Puetro Rico's Felix 'El Diamante' Verdejo said he spent two days training at Ismael Salas's gym before hiring him as coach over two other candidates.
A few days ago, Verdejo revealed that the Cuban Salas would be his new trainer. Verdejo will make his debut with Salas by his side on January 18th, according to promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank.
Verdejo explained that Salas convinced him over the other trainers, because he did more chemistry with the Cuban.
“All of the trainers I worked with are good. But I liked the technique of Salas; the Cuban style is like ours, and I meshed more with Salas,” Verdejo said to Fernando Reyes about the work he did with the coach and his staff in a gym in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Puerto Rican said that Salas' first assistant is Carlos Iván Velásquez, who was a boxer and finished his career with a 19-2 mark. He came to fight for the featherweight title in 2015 against Javier Fortuna. Velasquez has a twin who was also a boxer.
Memo Heredia will remain as the physical trainer in the corner, Verdejo said.
“We had good chemistry with the group, with their technique; I liked them and I feel very comfortable there, happy,” said Verdejo.
The fighter said he will soon return to Las Vegas to begin his preparation for the fight next January.
Verdejo, 26 years old and 26 fights of experience (25-1), will begin his ninth year in pro boxing in 2020. He will do it with a renewed air in his corner.
"We are all united, comfortable with people. It is a matter of arriving to fully work hard. Everything is new in my career, from the basics to the most complicated, which is the gym. I know several fighters who are there and I feel very good,” he said.
Verdejo is still fighting a legal battle, as he filed lawsuit papers in San Juan to break his contract with former head trainer and manager Ricky Márquez.
According to Marquez's attorney, Verdejo will be in violation of his contract if he moves forward with this bout against Salas.
