Orlando Cruz: Felix Verdejo Needs Work, Won't Beat Flanagan

By Miguel Rivera

Orlando 'El Fenómeno' Cruz of Puerto Rico believes his countryman and fellow Olympian, rising contender Felix Verdejo (23-0, 15 KOs), will need a lot of work before pursing a mandatory world title shot against World Boxing Organization (WBO) 135-pound champion Terry Flanagan.

Last Friday night in San Juan, Verdejo struggled to win a ten round decision over Oliver Flores of Nicaragua.

Verdejo is the number one contender to the WBO title. Flanagan will make a voluntary defense of his title on April 8 against Petr Petrov. The plan, at least prior to last Friday, was to have Verdejo and Flanagan - should they win their upcoming fights - collide in June at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Cruz fought Flanagan last November, and was stopped in a one-sided contest. 

Verdejo has had his fair share of problems in the past in more than one contest. Cruz did not see anything last week that would indicate improvements in Verdejo's style.

"I do not see him being ready [for Flanagan], and he has not displayed improvements either," said Cruz to Carlos Narvaez.

"I understand that Felix needs more preparation and a little more work. Also, his team has to make sure to implement greater discipline. Felix is ??a ranked fighter between the first two spots of his division and he needs to take things more seriously. Flanagan is not an easy fighter. I already fought it, I lost, and the way I saw Felix last Friday - he will not beat Flanagan."

Cruz, who at 36 years old is still looking for a final world title opportunity, called Flores a 'Class C' fighter and says Verdejo should have never looked the way he looked against such an opponent. He advised Verdejo to make some adjustments to his corner - in the same manner that their countryman Miguel Cotto did several times over.

"I am not here to criticize, nor to speak badly of any boxer. I have a lot of respect [for Verdejo] and I have affection for what Felix is. But his demonstration against a 'Class C' boxer shows that he is not at the level of having a world title shot. He has to start dropping a lot of things and focus. His boxing career is going fast. He has to be more responsible and better prepared. Make changes in your training and reinforce your corner. Look for options in the way that Cotto did with Pedro Diaz, Emanuel Steward and Freddie Roach. It is not about eliminating people, but adding elements to help them go up a level," Cruz added.