felix verdejo

Verdejo was the winner at light-weight with the 2012 American Boxing Olympic Qualification Tournament.[four] Qualification was confident when Verdejo defeated a Mexican rival during the quarter-finals since the leading-four finishers certified for that 2012 Olympics in his pounds class.[five]

Within the 2012 Summer season Olympics, Verdejo defeated Panamanian José Huertas in the initial round having a rating of eleven–5.[6] Then he defeated Tunisian Ahmed Mejri using a sixteen–seven rating right before getting rid of to Vasyl Lomachenko of Ukraine from the quarterfinals fourteen–9.

Verdejo was also a Panamerican Youth Winner.[7]

Skilled occupation[edit]

Verdejo vs. Petchsamuthr Duanaaymukdahan at CotaiArena in Macau in November 2013

Early profession[edit]

In October 2012, a 19 year previous Verdejo became a professional by joining Top Rank, signing for an undisclosed quantity that reportedly involved a bonification $600,000 pounds.

Verdejo received the "New Hispanic Assure" category with the 2013 Premios Juventud on July 18 of that year. Just after closing his 2013 campaign, Verdejo was voted "Prospect on the Yr" by BoxingScene and Top rated Rank.[8] He also concluded next in Yahoo!'s list, which mentioned that any other yr he might have been a "slam dunk winner".[9] In his very first fight of 2014, Verdejo faced undefeated Lauro Alcantar, winning by knockout in only 21 seconds. Verdejo ongoing his achievements during 2014, likely seven–0 with 6 KO, creating his career record 16–0 (KO 12). ESPN.com would go on to call Verdejo 'Prospect of the Calendar year' for 2014.

WBO Latino winner[edit]

Verdejo would get his to start with chance to assert his first title, it had been announced in January 2015. Leading Rank announced Mexican Marco Antonio López (24–5, fifteen KOs) as his opponent in a scheduled eight spherical bout for February 28, even so this was later on transformed to a 10-spherical bout and came about on April 25, because of verdejo injuring his hand.[ten][11] The combat was contested to the vacant WBO Latino light-weight title, which was only at stake for Verdejo as Lopez pounds four lbs . around the light-weight limit.[twelve] The combat happened in Puerto Rico as Verdejo claimed the vacat title by way of a fifth-round technical knockout. At enough time of stoppage, all a few judges experienced it forty–36 in favour of Verdejo.[13]

Verdejo produced his to start with defence towards undefeated American Ivan Najera (sixteen–0, eight KOs) on June thirteen on the Madison Sq. Back garden Theater in Ny city. Verdejo, building his HBO debut, defeated Najera in a large unanimous selection to keep the title. Verdejo scored two knockdowns and outpointed Najera with two judges scoring the bout one hundred–88 and just one choose had it ninety nine–89. Verdejo linked with 40% of his punches thrown compared to 30% from Najera.[14]

On December eleven, Verdejo created a second successive defence of his WBO Latino title in Puerto Rico in opposition to Brazilian Josenilson Dos Santos (27–3, 17 KOs). In spherical two, Verdejo hit a huge correct hand that dropped dos Santos, Whilst dos Santos conquer the count, referee Roberto Ramirez Jr. stopped the fight after a count was presented.[15]

Verdejo begun off 2016 using a defence versus undefeated Brazilian William Silva (23–0, 14 KOs) over the undercard of Crawford-Lundy on February 27, 2016 on the Madison Sq. Backyard garden Theater.[sixteen] The combat was televised on HBO. Verdejo landed 106 of 421 total punches as he cruised to a a person sided 10 spherical unanimous decision earn against Silva who connected forty five of 325 complete punches. Two judges experienced it 100–90 for Verdejo as well as third choose experienced it ninety nine–ninety one.[seventeen]

