On Sunday, April 18, former WBA Super Featherweight Champion and WBC Lightweight Champion Edwin Valero was arrested for the alleged murder of his wife, Jennifer Viera in Caracas, Venezuela. He was found later hanging by his own clothes, having committed suicide. He was 28 years old. The sensational southpaw had not been defeated. He had a string of 27 wins, all from knockouts, and of the 27 KOs to his credit, 19 occurred in the first round.
Caracas the scene of tragedy
Allegedly, Edwin Valero left his hotel room near dawn on Sunday and told hotel security he had murdered his wife. Police entered the room and found the body of Jennifer Viera, aged 24, stabbed to death. He was taken into custody, and while awaiting arraignment and charges, Valero hung himself using his sweat pants as a rope, according to the Huffington Post.
The last few years have seen 3 high profile boxers meet a violent end. Arturo Gatti was found dead from strangulation, and Alexis Arguello was found dead from a gunshot wound. Arguello’s death hasn’t been ruled on, but Gatti’s was considered a suicide.
A troubled but legendary career in the making
Edwin Valero was a phenomenon. Southpaws are few between, even fewer with his knockout power. He went undefeated for 27 fights, all knockouts, 19 of which within the first round, breaking a record that stood given that 1905. His first 18 fights as a professional were all first round knockouts, making him a phenomenon.
His career was troubled by injury
Edwin Valero’s career nearly didn’t get off the ground, as he sustained a head injury from a motorcycle crash just before his professional debut. The brain trauma he sustained was just enough to get him denied license in numerous U.S. state governing bodies, and as a result he didn’t fight within the US between 2003 and 2009. He returned to the states in 2009, defeating Antonio Pitalua in Texas, by referee stoppage (TKO) in the second round for the vacant WBO Lightweight title. Few could match him pound for pound.
Assault allegations
Twice, Valero had been alleged to have committed assault, but both times it was dismissed. He was ordered to get six months of counseling and rehabilitation in March of 2010. No one knows just what touched off the Edwin Valera wife murder suicide, and now nobody ever will. May his family and friends discover some measure of peace during these times.
No comments:
Post a Comment