Boxer Edwin Valero Found Dead in Jail, Commits SuicideAs reported in Yahoo! Sports, Former boxing champ Edwin Valero committed suicide in his jail cell on Monday just hours after he was arrested in his wife’s killing, police said.
The former lightweight champion used his own clothes to hang himself from a bar in his cell early Monday, Venezuelan Federal Police Chief Wilmer Flores told reporters.
He said Valero was found by another inmate, who alerted authorities in the police lockup in north-central Carabobo state. Valero still showed signs of life when they took him down, but they were unable to save him and he died about 1:30 a.m., Flores said.
The 28-year-old was detained Sunday on suspicion of killing his wife. Prosecutors said Sunday night that they had planned to charge Valero in the killing.
Valero was detained after police found the body of his 24-year-old wife in a hotel in Valencia. The boxer left the hotel room around dawn Sunday and allegedly told security he had killed Jennifer Viera, Flores said.
Valero’s last fight was against De Marco where he won via TKO in Round 9.
May You Rest in Peace.
Here is a glance at some events in Edwin Valero’s life and boxing career:
July 13, 2000—Valero defeats Francisco Bojada to become Central and South American amateur champion. He also was the Venezuelan amateur champion three years running.
July 9, 2002—Valero makes his professional debut by knocking out Eduardo Hernandez at 2:02 of the first round in Caracas, Venezuela. He would knock out his first 18 opponents in the first round to set a record that has since been eclipsed.
Aug. 8, 2006—Valero rallies from a third-round knockdown to stop Vicente Mosquera in the 10th round in Panama City, Panama, winning the WBA super featherweight title.
April 4, 2009—Valero moves up in weight to stop Antonio Pitalua in the second round in Austin, Texas, and win the WBC lightweight title. Valero received a license to fight in Texas even though he sustained a cerebral hemorrhage in a motorcycle accident years earlier, preventing him from fighting in most U.S. jurisdictions.
Sept. 29, 2009—Valero denies that he was detained on domestic violence charges after Venezuelan news reports that a neighbor called emergency services and told authorities the boxer had struck his mother and a sister.
Dec. 19, 2009—Valero defends his lightweight title against Hector Velazquez in La Guaira, Venezuela.
Feb. 2, 2010—Valero fights through a bloody gash to stop Antonio DeMarco in the ninth round in Monterrey, Mexico. It would be his final fight. Valero was replaced as WBC lightweight champion in February after he expressed a desire to campaign in a higher weight division.
March 25, 2010—Valero is arrested on charges of harassing his wife and threatening medical personnel at a hospital where she was being treated for injuries. His wife, Jennifer Carolina Viera, told police her injuries were due to a fall.
April 18, 2010—Valero’s wife is found stabbed to death in a hotel room and the boxer is arrested in the murder.
April 19, 2010—Valero is found dead in his jail cell, and police say he hanged himself.