this one is tough to call because there are so many as-of-yet unknown quantities about both fighters. funeka was floored numerously by campbell, so my confidence in his chin against a hard hitter like valero is a bit shaky. however, valero has been dropped too--and there is the question of his now infamous past head injury. in addition, i am curious what would happen if funeka really optimized his reach advantage and straightened out his jab, which he has not really done when guys press him, but that's his best chance, i think, to seize an advantage against a big puncher. valero is no technical wonder, and i think he could be fairly easily outboxed by a rangy and steady fighter, but that would require funkeka to really step up his game profoundly. interesting match-up, i'd be curious to see it.
This is a really good post...although if I may make one correction, Funeka never got him on the jaw. He got hit with the famed equilibrium shot, right behind the ear. Coming into Campbell-Funigga, Funigga was said to be a power punching crude slugger type. His performance was more Paul Williams circa 2005 than anything else, a lot of pitter pat punches that score points but not damage. He also showed a few technical tricks that I didn't expect to see from a guy with a shaky background (turning Campbell against the ropes, forcing Nate to carry his bodyweight on clinches etc etc). Valero hasn't been fighting in the U.S nor has he been fighting prime opposition so THAT makes him just as unknown as Funeka. That said Funeka has shown to be open to wide looping punches, basically tailor made for Valero.
you're right about the equilibrium shot, i just re-watched the knockdowns...i think funeka's height and slight body serves to make any knock to his balance more dangerous. his frame doesn't keep him in place and his feet are too wide or too narrow in their spread to catch him, so he falls, like he did. good eye. the same thing happened, years ago, when funeka was floored by gabriel phakula. i suppose it's a knockout risk either way, because of the opportunities it sets up, but, technically, not a chin issue. good call.
arriba, you know, it's funny that funeka and celestino caballero, two abnormally tall guys for their divisions both get the same write-off routine as being crude and unorthodox, one dimensional fighters that just wing shots hastily and innaccurately.
What would he do to Funeka? Well Nate Campbell dropped him so Funeka goes out on a stretcher. Campbell is B level with one good win over Diaz. Campbell not really impressive against Funeka.
Campbell is a better fighter and a better puncher than Edwin Valero. Funeka would outbox Valero and win a decision, through seeing as Mosquera dropped and hurt Valero if Funeka catched him with the straight right who could very well put his lights out.
Valero will be the poster child for the word "exposed" here on ESB. its like you said on another post hes the Lamar Clark of this generation.