Valero, Hasegawa win in Tokyo

by Scott Christ on Jun 12, 2008 9:16 PM EDT

Source: Sports Network (via Seattle Post-Intelligence)

WBA super featherweight titleholder and apparently now the world's default No. 1 130-pounder Edwin Valero stopped Takehiro Shimada in seven rounds to retain his title and keep his unbeaten, KO-perfect record intact.

Valero, 26, is now 24-0 with 24 knockouts. The bout was the third-longest of his career, and could be his last in Japan for the time being, with his being licensed in Texas.

Shimada falls to 22-4-1 (15).

On the same card, WBC bantamweight titleholder Hozumi Hasegawa (24-2, 8 KO) beat challenger Cristian Faccio via second-round TKO. Mismatch on paper, mismatch in practice.

There's rumor now that Valero will join Manny Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Marquez (the Casamayor date is close to a done deal, apparently) and Joan Guzman at 135, alongside current lightweight names like Nate Campbell, Joel Casamayor, Juan Diaz, David Diaz, Julio Diaz, Amir Khan, Michael Katsidis, etc., which unquestionably now makes the 135-pound ranks the best in boxing, and it's not even particularly close. Basically the best of 130 are all moving up. It blows the 147-pound ranks right out of the water.

If Valero does skirt up a class to join the big three, that will leave, um, Humberto Soto as the best super featherweight in the world. The division is being decimated.

But I have to say it's worth the hit at 130 to watch 135 become so outstandingly competitive. Diaz-Pacquiao, Casamayor-Marquez, Campbell-Guzman, Diaz-Katsidis -- all those fights are on the table and look likely to happen. There's a glut of fantastic matchups that can be made, just outstanding, truly PPV-worthy stuff. Things that I wouldn't mind being charged to see. And it makes Pacquiao-Marquez III possible, but even if that doesn't happen, there's so much good stuff that can happen. Pacquiao-Casamayor would be awesome, I think.

But for right now, assuming the big three go up as planned (no reason they won't), Valero is the best 130-pounder in the world, maybe. How about that?

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Comments

Too nice

Edwin Valero… Jesus after he destroyed Zavaleta, Homuu (I think his name was), Lozada, Traznacos I expect nothing less from him. First time I saw him was with Mosquera-took long but destroyed the poor bastard. I like him he’s a brawler and a hunter 24 and 24 ko where the hell do you find that nowadays. Anyone caught his first match? That predicted his future! The only thing that I dont like is that he is a bit too open. He’s strong and quick and can take and eat a punch but you never know when that miricle shot is gonna drop on his jaw.

This kid is strong when that move happens lord, shit there’s no stopping that division. A few more big name bouts and it just might be Pacman time. Honestly, how the hell do you predict the outcome of a possible Pacman-Valero bout? ...time will tell.

I aways tell the truth. Even when I lie.

by CRAZEDANG1280 on Jun 12, 2008 10:26 PM EDT reply actions

I think Pac would smoke him

But I also would greatly favor the rest of the name guys at 130 or 135. I’d pick Soto over Valero. I like Valero, and he’s definitely continued to improve, but he’s going to run into someone that hits back and does so hard, and I see him getting creamed.

Course, I’ve been wrong before. And maybe he’ll pull a Manny and just get better and better. I doubt it, because he doesn’t have that kind of speed, but you never know.

"Yesterday I was lying, today I am telling the truth." -- Bob Arum

Camden Chat
Bad Left Hook

by Scott Christ on Jun 13, 2008 5:34 AM EDT up reply actions