I wrote a story a few weeks back on the tragic demise of the ultra talented Edwin Valero, a Venezuelan fighter who ended up killing his wife in a drug crazed frenzy, then taking his own life in prison the day after. I?ve received a few emails from readers asking me how good Valero really was and whether he was a hyped up internet creation ? la Kimbo Slice.
Valero never really took a step up in class during his professional career that made him an elite fighter ? he had some good names on his record but never fought a genuinely great fighter. So as far as his record would indicate, it?s uncertain as to how good he actually was.
I?ve followed my friend Doug Fischer?s coverage of Valero pretty thoroughly over the past few years (Doug is formally of MaxBoxing.com and now joint editor of Ring Magazine online, and the man largely responsible for drawing attention to Valero in the US). Fischer had been an ardent supported of Valero and was convinced he had the talent and skills to be an all time great. Fischer also believed he had the tools to take on Manny Pacquiao and any other fighter from 135 up to 147 ? a bold claim and one that speaks volumes about Valero?s talents. Fischer knows his stuff when it comes to boxing and I?m inclined to believe him when he puts his credibility on the line like that. Anyhow, I ran across this mini documentary on Valero that Fischer made while working for Max Boxing back in 2006, and I highly recommend checking it out. There?s footage of Valero beating up serious contenders in the gym, and a host of trainers weighing in on how good the guy really was. Part 2 can be seen here.
On a side note, the only fighter who held his own with Valero in sparring (at least in the documentary) was Jose Armando Santa Cruz ? a fighter I?ve actually sparred with. And no, it wasn?t much fun.
