On Saturday night from Arena Monterrey, in Monterrey, Mexico, 135-pound champion Edwin Valero, goes after his 27th knockout in as many victories without a loss when he makes the second defense of his WBC crown against Antonio DeMarco.
The 28-year-old Valero (pictured at right, on the left) could be facing a tough challenge in the 24-year-old DeMarco (23-1-1, 17 KOs), a slick, boxer-puncher who must avoid his tendency to trade if he wants to be successful in their Showtime-televised bout.
FanHouse sought the predictions of nine experts concerning the outcome of the fight. Check out the results, below:
Bob Canobbio, CompuBox, Inc.
Edwin Valero W 12 Antonio DeMarco: Hard to pick against Valero, who is 26-0, with 26 KOs. This fight's in Mexico however, where DeMarco's resides. DeMarco hasn't fought there in his last nine fights, so the possibility of a home-cooked decision win for Antonio is not probable.
Did I say decision? No Valero fights go to a decision, but this one will. Valero wins unanimously.
Nick Charles, Showtime boxing analyst
Edwin Valero KO 7 Antonio DeMarco: How can Valero possibly keep knocking out everybody he faces? In the case of this fight with DeMarco, I feel that DeMarco will probably play right into his hands.
We've done DeMarco's fights on ShoBox, and every time he vows to box, he brawls. DeMarco's got an excellent trainer who tells him not to do this, but he can't seem to help himself.
To me, the only way Valero loses is if he betrayed himself with faulty preparation for this fight, which is rumored to have been the case.
Demarco being a southpaw who could move, could hang around, but if he does play it safe, I can't see him winning more than a couple of rounds.
So it's a heads I lose, tails I lose scenario for Antonio. Run and survive, or brawl and get overpowered.
Scott Crouse, Co-Host Ballroom Boxing Report, Baltimore's ESPN Radio 1300AM
Edwin Valero TKO 8-10 Antonio DeMarco: DeMarco is talented, tough, and seems to possess the kind of character to give Valero some problems early. But in the end, Valero's power will be too much for him.
Valero does have some flaws that maybe, just maybe, DeMarco can exploit. He can be wild, throws his punches too wide, leaves his chin in the air, and seems to care very little about defense.
But Valero also has underrated handspeed, delivers his punches in combinations, and often catching his opponents with a follow-up shot when his lead punch misses. Valero takes a solid shot, and actually doesn't seem to mind getting hit very much.
Valero is so well-conditioned that he's able to punch with the same authority and fight with the same intensity in the middle and later rounds if he doesn't take his opponent out early.
DeMarco will have to take advantage of the chinks in Valero's armor and fight the perfect fight to win, but Valero just has to be Valero. So it's Valero by TKO 8-10 -- earlier if DeMarco gets too brave.
Doug Fischer, Co-Editor RingTV.com
Edwin Valero by mid-to-late-round KO over Antonio DeMarco: DeMarco is a well-schooled, disciplined young contender with good technique and a lot of heart.
But the Mexican southpaw is a slow starter who likes to engage more than he should. We won't see the sharpest version of Valero, who has yet again changed trainers.
But he's motivated to defend his green belt in Mexico and on national television -- in Mexico and the U.S. I think he either catches DeMarco cold with one big shot, or he gradually breaks the younger man down by forcing him to the ropes and beating on his arms and body.
DeMarco will be game and he'll get his shots in, but I think his willingness to exchange with Valero will cost him.
Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports.com
Antonio DeMarco W 12 Edwin Valero: I'm picking DeMarco by decision. Valero is the far better puncher, and if he lands a clean combination, this could be over at any point.
That said, I think DeMarco is the far better overall boxer, and will be able to exploit the gaping holes in Valero's defense.
Robert Morales, Los Angeles Daily News
Edwin Valero KO 6 Antonio DeMarco: I'm picking Valero by knockout, and if I have to pick a round, I'll say that it will end in about the sixth round.
I have to tell you that I spoke to Freddie Roach yesterday, and I have a lot of respect for Freddie. And Freddie said that a lot of people don't respect Valero. They think that he's just a wild-swinging guy.
But Freddie said that Velaro is a lot smarter than people think he is and that he deserves a lot more credit for what he's doing. Valero sets things up. So based on that, I can't see this fight going past the sixth round.
Kieran Mulvaney, ESPN boxing and Reuters
Edwin Valero KO 7 Antonio DeMarco: I think DeMarco is a top-drawer talent. He boxes well from the outside, he can crack, and he I believe he has improved considerably over the past few fights.
Then you look at Edwin Valero and you wonder what is so special about him? He looks like he's slow as molasses. But Valero has hands of kryptonite, and once he has timed a guy and figured him out, he just walks him down and beats him up.
I think DeMarco starts out well, maybe builds an early lead on the cards. He may even be leading when the fight ends. But after a few rounds, Valero will have him figured out, and his heavy punches will start finding their target until eventually DeMarco is overwhelmed. Valero TKO 7.
Joe Santoliquito, Managing Editor, Ring Magazine
Edwin Valero KO 4 Antonio DeMarco: Valero simply has too much firepower for DeMarco. But it could be a fun fight. And that's simply because DeMarco will fight back, and may even have the kind of chin to get up after being knocked down a few times by the iron-fisted Valero.
Michael David Smith, FanHouse.com
Edwin Valero KO 9 Antonio DeMarco: DeMarco is a tough opponent for Valero, but I don't see Valero's knockout streak coming to an end. Look for Valero to knock DeMarco out in the ninth round.
The boxing experts overwhelming choose Valero, 8-1.
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
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