WBO Prez on The Star Potential of Felix Verdejo

By Victor Salazar

Felix Verdejo(17-0, 13 KO’s) is on the path of being the next great Puerto Rican star boxer. The path is currently on course to a June 13th date inside The Theatre at Madison Square Garden when he takes on Ivan Najera. BoxingScene.com spoke with the WBO President Francisco Valcarcel who says Verdejo could be in line for the WBO World Light Weight Title in the near future

“Late this year or early next year, Verdejo will be ready for a title shot,” Valcarcel told BoxingScene.com. “He looked very good in Puerto Rico and in Orlando after that and he should look good in Madison Square Garden too. That means he’s very active and he’s doing very well. I know Top Rank has plans for him to fight for a world title soon.”

Many of the Puerto Rican greats before him have headlined the big room at Madison Square Garden and Valcarcel feel it’s only a matter of time before Verdejo does the same.

“It looks like the old Wilfredo Gomez, (Felix) Trinidad, and (Miguel) Cotto,” stated Valcarcel. “He has the charisma and he had a big show in an arena, I had my doubts but the arena was full with 6,000 people. Now he’s going to Madison Square Garden and it should be full because of the Puerto Rican Day Parade.”

Valcarcel feels the addition of Verdejo to top of the lightweight division spices things up a bit.

“They’ll all be watching Verdejo. Verdejo makes this division very interesting, we have other people in the division that’s interesting but when he competes for the world title, he’ll make it much more interesting.”