On Sunday, April 18, previous 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 later hung himself in his jail cell after being detained by police, allegedly using his own clothes to carry out his suicide. He was a mere 28 years of age. The southpaw was a legend within the making and had yet to be defeated. All of his 27 wins were via knockout, and 19 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 found Jennifer Viera, 24, stabbed to death. He was arrested, and while awaiting charges, Valero hung himself, according to the Huffington Post, by his own sweat pants.
This is the third high profile death by unnatural causes of a previous champion boxer within the last few years. Arturo Gatti was found dead from strangulation, and Alexis Arguello was found dead from a gunshot wound. Gatti was considered a suicide, and Arguello’s demise has yet to be given an official pronouncement.
A troubled but legendary career within the making
Edwin Valero was a boxing sensation. Southpaws are few between, even fewer with his knockout power. His 27 wins were all by knockout, and 19 were first round victories, having broken a record that stood since 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 accident just before his professional debut. He didn’t fight within the US between 2003 and 2009, as many state governing agencies wouldn’t license him to fight as a result of his injury. 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. Pound for pound, he might not have had an equal.
Allegations of assault
Twice, Valero had been alleged to have committed assault, but both times it was dismissed. In March of 2010, he was ordered to get six months of rehabilitation and counseling. Nobody will ever know just what touched off the Edwin Valera wife murder suicide. Hopefully, his family and friends can discover some measure of peace.
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