Although he?s hoping to eventually fight Manny Pacquiao, former WBA superfeatherweight champion Edwin Valero said yesterday his respect for the Filipino icon will never wane because there isn?t a classier act in boxing today.
Valero and ex-WBC lightweight titlist David Diaz were flown in by Pacquiao from the US to attend his birthday party in General Santos City last Wednesday. They flew back home last night. Valero lives in Las Vegas and Diaz, in Chicago.
Valero said he was touched by Pacquiao?s gesture of checking on Diaz? condition after scoring a ninth round knockout to wrest the WBC 135-pound crown in Las Vegas last June.
?That?s a class act,? said Valero in Spanish through his travelling companion and interpreter Rafael Garcia Jr. ?Manny also showed concern for (Oscar) de la Hoya in their fight. That?s rare in boxing.?
Valero said beating De la Hoya affirmed Pacquiao?s status as the world?s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter.
?Right now, Manny?s on top of the world,? said Valero. ?Beating Oscar was something. Remember Oscar?s the guy who beat champions like Chavez and Gatti. Manny?s wiped out the best Mexican fighters in his class and they weren?t pushovers.?
Last Sunday night, Valero and Diaz met up with Pacquiao at the Renaissance Hotel where they conversed for about an hour. They thanked Pacquiao for bringing them over.
Businessman Hermie Esguerra took care of their Manila accommodations. He also sent them to Cebu for an overnight visit and brought them to the Santa Ana track to witness horse races.
Valero said if given the chance, he can stand up to Pacquiao – even at 147 pounds.
Watching a replay of Pacquiao?s win over De la Hoya in a Cebu hotel last Saturday, Valero said he could?ve beaten the Golden Boy as easily.
?De la Hoya wasn?t fighting back,? said Valero. ?Manny didn?t need to defend because De la Hoya was hardly throwing punches. If I fight Manny, I know he can hurt me but I can hurt him, too.?
Valero?s next fight is against Colombia?s Antonio Pitalua in Mexico in March. Top Rank chairman Bob Arum is arranging the interim WBC lightweight championship bout as Valero is ranked No. 1 and Pitalua, No. 2. The WBC continues to recognize Pacquiao as titleholder but it is likely the Filipino will give up the throne.
Valero promised to dispose of Pitalua in five rounds.
?My real target is Juan Manuel Marquez,? said Valero. ?I want him badly. There are four fighters in my list and they?re all with Golden Boy – Marquez, Michael Katsidis, Joel Casamayor and Juan Diaz. I?ll take them out one by one. It would be an honor for me to fight in the undercard of a Manny main event.?
Valero said he hopes to fight in the Philippines in the near future.
?I love the Filipino people,? he said. ?I want to give something back to them by fighting in their country.?
A Filipino businessman has offered to promote a Valero fight in Manila but the Pitalua bout in Mexico takes precedence.
Because of his inability to secure a boxing license in the US except in Texas, Valero had to relocate to Tokyo in 2005 with his wife Carolina and children Edwin Jr. and Rosalie. He was under contract to Akihiko Honda but has been released and is close to signing with Top Rank.
One of eight children, Valero grew up in the streets of Venezuela fighting in dark alleys. His father was a truck driver for 28 years and now, Valero is the breadwinner for his entire family.
When he was a boy, Valero said he liked to beat up other kids in streetfights and knew he had power in his fists.
?I want to be like Manny,? said Valero. ?I think if I just get the breaks like Manny, I can do what he?s doing. Boxing is a business and if ever Manny gives me a chance to fight him, I?ll be very grateful. I?ll fight him anywhere, even in his house. I want to fight only the best. I know I can knock him out.?
Valero speaks little English but Garcia said he?s working on improving his vocabulary and grammar. In Japan, he learned how to converse in Nihonggo out of necessity. Garcia said Valero will be able to project himself more easily in media if he speaks in English.
