Despite compiling a 26-0 record with 26 knockouts (the first 17 in the first round!), few boxing fans in the U.S. had ever seen Venezuelan lightweight Edwin Valero in action before last night. Now, after headlining a Showtime doubleheader, his days as an unknown in this country are officially over.

Find out why Valero's performance puts him on the short list of boxing's must-see fighters. We've also got some ideas on possible future opponents . . .

Edwin Valero Delivers a Pacquiao-esque Performance originally appeared on About.com Boxing on Sunday, February 7th, 2010 at 16:53:07.

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Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Shane Mosley have reportedly agreed to terms for a welterweight title fight on May 1 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas (and on HBO PPV). It's not Manny Pacquiao-Mayweather but it's the next best thing, right? Yes ... if the fight actually takes place.

Mosley signed his contract last Friday. Five days later, Mayweather still hasn't signed. Ever the prima donna, perhaps Pretty Boy is simply stringing everyone along. Or maybe Mayweather is reconsidering risking his undefeated record against the 38-year-old Mosley. Let's hope it's the former . . .

Given the fight's uncertainty, we offer a somewhat unusual poll. If you believe the fight will take place, tell us who you think will win. On the other hand, if you believe the fight won't happen, then vote "Fight won't happen".

Poll: Mayweather vs. Mosley. Who Will Win? originally appeared on About.com Boxing on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010 at 13:47:11.

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Example 9,287 of the adage that "old boxers are never retired, they're just between fights": former champ - and future Hall of Famer - Erik Morales intends to end his 2½-year "retirement" and return to the ring on March 27 in Monterrey, Mexico. Morales (48-6) is slated to face former lightweight beltholder Jose Alfaro (23-5).

Morales lost five of his final six bouts, including two KO losses to Manny Pacquiao, before coming to the conclusion that he had absorbed more than enough punishment over the course of his 54 bout career. El Terrible was only 30 years old at the time of his "last" bout (a 12-round decision loss to David Diaz in August 2007) but it was an extremely high mileage 30.

The time out of the ring may have helped his body heal. It may have also allowed him to forget that he had little left in the tank in his final few bouts. Or maybe he's simply bored and/or needs the money. One thing is sure - the fact that he's coming back at welterweight, a full 12 rounds above his highest previous weight, isn't a good sign . . .

Erik Morales to End "Retirement" originally appeared on About.com Boxing on Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 at 14:08:46.

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New York's Madison Square Garden Theater was the site of the first significant fight card of 2010 and both headliners delivered impressive performances.

WBO junior featherweight champ Juan Manuel Lopez moved up a weight class and stopped Steven Luevano in the seventh round to take Luevano's WBO featherweight title. Late in the seventh, Luevano was dropped by a right-left combination. He beat the count but was in no condition to continue so referee Benji Esteves wisely stopped the bout with 44 seconds remaining in the round.

In the co-feature, Yuriorkis Gamboa defended his WBA featherweight title with a spectacular two round destruction of Rogers Mtagwa. Gamboa simply overwhelmed Mtagwa, dropping the Tanzanian-born challenger once in the first and twice in the second. The final knockdown prompted referee Steve Smoger to stop the fight at 2:35 of round two. In Mtagwa's previous fight, he nearly scored a late round stoppage of Juan Manuel Lopez.

Hopefully these performances will lead to a featherweight showdown between Juan Manuel Lopez and Yuriorkis Gamboa in the near future, though promoter Bob Arum is likely to let public demand grow a bit more before jeopardizing either fighter's undefeated record.

Juan Manuel Lopez, Yuriorkis Gamboa Score KO Wins originally appeared on About.com Boxing on Sunday, January 24th, 2010 at 11:43:42.

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When Roy Jones Jr. was knocked out in the first round by Danny Green on Dec. 2, it was widely assumed that a proposed rematch with Bernard Hopkins would be scrapped. Remember what they say about assuming anything? Well, that goes double for the sport of boxing.

