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Valero is cleared to fight
Not too many fans know that before former WBA superfeatherweight champion Edwin Valero of Venezuela left Manila early this week, he underwent a brain scan at the Makati Medical Center with Dr. Regina Canlas on top of the procedure.
Valero, 27, fractured his skull and had surgery to remove a blood clot from a serious motorcycle accident in Venezuela seven years ago. He was cleared to turn pro by Venezuelan doctors a year later and made his debut in July 2002. But in 2004, Valero was not allowed to fight in New York after a brain scan showed the scar from the operation. News of his blacklisting spread and today, he is licensed to fight in the US only in Texas.
Because of his widespread prohibition, Valero relocated to Japan in 2005 and had to fly to Panama to win the WBA crown a year later. Today, Valero lives in Las Vegas and trains with Kenny Adams, the former US Olympic coach. He is close to signing a contract with Top Rank and according to his muscle therapist Rafael Garcia Jr., he will finally be able to fight in Nevada before the middle of next year. Valero is booked to face Antonio Pitalua in Mexico in March in an interim WBC lightweight title bout.
To get a second opinion, Valero submitted himself to a brain scan during his recent visit here. Businessman Hermie Esguerra and Reli de Leon arranged the scan with Dr. Canlas.
“Valero is cleared to fight,” said De Leon. “Dr. Canlas revealed the finding after a brain test was conducted.”
Valero’s record is a perfect 24-0, with 24 KOs, including 19 in the first round. The southpaw started boxing at the age of 12 and compiled an amateur record of 86-6, with 57 KOs. He relinquished the WBA superfeatherweight crown after four defenses to move up to the 135-pound division. Valero is now the WBC’s No. 1 lightweight contender.
Valero, 27, fractured his skull and had surgery to remove a blood clot from a serious motorcycle accident in Venezuela seven years ago. He was cleared to turn pro by Venezuelan doctors a year later and made his debut in July 2002. But in 2004, Valero was not allowed to fight in New York after a brain scan showed the scar from the operation. News of his blacklisting spread and today, he is licensed to fight in the US only in Texas.
Because of his widespread prohibition, Valero relocated to Japan in 2005 and had to fly to Panama to win the WBA crown a year later. Today, Valero lives in Las Vegas and trains with Kenny Adams, the former US Olympic coach. He is close to signing a contract with Top Rank and according to his muscle therapist Rafael Garcia Jr., he will finally be able to fight in Nevada before the middle of next year. Valero is booked to face Antonio Pitalua in Mexico in March in an interim WBC lightweight title bout.
To get a second opinion, Valero submitted himself to a brain scan during his recent visit here. Businessman Hermie Esguerra and Reli de Leon arranged the scan with Dr. Canlas.
“Valero is cleared to fight,” said De Leon. “Dr. Canlas revealed the finding after a brain test was conducted.”
Valero’s record is a perfect 24-0, with 24 KOs, including 19 in the first round. The southpaw started boxing at the age of 12 and compiled an amateur record of 86-6, with 57 KOs. He relinquished the WBA superfeatherweight crown after four defenses to move up to the 135-pound division. Valero is now the WBC’s No. 1 lightweight contender.
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