Top 10 Opponents for Edwin Valero

After totally destroying the best fighter he ever faced in Antonio DeMarco, it is very clear that Edwin Valero is headed for the big time.

He is already a multidivisonal champion and is undefeated, and I don't even have to mention the fact that he has won all of his fights by KO.

While I heap praise on him, he still has many things he needs to work on.

First is his defense: He can't fight top level guys and keep his hands down with his chin high up in the air. If he does this against better fighters, he will get KTFO.

So I present the Top 10 fighters I think he should be matched with. I have put them in order of fun factor (who would make the most exciting fights) mostly. Some guys are lower because I think he would just do too much damage and win too easily. When I put a fighter on here, I assume they would fight at the weight they are currently at.

(Records from Boxrec.com)

10. Ricky Hatton

As it sits now, Hatton has a career record of 42-2 (32 KO), and his two losses were to the best fighters of this generation.

While he has alot of good wins (Tszyu RTD 11, Collazo Close UD 12, Urango UD 12, Jose Luis Castillo KO 4, and Paulie Malignaggi TKO 11), I will admit that if this was a couple years ago, I would have Hatton sitting alot higher on this list.

But at this stage in his career, I think he would get steamrolled. He has the face first style that Valero loves, and I think Valero would eat him up. Also the fact that Ricky's defense is not that good does not help him out at all. I see an early win for Valero by third round KO.

9. Juan Manuel Marquez

Although Marquez was totally outclassed in his last fight by the much bigger Floyd Mayweather Jr., he still has a record of 50-5-1 (37 KO).

I think that he would give Valero some problems. He is a slick boxer with good defense and showed that he can bang at 130 pounds. If this fight took place at a higher weight, I could see Valero taking him out very easy, but at 130 this is a very good fight.

My main problem with this fight is JMM has been taking shots more cleanly in his last few fights than he ever has (just see the Diaz fight) and that could prove costly against Valero. I think that his chin and defensive skills would pull him through all 12, but I see him losing a UD 12.

8. Paul Malignaggi

I think that this matchup would give Valero fits: Paulie has a 27-3 (5 KO) record and has only lost to the top dogs in the weight class he was fighting in.

As you can see, he only has a measly five KO's, but man can this kid box. I am a huge fan of Paulie, but I can not see him winning this fight.

He would give Valero fits early on from his movement and hand speed, but the lack of power would mean Valero would have no reason to wade in and throw his deadly combinations.

Even though Paulie has shown time and time again that he is a warrior, I think he loses in a tough fight. I see Paulie having early success then getting iced in the sixth round.

7. Timothy Bradley

Bradley is a guy that I can see beating Valero.

For some people who may be unaware of "The Desert Storm", he rose out of nowhere and has been beating top level guys every since. He won his first title at 140 by beating Junior Witter in Witters home country (which was the first fight for Bradley outside of California) and defended it two times against top level guys (Edner Cherry, Kendall Holt) before vacating and picking up another title.

He also was on his way to beating Nate Campbell when the fight was stopped.

I think he would have a good chance due to his fundamental skills, and the guy can just fight. He is 25-0 (11 KO) which really doesn't jump out at you, but if you have seen him fight you know this guy is the real deal.

I think he would keep it close with his skills but lose a very hard fought but clear SD 12.

6. Ali Funeka

Funeka is new to the world stage, but he has impressed me alot in his last two fights.

In those fights he lost a heartbreaking fight to Nate Campbell ( MD 12) and was totally and utterly robbed by the judges against Joan Guzman (D 12). Both fights were for titles, and he failed to pick up a title in either fight.

His biggest win is a KO 4 over Zahir Raheem. I think his size (6'1") would be the undoing for Valero. He does sport 25 KO's in 30 wins, so his power isn't anything to sneeze at either. I

I think if he is really as good as he has looked in his last two fights that he could pull out a win in a very close SD 12.

5. "Sugar" Shane Mosley

Mosley is the first guy on here that I can say that if I had to place a bet on the fight I would pick him to win and really mean it.

