Valero takes own life
Troubled boxer hangs himself in a jail cell
CARACAS, Venezuela — Former boxing champion Edwin Valero, who had a spectacular career with 27 straight knockouts and flouted a tattoo of President Hugo Chavez on his chest, hanged himself in his jail cell Monday after being arrested for stabbing his wife to death, police said.
The former lightweight champion used the sweat pants he was wearing to hang himself from a bar in the cell, said his lawyer, Milda Mora.
Valero, 28, had problems with alcohol and cocaine addiction and struggled with depression. He had previously been suspected of assaulting his wife and was charged last month with harassing her and threatening personnel at a hospital where she was treated for injuries.
Valero’s 24-year-old wife, Jennifer Carolina Viera, was found dead in a hotel room on Sunday, and police said the fighter emerged telling hotel security he killed her.
Valero was found hanging in his cell early Monday by another inmate, Federal Police Chief Wilmer Flores told reporters. He said Valero still showed signs of life when they took him down, but they were unable to save him.
The former WBA super featherweight and WBC lightweight champion was a household name in Venezuela and had a huge image of Venezuela’s president tattooed on his chest along with the country’s yellow, blue and red flag.
A man whose fists carried him from poverty in a small town to fame, Valero’s all-action style soon earned him a reputation as a tough, explosive crowd-pleaser, and his last victory in Mexico in February over Antonio DeMarco brought his record to 27-0 — all knockouts.
He had a turbulent disposition and had been in trouble with the law before, for violent incidents and problems with alcohol and drugs.