At 41, Roy Jones Jr., who has been KO'd three times while going 5-5 in his last ten bouts, should retire. Hopkins, still going strong at 45, should fight Chad Dawson to determine who's the best light heavyweight in the world. Instead, Jones and Hopkins are opting for a payday in a pointless fight that is likely to take place on April 3 in Las Vegas (and on PPV!).

Jones won a 12-round unanimous decision on May 22, 1993 in their first meeting. Anytime from 1994 to 2004, a Jones-Hopkins rematch would have been a big event. Now, sadly, fight fans will just be hoping than Jones doesn't get badly hurt in a bout which serves no purpose other than giving Hopkins a chance to settle an old score against a washed-up rival. No thanks ...

Hopkins-Jones Rematch Still On ... But Why? originally appeared on About.com Boxing on Wednesday, January 20th, 2010 at 12:40:37.

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Andre Berto, who represented Haiti in the Athens Olympics, has withdrawn from his Jan. 30 fight with Shane Mosley because he has been unable to train properly since last week's earthquake devastated Haiti. Berto lost several family members in the tragedy.

The cancelation could open the door for a fight between Mosley and Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Mayweather was unable to come to terms on a proposed March 13 superfight with Manny Pacquiao over blood testing for performance enhancing drugs. How ironic would it be if Mayweather, after rejecting a bout with a guy who has never failed a drug test (Pacquiao), elects instead to fight a guy who - like Barry Bonds - was involved in the BALCO scandal? Go figure . . .

Mosley-Mayweather Instead of Mosley-Berto? originally appeared on About.com Boxing on Tuesday, January 19th, 2010 at 10:24:33.

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Happy Birthday to Muhammad Ali, who turns 68 today.

Spike TV has a gift for Ali fans as the cable channel will air the 2009 documentary "Facing Ali" on February 15. The film, one of 15 feature documentary finalists for the upcoming Oscars, looks at the fomer heavyweight champ through the eyes of 10 of his most famous opponents: George Chuvalo, Henry Cooper, George Foreman, Joe Frazier, Larry Holmes, Ron Lyle, Ken Norton, Earnie Shavers, Leon Spinks and Ernie Terrell.

The Greatest Turns 68 originally appeared on About.com Boxing on Sunday, January 17th, 2010 at 14:01:10.

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Mayweather is reportedly considering that same date but doesn't have an opponent yet. Fight fans would like to see him scrap the March 13 date and face the winner of the Jan. 30 bout between Shane Mosley and Andre Berto. Reports have mentioned Timothy Bradley and Kermit Cintron as possible opponents but it's far more likely that Mayweather opts for a significantly "safer" opponent - think Paulie Malignaggi or Matthew Hatton. Ugh.

Pacquiao, Mayweather Move on to Plan B originally appeared on About.com Boxing on Tuesday, January 12th, 2010 at 12:47:53.

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Jermain Taylor Drops Out of Super Six originally appeared on About.com Boxing on Tuesday, January 12th, 2010 at 12:43:57.

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While the choice for 2009's Fighter of the Year was clearcut (vote in poll/see results), selecting a Fighter of the Decade is sure to create significant discussion and debate. Before we reveal our pick, let's see who you think deserves to be Fighter of the Decade. The top ten (which is also open for debate) are as follows (in alphabetical order):

Marco Antonio Barrera
Joe Calzaghe
Bernard Hopkins
Juan Manuel Marquez
Rafael Marquez
Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Erik Morales
Shane Mosley
Manny Pacquiao
Winky Wright

Remember, consider only the accomplishments of the above boxers for the period from 2000 through 2009 - nothing they did before 2000 (or may do in the future) counts in this poll.

Wondering why some of the decade's biggest names (Oscar De La Hoya, Roy Jones Jr., Lennox Lewis, Felix Trinidad, etc.) are missing from the above list? Simple. While each had Hall of Fame careers, their accomplishments from 2000-2009 - on a standalone basis - simply did not merit bumping any of the above fighters off the list.

Vote in our poll and stay tuned for our selection for Fighter of the Decade . . .

Poll: Fighter of the Decade originally appeared on About.com Boxing on Wednesday, December 30th, 2009 at 14:03:46.

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