Ivan Najera: record, next fight and profile →
Undefeated super featherweight prospect Saul "Neno" Rodriguez (18-0) has notified BoxingScene.com that he will open up the November 20th edition of Top Rank's Metro PCS Friday Night Knockout series truTV against Ivan Najera (16-1). The fight will take place at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas. The likely headliner for the show will be unbeaten super middleweight contender Gilberto Ramirez against an opponent to be determined.
If there was a silver lining to be found in Saturday's network head-to-head matchup between HBO and Showtime, it's that a star was born with the premium cable network debut of Felix Verdejo. A modest-sized yet vocal crowd of more than 3,300 filed into Madison Square Garden Theatre in New York City to get a glimpse at the unbeaten 2012 Puerto Rican Olympian. The June 13 showcase marked Verdejo's first live appearance on HBO, and he didn't disappoint in cruising to a dominant 10-round virtual shutout of Ivan Najera in a matchup of unbeaten lightweights. The bout—which served as the opening act of an HBO-televised doubleheader—drew an average of 611,000 viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. The number may not be mind blowing, but a good pull for a rising star just three years into his pro career.
NEW YORK – If his dominant performance Saturday night left you wanting to see more of Felix Verdejo as soon as possible, you might have wait longer than you’d like. The powerful Puerto Rican lightweight contender suffered a left hand injury during the first round of his impressive victory over Ivan Najera that could leave him sidelined for an extended period. The 22-year-old Verdejo (18-0, 13 KOs) said following his unanimous-decision win in The Theater at Madison Square Garden that he’ll soon see a specialist to determine the extent of the hand injury he first suffered during a Dec. 13 technical knockout win against Spain’s Karim El Ouazghari (16-6-2, 4 KOs) in Philadelphia.
The Theater, Madison Square Garden, New York City - Victor Salazar catches up with undefeated lightweight prospects Felix Verdejo (18-0, 13KOs), who made his HBO debut with a ten round unanimous decision over game Ivan Najera (16-1, 8KOs). The scores were 100-88, 100-88, and 99-89. Verdejo started with a good jab from the distance, as Najera was coming forward with pressure but staying smart with his hands up. In the second round, Najera started letting his hands go and Verdejo was willing to oblige his request by firing back with the harder, more accurate punches. In the third, Najera continue to coming forward with pressure and was eating good jabs and check hooks.
The Theater, Madison Square Garden, New York City - In a battle of undefeated lightweight prospects, Felix Verdejo (18-0, 13KOs) made his HBO debut with a ten round unanimous decision over game Ivan Najera (16-1, 8KOs). The scores were 100-88, 100-88, and 99-89. Verdejo started with a good jab from the distance, as Najera was coming forward with pressure but staying smart with his hands up. In the second round, Najera started letting his hands go and Verdejo was willing to oblige his request by firing back with the harder, more accurate punches. In the third, Najera continue to coming forward with pressure and was eating good jabs and check hooks.
The heir to the throne of Puerto Rico, lightweight contender Felix Verdejo (17-0, 13KOs), makes his HBO televised debut from the The Theatre at New York's Madison Square Garden. He faces fellow unbeaten Ivan Najera (16-0, 8KOs). Verdejo is following in the footsteps of countrymen Felix Trinidad and Miguel Cotto, by fighting on eve of the national Puerto Rican parade.
The patient Felix Verdejo (48 punches per round) landed 43% of his power punches, while opponents (Lopez, Ouazghari, Villanueva, Bravo) landed just 15% of their total punches (5 per round) and just 22% of their power punches (4 per round). Ivan Najera was busy (80 thrown per round) and accurate (28 landed-36% overall and 39% of his power shots) vs. Cervantes and Cannon. Verdejo is a huge step up in class
Felix Verdejo is being touted as the next big star from Puerto Rico. Top Rank is putting that theory to the test, as he plays Madison Square Garden Theatre on the eve of the Puerto Rican Day parade. Standing opposite corner is Texas' Ivan Najera in a battle of unbeaten lightweight(-ish) prospects. Their 10-round bout airs live on HBO, marking the network debut for both fighters. Read on to see how the staff at BoxingScene.com believes the action will go down.
He is some fighter, isn't he? Felix Verdejo has the boxing world and the island nation of Puerto Rico captivated in what he does in to out of the ring. Whether it is his now-becoming trademark smile or vicious knockout power, Verdejo is becoming a commodity in the sport and very popular with 'his gente' (his people). While the lights have gotten brighter and the crowds has gotten bigger, one wonders if the 22-year-old may crack from the spotlight or get too comfortable and not put in the work in the gym.
So far, it's not an HBO main event to remember for Nicholas Walters. The unbeaten featherweight is now a former titlist, as he was forced to vacate his belt after weighing over the limit for Saturday's showdown with Miguel Marriaga at Madison Square Garden Theatre in New York City. Walters weighed 127.4 lbs. during the initial weigh-in and was granted two hours to lose the additional 1.4 lbs. He returned at 4:00 p.m. ET, but couldn't get any lower than 127 lbs., leaving him beltless and also subject a pending fine from the New York State Athletic Commission.