KO artist lined up for Pacquiao?

LAS VEGAS — World Boxing Association (WBA) superfeatherweight champion Edwin (Dinamita) Valero of Venezuela looms as one of Manny Pacquiao’s next opponents and the prospect of an explosive fight with a major title on the line has experts along cauliflower row drooling in anticipation.

Valero’s manager Akihiko Honda of Teiken Promotions watched Pacquiao’s recent demolition of Erik Morales beside the Filipino TV crew from Solar Sports on the second row of the press section at the Thomas and Mack Center and his presence triggered widespread speculation of an imminent fight deal with Top Rank head Bob Arum.

Valero is scheduled to face Mexican challenger Michael Lozada in a Tokyo title defense in January. But the fight may be scratched if Honda and Arum come to terms on a Pacquiao-Valero match.

Arum plans to stage Pacquiao’s next fight at the Wynn Macau which opened last September as a destination casino resort featuring 600 deluxe hotel rooms and suites, about 220 table games and 380 slot machines in 100,000 square feet of gambling space with seven restaurants, some 26,000 square feet of retail space, a spa, a salon, entertainment lounges and meeting facilities.

Hotel owner Steve Wynn has hosted Pacquiao’s last two fights, both against Morales, here.

Claude Abrams, editor of the London weekly magazine Boxing News, said he would definitely fly to Macau for the Pacquiao-Valero bout. Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach said it would be an all-action fight involving two exciting and explosive punchers.

But the Filipino icon, who would rather fight Marco Antonio Barrera, dismissed Valero’s power upon his arrival Friday, saying the Venezuelan has beaten only boxers with caliber of "tricycle drivers."

Pacquiao is widely considered the world’s best 130-pound fighter but has no belt to legitimize his ascendancy. If he dethrones Valero, Pacquiao will join an elite group of fighters with world titles in four different divisions.

Valero, 24, is based in Tokyo where he recently relocated from Caracas because of more big money options in Asia. He has not been allowed to fight in the US since failing to secure a boxing license when doctors found a speck in his brain in a New York checkup two years ago.

The speck was traced to a motorcycle accident in February 2001, a year before he turned pro. Valero, who wore no helmet, suffered a fractured skull and underwent a medical procedure to relieve pressure in the brain. A report from Caracas claimed it was not a major surgery although the subdural hematoma was confirmed.

Valero made his pro debut in July 2002 and fought thrice in the US, the last bout resulting in a first round knockout over Tomas Zambrano in Irvine, California, in 2003, before taking the brain scan in New York.

"I’ve heard hundreds of versions about my case," said the 5-7 southpaw. "The truth is that I never refused myself to take a medical exam. If there is a doctor who can prove I cannot box, I’ll sign my retirement papers right there. Many specialists from different countries have checked me and they all say I am perfectly fit for boxing."

Curiously, Barrera, the World Boxing Council (WBC) superfeatherweight titlist, has not been prevented from fighting in the US despite metal plates inserted in his skull to protect his brain. In 1987, Barrera underwent surgery to correct a genetic disorder involving blood vessels in the brain. And heavyweight contender Joe Mesi, bouncing back from two blood clots in the brain, has been declared fit to fight in the US.

Valero won the WBA crown on a 10th round stoppage of Vicente Mosquera bout last August. Mosquera was down twice in the first round and Valero once in the second in the wild brawl. The win raised Valero’s unblemished record to 20-0, with 20 KOs.

Valero set a new world record by posting 18 straight first round knockouts from his pro debut, breaking the mark of 15 set by Young Otto in 1905. He is 24 knockouts short of equaling heavyweight Lamar Clark’s record of scoring 44 consecutive stoppages.

Valero’s quickest knockout was a 20-second disposal of Aram Ramazyan in Paris last December.

Valero began boxing at the age of 12 and registered an amateur record of 86-6, with 57 KOs. For three years, he reigned as Venezuela’s amateur champion and won Central and South American crowns. Valero took a 17-month layoff to recover from the injuries sustained in the motorcycle accident.

Valero was once recruited to spar with Morales and reportedly gave the Mexican a beating.