Edwin Valero brings me back to my early days as a sports fan. Sure, I know what he looks like, as I have seen pictures of him and have even seen a few of his fights. Yet, watching a guy fight on a downloaded computer media file, it not the same as SEEING him fight.

Valero, a Venezuelan featherweight knockout artist galore, has built a mystique in the boxing world comparable to that of Bigfoot or the Lockness Monster in the circles of alien and paranormal buffs.

The legend started gathering steam when Doug Fisher, of Maxboxing, started mentioning Valero in his articles and columns. Fisher and other observers noted that Valero was getting the best of many Los Angeles based boxers in sparring sessions. "El Inca" participated in some classic sessions with the likes of Juan Lazcano, Mike Anchondo, Urbano Antillon, and others.

Sparring sessions alone do not make a legend.

What has mainly attracted people to Valero is his punching power. In 20 professional fights, Valero has 20 knockouts, his first 18 within the first round.

Of course, what completes the mystery and intrigue of Valero is the fact he has never fought on American television. He was set to appear on HBO's now defunct Boxeo de Oro series against Francisco Lorenzo in January, 2004. A few days before the fight, Valero failed to pass an MRI exam of his brain for the New York State Athletic Commission.

Valero has fought the medical suspension here in the United States to no avail, but continued his career outside the U.S.

Bad news for the pockets of Valero, who has not appeared on H.B.O., Showtime, or any pay per view cards. But it sure has helped his mystique, as he has continued to knock-out no-names left and right.

Then, to top it all off, the little ball of dynamite had an epic battle with Vicente Mosquera, which has set every boxing video hound on a hunt for tape to no avail. Hell, please e-mail me if you have a copy.

Are we being deprived of one of this generations most exciting boxers? Or are we building up a legend most of us have never seen? No way of knowing and my gut feeling tells me we'll never know.

Sure, Valero finds fights overseas, but he will never grace a pay-per view or American cable television card. I doubt the big wigs at H.B.O. or Showtime will be asking Marco Antonio Barrera or Manny Pacquiao to go fight in Venezuela or Japan, so they can square off against a dangerous unknown.

Even if they did, would established stars, or better yet, their advisors and promoters agree for the mentioned scenario? It's doubtful.

So for now, we can play what if, and wonder what would have been if Valero would have graced American television, while we get Shambra Mitchell and DeMarcus Corley shoved down our throats on H.B.O. over and over and over.

As always, comments and death threats are welcome at ricardoboxeo@gmail.com

See you next Monday!