By Mark Vester
Undefeated junior welterweight prospect "El Pollo" Alex de Jesus (17-0, 11KOs) has targeted WBO junior welterweight champion Kendall Holt and top contender/former champion Ricardo Torres. De Jesus returns on August 8 against Adrain Navarrete (17-5, 13KOs) in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico.
In 2004, De Jesus was an Olympic teammate with countryman, Juan Manuel Lopez. Both fighters turned pro on the same card in Bayamon on January 29, 2005. They were both signed by Top Rank. De Jesus watched his close friend "Juanma" win the WBO title at 122-pounds a few months ago, and now he too wants to bring another title to Puerto Rico. More than three years after their pro-debuts, both fighters remain unbeaten. The struggles with keeping in shape have hurt the career of de Jesus.
"The key to this is responsibility and Juanma has always had a head on his shoulders. I admire him a lot. Juanma is my inspiration to keep going", de Jesus told El Nuevo Dia. "I've remained behind while other people advanced themselves because of my irresponsibility with my weight. But that is already in the past, now I am physically and emotionally well. The way I feel right now, I could fight Kendall Holt or Ricardo Torres on Friday."
Peter Rivera, his co-promoter, has begun talking with Top Rank about a clash with Holt or Torres in the early part of 2009.
"It's possible that Holt and Torres will fight again. Then we would look to get the winner in the ring with "El Pollo." Holt and Torres belong to Top Rank, which makes things easier. I have already initiated talks with Bob Arum to do the fight in Puerto Rico," Rivera said.
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