero is that almost all of his victims have been patsies. Analyze the names of all the fighters he had fought and three names always crop up?Larry, Curly and Moe. Yup, all stooges. In his only genuine test to date, Valero kissed the canvas in the third round before stopping the previously unbeaten Vicente Mosquera in 10 rounds for the WBA jr. lightweight diadem in August 2006.
