By Victor Salazar
New York, NY - The future of Puerto Rican boxing seems to be squared on the shoulders of 22 year old Felix Verdejo (20-0, 14 KO’s). Though the island has two title holders in Jose Pedraza and Roman Martinez, the more known of the three has yet to have faced the same level of competition as his two countrymen.
Drawing large crowds in Puerto Rico, Florida, and New York, Verdejo is easily the most popular active fighter from island aside from Miguel Cotto.
Two weeks ago, he made his return to New York in a co-main event on a card headlined by WBO 140-pound champion Terence Crawford. Although Crawford is a ticket seller in his own right, many of the fans that packed The Theatre at Madison Square Garden were definitely there for Felix Verdejo.
“I’m definitely grateful for the fans in New York, Verdejo told BoxingScene.com. “It’s definitely another great experience.”
He outboxed undefeated but relatively unknown William Silva from Brazil.
The goal is to fight at least 4 to 5 times this year and to win a world title at lightweight says Verdejo's trainer Ricky Marquez. He feels his fighter can still make the junior lightweight limit.
“We’re working for the 135 pound title, no less than that hopefully,” explained Marquez. “He can do less weight than that for 130, he can make it no problem. We’ll decide as we go depending on the fight.”
Verdejo has had hand issues before and it is certainly a concern for some in the industry how long his hands will last. But Marquez says those problems are solved.
“His hands are fine,” Marquez said. “It’s nothing to worry about. It’s something that happened that could happen to everybody.”
Verdejo’s promoter Bob Arum laid out a plan where Verdejo could likely headline a card in June before the eve of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, a formula for success that worked well for Cotto when he was promoted by Arum.
It’s not too hard to imagine that in a year from now, and with a potential world title, Verdejo could graduate from the Theatre to the big arena that holds over 20,000 fans. It’s something that Verdejo is striving for to continue such a tradition.
“I’m not there yet but hopefully soon,” Verdejo said about selling out Madison Square Garden on the eve of the Puerto Rican Day Parade. “Though it’s a great day for Puerto Ricans here and all over the world. Hopefully we can continue the tradition for years to come.”
His trainer feels it may come sooner than later.
“That’s a good question,” Marquez said of fighting in Madison Square Garden as the main eventer. "The way people are acting around him, the kind of support that he’s getting, it will come sooner than later.”
