RESPECT for Valero and DeMarco - nice performance by the Champ!

Intense, exciting battle, a lot of heart from both guys and the warrior mentality to take some and give some back. Not a FOTY type of fight, too one-sided with Valero ultimately breaking DeMarco's will to continue, but if only every okay fight would be this intense! Valero overcame an insane cut, and I have nothing but respect for him not to say no mas and escape with a no contest. He put on a methodical beating instead, and looked damn good in it! I've been saying Valero has some serious skills ever since I saw him spar Barrera and Morales (don't know which was first), but it rarely showed in his fights before and his medical issues forced him to waste a few years of his prime, if you consider picking up belts in two divisions outside of the US a waste. Anyway, it's about time to live up to the expectations. I also liked the sportsmanship and respect between these guys after the fight, don't know what's true of Valero's personal problems, but he left them outside of the ring.

Even if the Pacquiao comparison was brought up for a bit of hype by Showtime, for once I agree with the commentators, Edwin in this fight did remind me of that early PacMan years, slick southpaw stance, good headmovement, aggressive style, fast hands, good rhythm, a lot of angles and power. I just don't understand if he looked as good in sparring why did it take years to look just as good in a real fight? Maybe too much pressure to go for the knockout or something... Vs. DeMarco, his best opponent since Mosquera, he paced himself and used controlled aggression to put on a methodical beating in a busy fight, and that's what he should do from now on. Now imagine him not getting caught by the MRI in 2004(!), and possibly joining Freddie Roach years back! In 2010, we can only hope this performance was not an exceptional one but the level he'll fight on, only the knockout was missing yesterday to look absolute badass. And respect for DeMarco too, he took everything Valero threw and tried his best, but it was not enough. I feel he'll be back soon.

Anyway, good job by Valero!

 

Well, what is Pac gaining from beating Clottey?

... exactly. Valero is Top Rank so it makes him a potential opponent simple as that, Bob Arum likes to keep all the promotional income for himself nowadays. Pac-Valero was seriously discussed before and was almost made when Hatton-Pac nearly fell off, so don't rule him out. Pac will have his next fight in September, either against the Mayweather-Mosley winner (Floyd is a hard fight to make, no way Roach lets Pac near Shane if he upsets May), or against a Top Rank fighter. Margarito would make PPV sense on the Mexican Independece weekend whereas Valero would be a lot smaller risk and still be a potentially exciting fight.

Look, Pac reached the level of popularity that if it's not the Floyd super-megafight, it doen't make a damn difference who else he's fighting, Clottey, Valero, Margarito, Mosley or Bob Arum's mother, he's producing millions regardless, but it's a whole lot difference whether Arum has to split the promotional income or he can keep it all for himself. And THAT makes Valero a potential candidate.