It isn’t often that a fighter goes out of their way to honor a journalist, but Iyana Verduzco will be dedicating her next fight to late boxing writer Thomas Gerbasi.
Verduzco, of Los Angeles, will fight Perla Lomeli, of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico, in an eight-round women’s featherweight bout Friday at the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, California. The bout will stream on UFC Fight Pass.
Verduco, 5-0 (1 KO), better known as “Right Hook Roxy,” recalled her memories of speaking to Gerbasi, who died earlier this month at the age of 57.
“I am dedicating this fight to Thomas," Verduzco told BoxingScene. “He was a great interviewer. I am really sad about his passing.
“Anytime you said something, word for word, he would write it down.”
When asked about memorable moments from prior interviews with Gerbasi (who wrote for BoxingScene, among other outlets), Verduzco recalled that they shared a love for baseball. Verduzco grew up playing softball for 10 years before focusing all her athletics efforts on her boxing career. A lifelong Los Angeles Dodgers fan, Verduzco said she would get grief from Gerbasi, a New Yorker, who remembered when the franchise played in Brooklyn.
“Every Tuesday, I would go to a baseball game and get the seats way at the top, just to be there,” Verduzco said. “To me, it is a beautiful sport, and it is a part of me and my family.”
In January, Verduzco, 23, wore an outfit inspired by her love of baseball and the Dodgers. This was around the time of the recent wildfires in Los Angeles.
“I felt like representing Los Angeles, and the Dodgers represent Los Angeles,” Verduzco said. “It was bringing in my past and my city with me to the ring.”
Verduzco’s opponent, the 24-year-old Lomeli, has a deceptive record (7-5, 1 KO). She has never been stopped, and among her five losses are two that have come by way of split decision. Lomeli most recently lost to Shannel Butler in August, but she also has a 2024 upset of former title challenger Maureen Shea on her resume.
The fight will be Verduzco’s second fight scheduled for eight rounds.
“I do see myself trying to fight for any type of title next year,” Verduzco said. “I am growing, and I just want to fight bigger names, people with a lot more experience, and just build my ranking up so I can get that title shot soon.”
Lucas Ketelle is the author of “Inside the Ropes of Boxing,” a guide for young fighters, a writer for BoxingScene and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Find him on X at @BigDogLukie.
