EDWIN VALERO
Valero is best known for setting a world record by winning the first 18 fights of his career by first-round knockout. The previous record for consecutive first-round knockouts was 15 by Young Otto (record), who accomplished the feat in 1905. In Valero's nineteenth fight (March 25, 2006), Genaro Trazancos ended the first-round KO streak by surviving until the second round.
Valero defeated Vicente Mosquera by tenth-round TKO on August 5, 2006. With this win, Valero won the WBA super featherweight title. He also kept his any-round knockout streak intact, with 20 consecutive knockouts. The world record for consecutive knockouts is 44 by American Lamar Clark (record).
Career Roadblocks
On Feb 5, 2001, Valero was involved in a severe motorcycle accident in which he wasn't wearing a helmet. He fractured his skull and had surgery to remove a blood clot. This injury was sustained prior to him launching his pro career, and it has created roadblocks to major bodies sanctioning his fights. Valero claims that his Venezuelan doctor cleared him to fight on Jan 17, 2002 and he turned pro that July with a first-round KO.
Valero appeared to hit the jackpot when he was signed after his 12th pro fight by Golden Boy Promotions. Valero was scheduled to appear on HBO's Boxing After Dark, but in January 2004, he failed an MRI in New York and thus was not allowed to fight in the United States. As a result, the fight did not take place. Although he continues to fight outside the United States, he will not be allowed to fight in the US until he clears his medical tests with a state athletic commision.
