Bad Left Hook, Global Boxing News and Commentary

Edwin Valero: Haunting The Edges by Jeff Pryor of The Boxing Bulletin There is a man who's legend has grown in the recesses of the sport of boxing. A man who haunts the edges of the spotlight like a spectre. His face, gaunt, rigid and intense, lips curling back in fury as he pummels opponents into the mat; something he has done nineteen times in the first round of a fight. Of the other seven fighters he has faced; men who managed to survive those opening salvos and make it through to further stanzas, none have heard the final bell toll. Twenty six opponents were gunned down by a dark messenger, whose very appearance evokes some demonic, pagan warrior; a tuft of hair on his chin, wild twists of hair, and intense eyes that seem to be both empty and leering as they witness the carnage he delivers to each felled fighter... That was the opening to an article I began, but did not finish, prior to Edwin Valero's matchup with Antonio DeMarco earlier this year. Rereading it now, a little chill runs up my back, for I remember particularly penning the passages there and having one word running through my head over and over with which I could think of to evoke what it was to see Valero in the heat of a fight... Read the rest here...

Barry McGuigan wrote an article for the Mirror pleading for Edwin Valero to get out of the ring, and for boxing to stop overlooking the serious brain injury he suffered earlier in life. The same injury is the reason he is only licensed by one state in the US: Texas. "It was not until the New York State scan that the extent of his injuries were revealed. The fact that he had a traumatic brain injury, a tear inside the cranium in the most vulnerable part of the brain, means he should never box again in my view. That is a devastating conclusion to reach for such a talented fighter but not as desperate as the consequences might be of fighting on." With so many in and around boxing so concerned about fighter safety (which they should be), does the Valero situation seem like a strange oversight to you? I myself have mentioned it a few times when talking about Valero, but I'll admit I'm guilty of almost ignoring it myself. What say you?

AOL FanHouse sat down with reigning WBC lightweight titlist Edwin Valero for a Q&A session. Valero (26-0, 26 KO) takes on Antonio DeMarco (23-1-1, 17 KO) this Saturday at Arena Monterrey, televised on Showtime. FanHouse: What do you believe that beating Antonio Demarco will do for your career? Edwin Valero: This fight means a lot. Depending on what happens -- and it should go my way -- a win in this fight would open a lot more doors for bigger fights. (AP Photo / Junji Kurokawa)