By Jake Donovan
In terms of Puerto Rican boxing idols, Felix Verdejo has always prided himself on being more Felix “Tito” Trinidad than Miguel Cotto.
The unbeaten lightweight has quickly risen to the top of the island’s queue in ushering in a new era of Boricua boxers. Fittingly, his rise from notable prospect to budding boxing star takes place at home, as he headlines truTV's next installment of Metro PCS Friday Night Knockouts this Friday evening live from Coliseo Roberto Clemente in his hometown of San Juan, Puerto Rico.
“I'm very happy and thankful for the opportunity to fight in front of my people,” Verdejo (18-0, 13KOs) said during a recent media conference call to promote his Dec. 11 showdown versus Brazil’s Josenilson dos Santos. “This was one of my dreams, to fight at Roberto Clemente Coliseum. Thank goodness, everything is fine with the hand. I'm ready to go on December 11.”
The bout was due to take place on Halloween in Kissimmee, Florida. However, Verdejo was forced to withdraw as a recurring hand injury hadn’t fully healed in time to proceed with the event. Rather than head home, Verdejo and his team made the command decision to remain on site in Central Florida, interacting with fans throughout fight week and during an extended meet-and-greet session prior to the UniMas-televised event.
It went a long way with the local fan base, who didn’t at all seem disappointed that he was no longer fighting on the show. It was enough to simply shake his hand – his good hand, that is – and pose for pictures with the humble boxer, not at all dissimilar to the effect Trinidad had with the general public during his Hall of Fame career in the 1990s and 2000s.
“Tito is one of my favorite fighters. He's one of the fighters who inspired me to become a boxer,” notes Verdejo, as the two families have long been friendly with one another. “I saw the way he fought in the ring and how he united the people in Puerto Rico.
“Every time I see Tito, he always has advice for how I can approach the sport.”
One thing Trinidad never had the chance to do even at the height of his popularity was headline a show in New York City during the weekend dedicated to the annual Puerto Rican Day Parade. It was a trend started by Cotto through the brilliant and aggressive marketing of former longtime promoter Top Rank, but now passed on to Verdejo who played Madison Square Garden Theatre on that mid-June weekend earlier this year, in fact with Cotto – now with Roc Nation Sports – fighting in Brooklyn one week prior and not able to stick around for this year’s festivities.
A decision win over Ivan Najera came some 12 hours before Verdejo would literally join the parade the next day, going a long way with his adoring and growing public. While Trinidad and Cotto are by far the bigger stars, Verdejo’s transition from everyday boxer to island hero has come much earlier in his career than his more famous counterparts. The 22-year old just recently celebrated his third year in the pro ranks following his representing Puerto Rico in the 2012 London Olympics.
Even by his own admission, he didn’t expect to also represent Puerto Rico this early in his career.
“Not really, not so fast,” Verdejo humbly states of his rapid rise to fame. “I thought it would begin to happen when I became a champ, and a little more known worldwide.”
A title shot could come as early as next year, assuming he not only wins on Friday but is able to escape with injury or cuts. A title win would be exactly what Puerto Rico needs at this time given the recent drop-off at that level – including Cotto’s own recent World middleweight championship losing effort to Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez last month in Las Vegas.
Until that point, La Isla del Encanto gladly settles for the homecoming of its latest favorite son this weekend.
Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
