Verdejo: Needs to Make Adjustments

Verdejo needs to face someone like Burns, a solid gatekeeper who will show us what he really has to offer.

Personally I don't think that Loma-Verdejo fight was close at all. Verdejo couldn't land, but Verdejo is a good fighter. Loma's experience was just too much for him at the time. Verdejo is a good young fighter with a lot to learn, but every fighter has to go through this. People like to over-exaggerate things if a fighter (especially a prospect or contender coming up) doesn't stop their opponent early or look spectacular. Every fighter has to go through test like these. Obviously Verdejo has a lot to learn, but these are the type of fights that will help him improve. People forget that Mayweather had tough fights or fights where he didn't look amazing. Regarding over-exaggeration Loma went through this. Lomachenko lost a close decision to Salido, but people like to say he got beat-up since like I said they like to over-exaggerate situations. The truth is that the fight was close and Lomachenko outlanded Salido. People are so sure that Salido won since he threw more punches, but if just throwing punches wins you the fight then other fighters would have several defeats since according to these people outworking an opponent wins you the fight. There are fighters that get outworked all of the time. There is another Lightweight prospect/contender, Luke Campbell, that got upsetted last year. I'm in the minority but I thought he won. I thought he swept the first four rounds, it wasn't pretty, but he was the one landing. And it's not like he lost ALL of the last eight rounds of the fight. People are so sure that he lost, because his opponent was the one coming forward and it was the first fight in which Campbell didn't dominate. Campbell was landing more shots throughout the fight and Mendy was missing more than people think. I could only give Mendy so much credit for just simply coming forward, it wasn't like he was taking Campbell to the ropes and beating on him. Again people like to over-exaggerate situations. But hey that fight was probably a great learning experience for Campbell. Just like this Silva fight is a good learning experience for Verdejo. Any fighter with even a little hype will be a target. Verdejo just has to keep moving forward and learn from this. I think he has a good future. I think they should take their time with Verdejo don't rush him into a title shot, but they should step up the competition. There is only so much he could learn from fighting guys he'll take out in a few rounds. Great post! Greened!

Before I actually saw him fight, I thought the kid was a monster as described by many people. I've seen 3 of his fights now, and while he's not a bad fighter, he has A LOT of work to do. He really hasn't impressed me thus far

He simply needs to develop. He's still far away from being a reality don't be fooled by the hype being pushed by HBO. There's plenty of talent there let's just hope him being pushed as a star doesn't neglect his growth.

IK they were talking about it this weekend... which actually surprised me a bit cuz skill wise loma shoulda mopped the floor with him :D Personally I don't think that Loma-Verdejo fight was close at all. Verdejo couldn't land, but Verdejo is a good fighter. Loma's experience was just too much for him at the time. Verdejo is a good young fighter with a lot to learn, but every fighter has to go through this. People like to over-exaggerate things if a fighter (especially a prospect or contender coming up) doesn't stop their opponent early or look spectacular. Every fighter has to go through test like these. Obviously Verdejo has a lot to learn, but these are the type of fights that will help him improve. People forget that Mayweather had tough fights or fights where he didn't look amazing. Regarding over-exaggeration Loma went through this. Lomachenko lost a close decision to Salido, but people like to say he got beat-up since like I said they like to over-exaggerate situations. The truth is that the fight was close and Lomachenko outlanded Salido. People are so sure that Salido won since he threw more punches, but if just throwing punches wins you the fight then other fighters would have several defeats since according to these people outworking an opponent wins you the fight. There are fighters that get outworked all of the time. There is another Lightweight prospect/contender, Luke Campbell, that got upsetted last year. I'm in the minority but I thought he won. I thought he swept the first four rounds, it wasn't pretty, but he was the one landing. And it's not like he lost ALL of the last eight rounds of the fight. People are so sure that he lost, because his opponent was the one coming forward and it was the first fight in which Campbell didn't dominate. Campbell was landing more shots throughout the fight and Mendy was missing more than people think. I could only give Mendy so much credit for just simply coming forward, it wasn't like he was taking Campbell to the ropes and beating on him. Again people like to over-exaggerate situations. But hey that fight was probably a great learning experience for Campbell. Just like this Silva fight is a good learning experience for Verdejo. Any fighter with even a little hype will be a target. Verdejo just has to keep moving forward and learn from this. I think he has a good future. I think they should take their time with Verdejo don't rush him into a title shot, but they should step up the competition. There is only so much he could learn from fighting guys he'll take out in a few rounds.

Like I said. Ring IQ Jab Body Work Add Improve defense

He's athletic and packs a punch, but he lacks the ring IQ I second this. At the moment he's getting by purely on being a better natural athlete than his opponents. His arsenal consist of a 1-2 combo and a nice little check hook he does when he dips to the side on an incoming opponent. The advantage in athleticism is allowing his punches to get there first, but eventually he's going to face people with the timing to negate his speed.

