Edwin Valero ended life the coward way?

Most of this article is a repost.

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 had killed her.

Valero was found hanging in his cell early Monday by another inmate, who alerted authorities in the police lockup in north-central Carabobo state, 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. Venezuelans called him "Inca," alluding to an Indian warrior, while elsewhere he was called "Dinamita," or dynamite.

Valero had a turbulent disposition and had been in trouble with the law before, for violent incidents and problems with alcohol and drugs.

Last month, he was charged with harassing his wife and threatening medical personnel who treated her at a hospital in the western city of Merida. Police arrested Valero following an argument with a doctor and nurse at the hospital, where his wife was being treated for injuries including a punctured lung and broken ribs.

The Attorney General's Office said in a statement that Valero was detained March 25 on suspicion of assaulting his wife, but his wife told a police officer her injuries were due to a fall. When the boxer arrived moments later, he forbade Viera from speaking to the police officer and spoke threateningly to the officer, prosecutors said in a statement.

A prosecutor had asked a court to keep Valero in jail, the Attorney General's Office said. But a judge instead allowed him to remain free under certain conditions including that he appear in court every 90 days, said Mora, his lawyer.

Mora told The Associated Press that after the incident Valero was held for nine days in a psychiatric hospital in Merida, where he underwent police-supervised rehabilitation. She said people close to the fighter posted bail on April 7 and he was allowed to go free.

Silva is victorious | Penn falls

Anderson “The Spider” Silva retained his title, defeating Demian Maia via unanimous decision. The uneventful contest, which drew boos from the crowd, also drew a post-fight apology from Silva. ”I apologize to everybody. I don’t know what got into me,” he said.

Frankie Edgar found an “Answer” for “The Prodigy,” snaring the UFC lightweight title from BJ Penn via unanimous decision. The bout was largely waged on the feet as the crafty Edgar used head movement and fast feet to keep the previously unstoppable Penn off balance. The judges scored the bout 50-45, 48-47 and 49-46.

In a battle of legends, Matt Hughes goes 2-0 against the Gracie family, defeating Renzo Gracie via TKO in the final round. The former UFC welterweight champion picked the 43-year-old Gracie apart throughout the fight with a series of unchecked leg kicks. Hughes rocked a wobbly Gracie with a hard shot that sent the Brazilian back into the cage, prompting referee Herb Dean to intervene. Gracie was barely able to stand at the conclusion of the bout.

Rafael dos Anjos defeated Terry Etim with an arm bar in round two. The official time was 4:30. The loss was Etim’s first in the Octagon. With the victory, dos Anjos extends his UFC win streak to three.

Mark Munoz staged an incredible comeback victory, defeating Ultimate Fighter winner Kendall Grove via TKO midway thru second round to kick off the night’s main card.

Age is not the Real Deal

Age doesn't really matter.. to some, especially in the world of boxing.

47-year-old, four-time world heavyweight champion Evander "The Real Deal" Holyfield (43-10-2, 28 KOs) scored an eighth round TKO over 41-year-old Frans Botha (47-5-3, 28 KOs) on Saturday night at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Botha did well early but Holyfield came on in round six, hurt Botha in the seventh, knocked Botha down in the eighth and referee Russell Mora stopped it moments later. Time was :55. With the win Holyfield claims Botha’s WBF heavyweight belt.

“He is a very good defensive fighter,” Holyfield said after the fight. “He’s a smart fighter, too. His right hand had a lot of power and he’s also a very quick big man. I gave myself a 7. I can get better. I’d been off a long time and I know I can get better. I want to come back very soon.” Botha remarked, “Evander is a great fighter. He capitalized on my mistakes. I thought I had him going early. I have to go home and sit down with my team.”

Hopkins defeats Jones Jr

It was a sweet revenge for the fallen as he had risen to dominate.

17 years after their first fight, ring legend Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins (51-5-1, 32 KOs) evened the score against 41-year-old fellow legend Roy Jones Jr. (54-7, 40 KOs) winning a foul-filled twelve round unanimous decision on Saturday night in a light heavyweight bout at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The first five rounds were measured, tactical and sometimes dirty, but things really heated up in round six after Hopkins went down from a seemingly light rabbit punch, then furiously went after Jones, continuing to fight even after the bell and the fighters had to be restrained by security. After a Hopkins rabbit punch in round eight, Jones responded with a rabbit punch that sent Hopkins to the canvas again. Hopkins went down for a third time from a borderline low blow in round ten. Action stopped in the eleventh so the ring doctor could look at a cut Jones sustained from a headbutt, ruled unintentional. A slow twelfth round brought boos from the crowd. In the end, Hopkins prevailed 117-110, 117-110, 118-109.

Ruiz had been Hayed

WBA heavyweight champion David "Hayemaker" Haye (24-0, 22 KOs) is still the champ after he had scored a 9th round TKO over 38-year-old former champ John Ruiz (44-9-1, 30 KOs) on Saturday night in Manchester, England. Haye dropped Ruiz twice in round one, the first time with the right hand almost immediately, the second time with a rabbit punch. Haye was deducted a point for the rabbit punch, but Ruiz was still given a count and no time to recover from the foul. A determined Ruiz survived the round. Haye floored Ruiz again at the end of round five and again early in round six. Ruiz’ corner finally threw in the towel to stop the punishment in round nine.

In round nine Ruiz continued to attack the Brit but at the end of the second minute the champion exploded with the right-left-right combination, hurting Ruiz, 38, badly with several crisp blows. As famed trainer Miguel Diaz appeared on the ring apron and began waving towel, referee Perez Pineda stepped in and halted the action at 2:01.