By Miguel Rivera
Carl Moretti, the Vice President For Top Rank, feels the career of Puerto Rico's IBF super featherweight champion Jose Pedraza of Puerto Rico is being mishandled.
Top Rank has a talent for promoting Mexican and Puerto Rican fighters. Nearly the entire career of former four division champion Miguel Cotto was built by Top Rank. Currently they are building Puerto Rican prospect Felix Verdejo into a superstar and they also have prospect Christopher Diaz.
A lot of the insiders in Puerto Rico regard Pedraza as a better fighter and more battle tested than Verdejo. On the other hand, Verdejo is far more popular in Puerto Rico and better known in the United States.
Right now Pedaza (21-0, 12KOs) is set to make a mandatory defense against Stephen Smith of the UK. There have been delays with the fight date and now it's once again heading to a purse bid.
"I think it's very unfortunate [what's going on with his career]. I think he's been mishandled. He's a world champion and a great fighter who deserves to be treated better. He deserves to be more respected. His career is almost being wasted," Moretti told ESPN Deportes.
"I always advocate for all Puerto Rican fighters. I love watching them fight and watching these prospects coming up. I think it's great for the sport in that country. When you have a world champion like Pedraza it's a shame that he's not promoted and developed in a way that he deserves, and for the sake of Puerto Rican boxing. I'm sure he is watching what is happening with Felix and he's probably wondering a lot of things."
According to Moretti, Top Rank may very well get involved in the Pedraza-Smith purse bid.
Pedraza was last in the ring in November in Cincinnati, Ohio, winning a decision against Edner Cherry.
Currently, the Puerto Rican boxer's career is promoted by the trio of Gary Shaw, Lou DiBella and Javier Bustillo. He is advised by Al Haymon.