For Part One, Click HERE
by Green Machine
VALERO TO RETURN TO MEXICO
Names Rolando Reyes as next challenger
June 30th, 2010, The Boxing Tribune – Well it didn’t take long. Just a bit over two weeks since WBC lightweight champion Edwin Valero stopped Edner Cherry in four rounds, Top Rank President Bob Arum announced Valero’s next challenger in a bout taking place less than two months away. Former IBA and NABO lightweight champion Rolando Reyes will step up and challenge the power punching Venezuelan in a bout that will bring the WBC champion back to Mexico for the first time in three years.
Reyes (31-4-2, 20 KO’s) has been inactive since April of 2009 when he stopped former world champion Julio Diaz in five rounds. Reyes was riding a five fight win streak (four stoppages) before he went inactive for undisclosed reasons. A decent puncher with slick movement, Reyes appears to be a step in the direction of preparing Valero for more mobile opponents, guys like Manny Pacquiao or even Floyd Mayweather though Reyes is no where near the caliber of either two.
So, how does this affect a possible showdown with Manny Pacquiao? It doesn’t according to Bob Arum. Sources say that with Pacquiao rumored to be setting up a bout with the shameless Antonio Margarito, and other top ranked lightweights having prior commitments, this was the best option. That’s not to discount Reyes, who is a very competent opponent and, many feel may even give Valero some problems early on.
The main obstacle in securing a Pacquiao-Valero fight is the fact that Valero can’t yet get a license in the United States, but Arum is working on that too, maybe even as hard as he’s worked on getting Margarito back in the ring. Floyd Mayweather’s name has been mentioned in Valero talks as well but that possibility seems remote especially since, as Pretty Boy put it, “I ain’t never heard of the kid”.
Edwin Valero (28-0, 28 KO’s) vs. Rolando Reyes (31-4-2, 20 KO’s) for the WBC lightweight championship will take place on September 19th 2010 at the Mexico City Arena Coliseo, Mexico City, DF, Mexico and will be broadcast live on Showtime.
GOING THE DISTANCE
Battered and Bruised, Reyes reaches the Finish Line
September 19th, 2010, The Boxing Tribune – It was victory of sorts, but not at all the kind Rolando Reyes wanted. After 12 brutal rounds with the world’s lightweight champion, Reyes became the first fighter to last the full distance with knockout artist Edwin Valero. Not much of a consolation prize, but it’s something right?
Knockout aside, the WBC lightweight title bout went just as expected, much to the delight of the sell out crowd at the Mexico City Arena Coliseo in Mexico City. Reyes moved well during the first two rounds, keeping Valero off balance with quick, albeit light punches. Valero appeared to be rushing, lunging in with wide sloppy punches and missing with most of them, until the start of the third round.
Valero lead off the round with a solid right hook to Reyes rib cage, a punch that visibly shook the challenger and sent him in to retreat. While favoring his left side, Reyes was able to snap out a few jabs but Valero continued to press forward keeping the pressure on.
The bout continued with Valero constantly on the attack, landing punches at will. Reyes finally tasted the canvas in the eighth round, courtesy of another hook the ribs that many felt had the fight wrapped up and Valero gaining his 29th knockout victory. Surprising to everyone in the arena, Reyes was up at the count of four and continued the fight thought there wasn’t much fight left in him.
Knockdowns in the 10th and 11th rounds for Valero had many questioning why the bout wasn’t halted as Reyes was taking a real pounding, but he was showing great heart and may have even gotten some mercy from Valero as the Champ completely laid off in the final round, allowing Reyes to win that one on two of three judges scorecards. The ending announcements were all but a formality: 117-108, 116-109 twice gave Edwin Valero his 29th straight victory.
“He was a tough fighter, with a lot of heart” stated the Champion, “I always train for a tough fight, so going the distance didn’t bother me. I train to win”.
Promoter Bob Arum jumped in the mix with a few words of his own: “This was one tough guy he was in there with, and we knew that he (Reyes) was a tough fighter which is why we selected him as our opponent. Everyone thought this was an easy fight but he did something no one has done before and he’s still standing.” Speaking on Valero’s future, Arum has this to say, “This kid, he’s such a great young fighter and we’re working day and night to get him cleared to fight in the States. The American public will embrace Edwin, the style of fighter he is, and once he’s known here he can realize the American dream like so many have before him.”
If Arum is successful in clearing Valero to fight Stateside, it could lead to some very big and exciting fights down the road but for now, American fans will have to settle for watching him on TV.
Other notable results in the lightweight division:
11-27-2010 – Juan Manuel Marquez TKO 9 Michael Katsidis *WBA/WBO title
11-06-2010 – Robert Guerrero W 10 Vicente Escobedo *WBO Inter-Continental title
09-11-2010 – Brandon Rios DQ 7 Anthony Peterson
11-13-2010 – Brandon Rios TKO 5 Omri Lowther
11-27-2010 – Miguel Vazquez W 12 Ricardo Dominguez *IBF title
11-25-2010 – Paulus Moses RTD 4 Sergio Omar Priotti
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