Iyana Verduzco is seeing her career and life go full circle, as she started the year paying tribute to the Los Angeles Dodgers' World Series win, and now the Dodgers have repeated that success.
Verduzco faces Maria Salinas on Saturday in an eight-round women’s featherweight bout at Thunder Studios in Long Beach, California.
Verduzco, 6-0 (1 KO), recorded the first and only knockout of her career, wearing Dodger blue in January, stopping Lindsey Ellis. Now, she is looking to finish out a productive 2025 with her fifth victory. Verduzco, a passionate Dodgers fan, reflected on her favorite baseball team's win over the Toronto Blue Jays.
“That World Series had me on my toes,” Verduzco told BoxingScene. “But, then again, you never underestimate the Dodgers and you never underestimate someone from Los Angeles.”
Verduzco, a 24-year-old from Los Angeles, reflected that she spent her childhood boxing and playing baseball. She has vivid memories of attending Dodgers games. Verduzco hopes to mirror her favorite team’s accolades fighting under the bright lights.
For this fight, she faces Salinas, 27-13-6, a veteran who has only been stopped once in her career despite entering on a four-fight losing streak. Both fighters are making quick turnarounds as Verduzco defeated Perla Lomeli on October 3, while Salinas lost to 2020 U.S. Olympian Shakilya Ellis on October 10.
“I am fighting a southpaw, and I am a southpaw myself,” Verduzco said. “It is new for me. It is my first time fighting a southpaw in the pros.”
Verduzco explained that facing Salinas, a 36-year-old from Saltillo, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Mexico, harkens back to experiences she had before turning pro.
“I fought many lefties in the amateurs, because when you compete in international tournaments, that is all there is that is out there,” Verduzco said.
Verduzco aims to go full circle both in victory and possibly fight attire.
“This was a competitive World Series, and it does parallel my career, as you saw my fight in January, I had a Dodgers theme,” Verduzco said. “Stay tuned, because it is 2025, and the Dodgers just won.”