Mosley has been doing his thing for a long time, and boy does he do it well. He has some very big wins in his career and he showed in his last fight he can still do it against the best.

He is super quick, can move around, has good defense, and good power (39 KO's in 46 wins). We also know he can do it against the best.

The only fear I have is him getting old overnight. He looked so bad against Ricardo Mayorga and then totally outclassed Margarito (how much had to do with the wraps is another convo altogether).

He loves a good challenge, and I think he would come out amped up and put on a show. I think his hand speed and power make all the difference. I see the bigger Mosley winning a WIDE UD 12.

4. Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Everyone had to know "Money" Mayweather was going to come sooner or later and I have him sitting at No. 4.

I would have put him higher, but he makes his fights very boring and I don't blame him for doing it. Mayweather is the best defensive fighter of our generation and has some pop in his punches as well. Everyone knows he is 40-0 (25 KO) and has beaten alot of top fighters.

He would be the bigger man with the better skills and would win easily in my book. Valero's biggest strength is his power, but you can't use your power when you can't hit the man. I see Floyd doing what he does best and controlling the bout and cruising to a nice UD 12.

3. Humberto Soto

Unless you're a boxing junkie, you are looking at the screen and thinking "Who?"

Soto was the trendy pick among boxing insiders for a Pacquio fight before Valero came along and stole that thunder, but Soto is a very good fighter who has some solid wins (Jesus Chavez UD 10, Rocky Juarez UD 12). He is 50-7-2 (32 KO) and really should have one less loss (he lost a ridiculous DQ 4 to Francisco Lorenzo) among the seven.

He has avenged that loss by winning six straight. I did see him live, and he is a fine boxer with some power but I really am having a hard time thinking of how this would play out.

I think he has the skills to beat Valero, but he can be drawn into a fire fight and that would prove costly. Also he would be fighting at a higher weight than what he usually is so that could hurt him.

After thinking about it, I see him getting dropped at least one time and fighting to a razor thin SD 12 or a D 12.

#3: Humberto Soto

Unless your a boxing junkie you are looking at the screen and thinking "Who?" Soto was the trendy pick among boxing insiders for a Pacquio fight before Valero came along and stole that thunder but Soto is a very good fighter who has some solid wins (Jesus Chavez UD 10, Rocky Juarez UD 12). He is 50-7-2 (32 KO) and really should have one less loss (he lost a ridiculous DQ 4 to Francisco Lorenzo) among the seven. He avenged that loss and has won 6 straight. I did see him live and he is a fine boxer with some power but I really am having a hard time thinking of how this would play out. I think he has the skills to beat Valero but he can be drawn into a fire fight and that would prove costly. Also he would be fighting at a higher weight then what he usually is so that could hurt him. After thinking about it I see him getting dropped at least one time and fighting to a razor thin SD 12 or a D 12.

2. Michael Katsidis

I will admit that this is purely 100 percent based on fun factor.

I am a huge Katsidis fan and love watching the man fight (I mean look at that picture), but I give him a 0 percent chance of winning the fight.

Katsidis is 26-2 (21 KO) and has lost to top guys only but his style is all wrong for Valero. He just walks forward until you fall or he falls. He has been KO'ed one time by Joel Casamayor but seems to have an OK chin.

I don't know how long it would last, but while it did last boy would it be fun. I see Valero's defensive skills helping him win this by KO.

1. Manny Pacquiao

Everyone had to see this coming from a mile away: Manny is the No. 1 P4P and is on one of the hottest streaks in history.

Who in the world could stop this guy?

Maybe Valero? Many people compare Valero to a young Pacman, and I agree with that to an extent (I think Valero is better defensively).

Pacman is 50-3-2 (38 KO) and hasn't lost since 2005. He has faced top guys ever since 2005 and has beaten and KO'ed most of them. Manny is just the top guy in the world hands down. He has speed, power, footwork, defense and the overall "it" factor.

As much as I like to think Valero could beat him, I just don't see it happening. I think Manny wins on a late TKO or a UD 12.