Verdejo on fighting At MSG, Possible Fight With Valdez
May 5, 2015 • 9:33 AM ET
By Victor Salazar
The torch of being the next great Puerto Rican fighter looks to be in the hands of Felix Verdejo (17-0, 13 KO's). Step one of getting to the goal comes June 13th, where the light weight prospect will fight on the eve of Puerto Rican day parade in the world’s most famous arena, inside The Theatre at Madison Square Garden.
The fact that the honor is bestowed upon him is a testament to his talent and the confidence that his handlers have him in him Verdejo says.
“I’m happy to be fighting in Madison Square Garden come June 13th,” Verdejo told BoxingScene.com “It’s something extraordinary for me. I’m very excited and happy that Top Rank has that confidence in me where they would put me on such a big stage fighting on the eve of the Puerto Rican Day Parade.”
It was an honored stowed upon the two previous Puerto Rican superstars before him, Felix Trinidad and Miguel Cotto. For Verdejo that’s motivation.
“I’m working hard and it motivates me that people say I’m next in line to be the next great Puerto Rican boxers,” stated Verdejo. “It’s an honor to be put in the same sentence with Miguel Cotto and Felix Trinidad.”
With a victory over Ivan Najera, it will inch him closer to a world title shot that could come as soon as the end of this year.
“Hopefully by the end of the year,” Verdejo said regarding fighting for a world title. “We get a chance to fight for a world title this year or first thing next year we fight for a world title but we have a good plan in place to do so.”
Top Rank has another highly touted prospect in Mexican Oscar Valdez. Although Valdez is fighting one weight class below Verdejo, some feel that down the road, that could be the next great installment in the Mexico vs. Puerto Rico rivalry. Verdejo feels that if they ever, the fight could have a nice place in history within the rivalry.
“We’re going to see down the line if we’re ever in the same weight class then I definitely think that could be one of the next big fights between Mexico and Puerto Rico.”
