By Michael David Smith, FanHouse
Boxer Edwin Valero, whose incredible pro record of 27-0 with 27 knockouts was often overshadowed by issues outside the ring, was found dead in a jail cell in Venezuela early Monday morning, hours after he was arrested for the murder of his wife. Authorities say he committed suicide.
The Associated Press quoted Venezuelan Federal Police Chief Wilmer Flores, who told reporters that the 28-year-old Valero tied his clothes to a cell bar to hang himself, and that by the time he was discovered by a fellow inmate, it was too late to save him.
Valero was arrested after police found the body of his wife in a hotel. She had been stabbed three times, and Valero reportedly told hotel security he killed her.
Valero was one of the sport's most exciting fighters, although he often missed out on participating in big fights because of legal problems, visa issues and a head injury suffered in a motorcycle accident that led to questions of whether it was safe for him to box.
Last month Valero entered a drug and alcohol addiction rehab clinic in Venezuela. He had also reportedly been arrested recently for hitting his mother and sister, charges he denied.
Valero set a boxing record by winning his first 18 fights by first-round knockout. His most recent fight was a ninth-round stoppage of Antonio DeMarco in Monterrey, Mexico.
I interviewed Valero a year ago, and he came across as a positive, upbeat person with a good future ahead of him, telling me, "I want to be one of the biggest and best champions for a long time." It's hard to make sense of how such a promising life came to such an end.
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
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