Felix Verdejo Returns, Knocks out Dos Santos In Two

By Jake Donovan

With his childhood idol and island mate Felix 'Tito' Trinidad looking on in attendance, Felix Verdejo enjoyed as sensational a homecoming as he could have asked for in his return to the ring.

The unbeaten lightweight contender wasted no time in registering his latest win, knocking out Brazil's Josenilson dos Santos in the 2nd round of their truTV-televised headliner Friday evening at Coliseo Roberto Clemente in his hometown of San Juan, Puerto Rico. 

Given the matchup, the biggest concern going into the fight was whether or not Verdejo's brittle hands would hold up. A quick knockout is the best way to minimize the risk of incurring a new injury or reaggravating an old wound. 

It didn't come right away, as Verdejo offered a measured performance in the opening round. He could've stood still for the entire fight and still draw a raucous reaction from his partisan hometown crowd. Fortunately for those in the sold-out venue, he had every intention of delivering a spectacular ending. 

"I was taking it easy, fighting composed," Verdejo told truTV's Crystina Poncher of his performance. "I knew eventually the knockout punch would come and I remained calm."

The moment came in a big way in round two. The local favorite feinted with a jab before landing a scorcher of a right hand. The latter shot put Dos Santos on the mat for the bout's lone knockdown.

While the visiting Brazilian was able to beat the count, he was unable to steady himself or give any indication that he was able to continue. Referee Roberto Ramirez Jr. detected this and immediately stopped the contest.

The official time was 2:21 of round two. 

Verdejo surges ahead to 19-0 (14KOs), winning his first fight in six months. The 22-year old was out of the ring since June, repairing and allowing time to heal a severely injured left hand that he risked permanent injury going through with his fight with Ivan Najera. 

A win came of the night, which was staged at Madison Square Garden Theatre in New York City on the eve of the Puerto Rican Day Parade. Still, he never gained full strength in his hand by the time of his scheduled Halloween clash with Dos Santos, thus forced to pull out of the event in Kissimmee, Florida. 

It proved worth the wait - unless you are Dos Santos, of course. 

The 30-year old full-time hairdresser comes up miserably short in his first fight outside of Puerto Rico, falling to 27-4 (17KOs). The loss was his third by knockout, this one the quickest he has ever been shown the exit. 

As for Verdejo, the sky's the limit as long as he remains healthy. Friday's headliner was his seventh career fight in Puerto Rico, though surprisingly his first in San Juan. The moment came in front of one of the biggest stars to ever come from the island - though the night ending with confirmation of the next Boricua superstar on the rise. 

"It was an incredible feeling to be able to perform in front of Felix 'Tito' Trinidad," admitted Verdejo. "As for my future, I'm anxious to see what Top Rank has in store for me." 

An entire island and plenty throughout the boxing world share that very same feeling about his next fight and beyond.