By Brent Matteo Alderson
After spending a week in Costa Rica surfing and visiting old friends, I took a sixteen hour bus ride to the capital of Panama to witness the Valero-Mosquera fight. I arrived early Friday morning and got a hotel room. Groggy, I woke up around noon, sat down at a cafe, and read the newspaper over some coffee. The sports section had a few stories about the boxing card taking place tonight at the Figali Convention Center here in Panama City because the country's very own Vicente Mosquera is going to defend the WBA 130 pound title against the hard hitting Edwin Valero of Venezuela.
I immediately noticed that the weigh in was scheduled at 4pm at the Crown Casino in dowtown and headed straight there. Mosquera came in right at 130 pounds and Valero weighed 129.75. As Valero stepped on the scales the crowd yelled insults in Spanish. Shouts of "payaso," which means clown vibrated through the casino. The challenger seemed unfazed and was keen on just making the weight. The crowd's enthusiasm for their champion is reflected in odds that favor him three to one to retain his crown against the mysterious Venezuelan challenger.
Edwin "El Inca" Valero is a very intriguing figure in the world of boxing. The 24 year old holds the world record for having scored eighteen consecutive first round knockouts, breaking the record that was set one hundred years ago by Young Otto. Edwin finally went past the first round in his last fight when it took him two rounds to take out Genaro Trazancos. His opposition has been really limited and he hasn't fought anybody even resembling a contender. But like Vinney Pazienza used to say, "I dont care if you knocked your mother out fifty times she should have gotten lucky at least once."
And no one has gotten lucky against the young Venezuelan dynamo who currently is 19-0 (19). A number of astute observers, such as Doug Fischer from Maxboxing who calls Valero "my son," have stated that they have seen Valero get the best of some of the world's best fighters in heated sparring sessions in Los Angeles, California. According to some reports the young Venezuelan held more than his own against Erik Morales, who I asked about the sparring session when I interviewed him in Tijuana for KO magazine. "He's heavy handed, he hits hard, but I don't know if he can take it. I don't know if he has the stamina. Plus it doesn't really matter because he can't fight due to medical problems."
Which brings us to a another question about Valero. The Venzuelan supposedly sustained permanent brain injuries in 2001 prior to turning professional in a motorycycle accident and is no longer able to fight in the United States. Valero reportedly sufferred from subdural hematoma bleeding on his brain and in a situation similar to that of Joe Mesi, the powerful knock out artist was suspended from fighting in the United States when an MRI revealed the injury after having already fought in the States a few times.
In fact he had signed with Golden Boy Promotions for a short time in 2003, but their relationship was dissolved due to issues involving his medical suspension. Today after resuming his career with victories in Europe, Asia, and Latin America, Valero is fighting for the WBA 130 pound title against the formidable Vicente Mosquera. It's not coicdence that the young knockout artist with a shaky medical history has been made the mandatory contender by the WBA. If you can't help out one of your own countryman, then who can you help out? WBA President for life, Gilbert Mendoza, was in attendance at the weigh in to observe the ceremonies.
Even though much of the press in the the States has concentrated on Valero's medical problems and extraordinary knockout record, Mosquera might just steal the spotlight and solidify his status as one of the top 130 pounders in the world right along side Manny Pacquioa, Barrera, and Morales. Mosquera is ranked fourth at 130 pounds by Ring Magazine. He is making his second defense of the WBA title that he won from Yodsanan Sor Nanthachai (who holds wins over Steve Forbes from the second season of The Contender) and Lakva Sim, the man that Juan Diaz won the WBA 135 pound title from.
He's 26 years old, has a record of 24-1 (12), and is fighting in his native country of Panama. Plus his lone loss was by split decision at 122 pounds six years ago! Daniel Alonso who hosts a weekly televised boxing show here in Panama predicts a Mosquera victory, "He's a better boxer, he's more technical, and he's going to outbox Valero."
Thats why I am here folks. I come to Costa Rica every summer and decided to take the twenty five dollar sixteen hour bus ride to Panama in order to witness history. The Valero legend might just end up being all hype. He might get unveiled by the slicker more well rounded Mosquera just like the overhyped Joel Julio was exposed by Carlos Quintana. However there are a lot of experts who feel that Valero is special and that he has that special something to become a boxing legend. And that's why I'm here.
Because if he wins the title and goes on to a spectacular career I will always be able to say that I saw him win his first title! I like Valero in a thriller.
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