By Jorge Conejo
Boxing champion Edwin Valero stabbed his wife to death on Sunday, April 18 in a Venezuela hotel room and after turning himself in he committed suicide in his jail cell by hanging himself with a rope made from his own clothes.
The tragic death of Venezuelan boxing star Edwin Valero and his wife Jennifer is something that shook the boxing world to its core. He was one of boxing’s brightest new stars.
Valero was one of my favorite fighters to watch along with Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao because they both brought heart, determination, and excitement to every fight. I’ve been following Edwin Valero’s career for a long time, and having written a few articles on Valero and his promising future, I’m crushed by his death. I dreamed of a future super fight between Edwin Valero and Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, but that fight will never happen.
I was hoping he would fix up his life before he turns out like Carlos Monzon another man with drug and alcohol problems notorious for beating up his beautiful wives and cheating on them when he felt like it, Monzon ended up killing his second wife and wound up in prison for murder.
Even I knew this would happen to Valero if he didn’t get help. I wrote an article about a week ago after Valero beat up his wife, hoping my favorite fighter Edwin Valero or people close to him would somehow read it and seek help. Read my article: “Edwin Valero Being A Violent Drunk Is Not Cool”
Those in power were irresponsible for not protecting Valero’s wife, Jennifer, from having to face her untimely death. The writing was on the wall, all of the warning signs were there, but they chose to ignore them. This is a travesty, and a shame on those in power for not preventing this from happening. Valero was obviously troubled and needed serious mental help.
The boxing fans knew for a long time about Valero’s wild ways and quick temper outside of the ring. He fought hard and lived life dangerously with drugs and alcohol. Valero, when sober, was not a monster, people who knew him would tell you he was a caring man and loving father, he was very nice to his fans and personable, but give him a couple of drinks and he would become violent.
I have seen firsthand what drugs and alcohol can do to a person, it has a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde effect. While under its influence, it makes you lose your inhibitions, causing you to do things you will later regret. Addicts feel that alcohol takes their worries away and makes them care free. Alcohol is not a cure, and it only makes things worse, especially for those who love you.
Jennifer Carolina Viera De Valero was a caring mother who was taken away from her children by a man who could destroy anyone in the ring, but wasn’t strong enough to defeat his demons of drug and alcohol addiction outside of the ring, may people learn from this avoidable tragedy before it’s too late.
Pray for the Valero children left without a mother or father.
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