Edwin Valero stopped Antonio Pitalua to secure the vacant World Boxing Council lightweight title in Texas on Saturday.
Unbeaten Venezuelan sets sights on Hatton or Pacquiao
Edwin Valero maintained his perfect professional record on Saturday as he stopped Colombian Antonio Pitalua to secure the vacant WBC lightweight title.
The Venezuelan southpaw notched his 25th win from 25 bouts, all of them inside the distance, as he overpowered Pitalua to claim a second-round stoppage.
Valero, 27, put his opponent on to the canvas with a cracking short right in the early stages of the second and, after Pitalua got back to his feet, repeated the trick with a smart combination.
The Colombian again made the count, but as Valero unloaded again, referee Laurence Cole stepped in to call a halt to proceedings with 49 seconds of the round remaining.
It was the fourth loss of 39-year-old veteran Pitulau's career, his record now reading 46 wins and four defeats.
Valero cut a buoyant figure after his success and insisted he has the power to trouble some of the sport's biggest names.
"This is the beginning of big things," he beamed. "No man can take my punch."
Indeed, the Venezuelan knockout artist has already set his sights on some high-profile fights, with WBA lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez on his list of targets, along with Manny Pacquiao or Ricky Hatton.
"If Pacquiao or Hatton gives me an opportunity, I would consider moving up a category and fighting them," he added.
