December 16, 2006
TOKYO, JAPAN
WBA 130-pound champ Edwin gDinamitah Valero (20-0, 20 KOs), Venezuela, looks monstrous in preparation for his initial defense against Mexican Michael Lozada (22-3-1, 15 KOs) in Tokyo on January 3. Valero is now living in Tokyo with his family, and will reside here until his career is over.
The Japan-based sensational southpaw is a sharpshooting hard-puncher. His precision in catching the target is superb enough in sparring sessions with OPBF light champ Randy Suico, Japanese 130-pound ruler Yusuke Kobori, world-rated 140-pounder Arturo Morua, etc. Every sparring session looked impressive for some witnesses as he was too fast and too accurate for the partners. Valero, also called gEl Incah, is a beetle-haired youngster, still 25, who diligently keeps training at Teiken Gym in the center of Tokyo.
Valero registered 18 first-round stoppages in a row from his pro debut in 2002, and kept finishing his opponents, if not in the opening session, to capture the WBA super-feather belt by a tenth round stoppage over Vicente Mosquera in the champfs home-turf in Panama this August. It was really a thriller, each hitting the deck. Finally Valerofs superior stamina and power wore down the highly regarded defending champ Mosquera whom he pummeled into submission.
Though some people are worried about his stamina and durability, this reporter has watched his tremendous physical energy in his 12-round sparring sessions straight on several occasions. Valero is not only a hard-hitter but also a smart footworker. During his sparring with his main partner Randy Suico, 26-3, 23 KOs, for more than 50 rounds, Valero usually outclassed and outpunched the Filipino hard-puncher with precision. When Suico occasionally caught Valero with big punches, the Venezuelan showed he could take punch and cleverly moved his position not to receive any follow-up combinations with quick sidestepping or circling. He apparently dominated all sparring sessions without doubt. Valero, now coached by Venezuelan trainer Jorge Zerpa and Japanese Sendai Tanaka, visibly made a rapid progress in combination punching and defensive skills.
Valerofs Japanese promoter Akihiko Honda denied a possibility for Valero to fight Manny Pacquiao in Macau next March, though once rumored, saying gValero is still improving well. He is diligent and is a quick learner. I plan to have Edwin experience at least three defenses before we consider his encounter with Pacman Pacquiao, which wonft probably happen in 2007.h It seems a smart blue print in cultivating the monstrous Valero.
Valero recently appeared in a cable WOWOW TV program and served as guest commentator for the third encounter of Manny Pacquiao and Eric Morales. He showed his smartness in analyzing the outcome with his own point of view. Velero is becoming more and more popular here in Japan. If he displays another spectacular KO victory against Michael Lozada, he will surely be more sensational. If there should be a boxer who can beat Pacquiao, this Japan-based Venezuelan might be the man.
(12-16-06)