Tragic End Engulfs Edwin Valero
Edwin Valero (Photo: Showtime)
The future was looking bright for Venezuelan power puncher Edwin Valero. After building a career record of 27-0 with 27 knockouts coupled with a cult-like buzz that hailed him as one of the most exciting and hardest hitters boxing may have seen in years, it seemed as though the sky was the limit. That, unfortunately, turned out false.
Coming off an impressive TKO win over Antonio DeMarco in February 2010 that saw Valero successfully defend his WBC lightweight title for the second time, talks began of Valero moving up to the junior welterweight limit of 140 pounds to pursue more lucrative opportunities. However, the Venezuelan’s personal demons could not be subsided, and tragic circumstances befell both he and his family.
Valero after his win over DeMarco
Back in September of 2009, Valero was arrested for domestic abuse after a neighbor called police alleging that Valero had struck both his 20 year old wife and mother during a dispute. Valero vehemently denied the allegations, which were dropped, and no charges were filed. His problems did not stop there, however, as the boxer’s wife was taken to a hospital on March 26 suffering from multiple bruises and a collapsed lung, among other injuries, that were perceived to have occurred as a result of abuse from Valero. After a visit to the hospital resulted in Valero becoming hostile towards staff and police, he was detained by the Body of Scientific, Penal and Criminal Investigations. The assault charges were later dropped as a result of Valero’s wife Jennifer refusing to press charges, citing that her injuries were a result of an accidental fall; the same story given by Valero’s mother.
After confessing his problems with alcohol to a judge in Velezuela, Valero was sent to San Juan de Dios Hospital for rehabilitation where he could be treated for both his addiction to alcohol and psychiatric problems.
Those problems would not be solved, unfortunately, as Valero’s wife Jennifer was viciously murdered. Reports say that around dawn on April 18, Valero emerged from the hotel room in Valencia, where his wife was killed, and allegedly told security and staff that he had murdered her. He was later arrested and taken in for questioning, and later committed suicide in his jail cell by supposedly using his clothes to hang himself.
A sad end to an even sadder story, the boxer’s legacy in the ring will forever keep fans of the Sweet Science asking “What if?” For Valero and his wife’s two children, now without their parents and a tainted reputation that may follow them forever, the future seems ever-more bleak.
Rest in peace Edwin and Jennifer; for no matter how these events may have panned out, it is a tragedy.
