Edwin Valero - A Force to be Reckoned With

By Andrew Fruman

If you happened to browse the various boxing message boards before last night’s lightweight contest between Edwin Valero and Antonio DeMarco, you must have noticed a good number of predictions calling for the upset.

One of the arguments being that the straighter shots of the more technically sound Mexican would overcome Valero’s wild attack - another being that if DeMarco could weather the early storm, his tormentor would gradually slow down and unravel.

Fair logic, but from the opening bell until the fight was stopped after 9, a DeMarco win never looked like even a remote possibility.  This held true despite a constant stream of blood descending from a wound on the right side of Valero's forehead.  Caused by an accidental elbow, this was no ordinary gash but it seemed to only spur the Venezuelan fighter to battle harder.

DeMarco simply couldn’t cope with Valero’s offense. He was always too busy trying to fend off attacks to mount one of his own and in the process of protecting himself, slowly but surely wilted under the pounding.

There’s always going to be a temptation to pick against strong but recklessly aggressive fighters. Watching them blast away with their chin exposed, it’s not hard to picture such a battler being separated from his senses by a well timed counter.

This was the knock against a young Rocky Marciano. The Brockton Blockbuster was too wide open – and eventually would pay the price. As we know by Marciano’s famous 49-0 ledger, his comeuppance never came. One can argue that all of his championship quality opponents – Jersey Joe Walcott, Ezzard Charles & Archie Moore - were of the older spent variety, and there’s certainly some truth to that, but to a man they were cagey operators that knew how to counter with pop.

Another overly aggressive wide swinging bomber was Pipino Cuevas. The Mexican phenom was short on craft, but brought a steady violent attack that was good enough to tear through some very solid welterweights.

The lights eventually did go out on Cuevas – but it took a fighter the level of Thomas Hearns to end the heavy handed Mexican’s impressive run.

It probably won't take an opponent as capable as Hearns - there aren't too many of those after all - to topple Edwin Valero, but it’s going to take a heck of a good fighter to do it.  A fighter much better than Antonio DeMarco.  One that's either got a good pair of legs and really quick hands, or is capable of standing in against Valero's punishing blows and blasting back with his own.

Even then, it might be a good idea not to go against the Venezuelan slugger.

e-mail Andrew Fruman