You guys are basing these assumptions off of a fight where his opponent didn't want to engage all night. He made Verdejo not look so good in a superstar fashion, but Verdejo did manage to win all the rounds. This one fight doesn't dictate anything about him being great or not. He clearly has major talent. verdejo didn't look that good against najara who was ko'd in 1 round in his next fight. yea he looked good against that one dude who was ko'd in 2 of 3 coming into the verdejo fight but that was just pathetic. also most good opponents are good at not engaging at least on their opponents terms so if he's having trouble enganging now he's prob gonna have a lot more trouble down the road. i have nothing bad to say about him but its just kinda strange seeing a star being manufactured before our eye. its like watching them make sausage. i don't like it!

You guys are basing these assumptions off of a fight where his opponent didn't want to engage all night. He made Verdejo not look so good in a superstar fashion, but Verdejo did manage to win all the rounds. This one fight doesn't dictate anything about him being great or not. He clearly has major talent. I've came to these conclusions about his defense at least 2 years ago. I thought him going against a taller opponent would show something different. It just confirmed my observations even more.

I've always thought of Verdejo as a good, not great fighter. I just don't see it in him. He's athletic and packs a punch, but he lacks the ring IQ needed to be on the level of his fellow Puerto Rican stars. As mentioned before, his lack of body work is very disappointing. He just tries to look for the homerun shot or homerun counter shot and as a consequence, his work rate suffers TREMENDOUSLY. He needs to just set up his offense with an effective jab and throw COMBINATIONS. One punch at a time just isn't gonna cut it. He needs to stop looking for that big shot and just touch his opponent. HBO is trying to sell this kid hard and I ain't buying yet. Would love to see him with some tough opposition to see what he's really made of. Let's see if he can face adversity and adapt to the situation in the ring.

You guys are basing these assumptions off of a fight where his opponent didn't want to engage all night. He made Verdejo not look so good in a superstar fashion, but Verdejo did manage to win all the rounds. This one fight doesn't dictate anything about him being great or not. He clearly has major talent.

why are they showing him on hbo so early is the big question? I think maybe that's why arum was so upset at Cotto before? Maybe old man's idea was to have Verdejo co-feature with Cotto in a few fights idk haha Lomachenko said he was the toughest out of Valdez, Verdejo and Ramirez not his toughest overall if I'm not mistaken. IK they were talking about it this weekend... which actually surprised me a bit cuz skill wise loma shoulda mopped the floor with him :D

Verdejo, as I've seen alot of his fights, is a natural counter puncher. He has a sweet check left hook and a good overhand right. Other things he can work on but if you are a counter puncher you will stay a counter puncher. that & vasyl lomachenko, from what I've heard, said that Verdejo was his TOUGHEST fight in the amateurs. Lomachenko said he was the toughest out of Valdez, Verdejo and Ramirez not his toughest overall if I'm not mistaken.

He hasn't fought anybody good yet including the guy he just fought. I thought he should have KOed the guy but he never really tried very hard to get the KO. I can see the potential but he does need lots of improvement if he is ever going to be a superstar many say he will be. I am very impressed with the speed and power of his left hook and his straight right. He has to learn how to actually land them more often and step up the low quality of his opposition a lot. Spence is the real next superstar to me but he is 3 years older. Maybe Vedejo will catch up with him in the next few years.

I thought his workrate was pretty dismal. He seems content throwing single shots or he'll throw a nice combination only to reset and move around, instead of following up with more punches. Verdejo doesn't have to be a 'pressure fighter' but I think he needs to up the tempo a little more with his offense. Verdejo, as I've seen alot of his fights, is a natural counter puncher. He has a sweet check left hook and a good overhand right. Other things he can work on but if you are a counter puncher you will stay a counter puncher. that & vasyl lomachenko, from what I've heard, said that Verdejo was his TOUGHEST fight in the amateurs.

why are they showing him on hbo so early is the big question? he's not exciting at all and he's not fighting anyone good so it really seems like an attempt to make another berto/broner. well he's puerto rican and boxing needs one star puerto rican and cotto is old so lets make it this guy!

His defense seems to comprise of putting his hands up in a shell or hopping away. I fear that a fighter that is good at forcing an inside fight will beat him. He didn't really slip punches, doesn't parry much, doesn't roll or anything. Very one dimensional on defense. I agree, he might be the next Juanma Lopez, sadly.

Not to hate on the kid but he might be Juanma Lopez 2.0, he's pretty wild and doesn't seem to think much in there. That can only take you so far, what happens when he faces a gritty volume puncher or a smooth counter puncher?

His defense seems to comprise of putting his hands up in a shell or hopping away. I fear that a fighter that is good at forcing an inside fight will beat him. He didn't really slip punches, doesn't parry much, doesn't roll or anything. Very one dimensional on defense.

I thought his workrate was pretty dismal. He seems content throwing single shots or he'll throw a nice combination only to reset and move around, instead of following up with more punches. Verdejo doesn't have to be a 'pressure fighter' but I think he needs to up the tempo a little more with his offense.