Verdejo would up coming struggle two months later, returning to Puerto Rico towards 29 12 months previous Mexican Jose Luis Rodriguez (eighteen–8, eleven KOs), who was over a 4 battle gain streak, on April 16 in a 10-round bout within the Coliseo Roberto Clemente. Verdejo was at first speculated to battle Daniel Evangelista (18–six–two, fourteen KOs), who withdrew in the battle on account of tendonitis.[18][19] Verdejo received a a single sided 10 spherical unanimous final decision earn about Rodriguez. He won the combat via the judges scoring it 99–ninety one, ninety nine–ninety one and 98–92. Verdejo utilised his power and speed advantage to punish Rodriguez with huge pictures to the head and overall body all over the 10 rounds. Using this acquire, Verdejo was assured a return to HBO on the Madison Sq. Backyard garden Theater on June eleven from light-weight contender Jose Felix Jr. (33–one–1, twenty five KOs).[twenty] Subsequent this acquire, WBA ranked Verdejo at #two light-weight and WBO rated him #3.[21]

Verdejo fought within the undercard on the title combat between WBO super featherweight champion Martinez vs. Lomachenko at Madison Square Backyard garden Theater in The big apple on June 11, 2016. He defended his Latino title towards 2nd tier Mexican boxer Juan Jose Martinez (25–2, 17 KOs), who had gained 6 fights inside a row considering the fact that a seventh-spherical technical choice decline to Rey Bautista in September 2014. Verdejo was speculated to fight Felix Jr. even so a offer couldn't be manufactured, Based on Major Rank vice president Carl Moretti, Felix questioned for around 'four times The cash accessible' for Verdejo's opponent.[21][22] Verdejo, who had been criticized for his former two choice wins, stopped Martinez in five rounds to keep his title. Verdejo was the aggressor, out-landing Martinez ninety to 36 and connected on fifty one p.c of his electrical power shots. In Spherical 5, Martinez experienced a Slash over his right eye and with 20 seconds remaining, Verdejo pinned Martinez from the ropes, in advance of referee Michael Ortega jumped in at two:forty and stopped the combat. Verdejo informed his translator once the bout that he 'wishes to battle the best'. Bob Arum spoke of the potential for a entire world title fight concerning Verdejo and WBO winner Terry Flanagan for early November, even so This is able to no longer be the case as a consequence of Verdejo suffering injuries in a motorbike accident.[23][24][twenty five][26]

On December 6, 2016 Verdejo introduced that he was near to returning into the ring, slated to become for February 3, 2017 in his indigenous Puerto Rico.[27] Months later Best Rank confirmed that he would certainly combat on that date versus former Tremendous featherweight title challenger Oliver Flores (27–2–2, 17 KOs) in the Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan. Flores is coming off a stoppage reduction in December 2015 to then WBA junior felix verdejo lightweight champion Takashi Uchiyama. The combat will aired continue to exist UniMas.[28][29] Verdejo received the struggle via a ten-round unanimous decision. The 3 judges scored the struggle ninety nine–ninety one, 98–92, 96–ninety four all in favor or Verdejo. With the win Verdejo landed a shot within the WBO lightweight title.[30]

Globe title mix[edit]

On June twelve, 2017 the WBO president Francisco Valcarcel acquired term that promoters Bob Arum and Frank Warren were being Operating carefully together to come back to an arrangement to get a fight to take place amongst Verdejo and undefeated WBO lightweight winner Terry Flanagan. Some sources claimed the fight would happen on September 9 in Manchester.[31] There was a delay from the negotiations resulting from Verdejo becoming available $175,000, nevertheless his representatives were searching for him to generate during the region of $450,000 needing to journey to Flanagan's house region to problem for the title.[32] A offer was last but not least achieved to the struggle to happen onSeptember 16, 2017 at the Copper Box Arena in London. WBO middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders was verified To participate on the exact same card. The struggle would also mark the fight time Flanagan would fight in London.[33] On July 17, Warren emailed Prime Rank to help make them aware that Flanagan experienced experienced a leg injury, Therefore suspending the battle.[34] The WBO requested that health-related evidence needed to be sent to them. Flanagan's team confirmed the proof could be sent the following day.[35]

On August 5, 2017 Leading Rank disclosed that Verdejo would continue to be fast paced and struggle to the September 22 undercard of Gilberto Ramírez vs. Jesse Hart in Tucson, Arizona.[36] On August fourteen, Prime Rank introduced that Verdejo would combat Mexican boxer Antonio Lozada Jr. (37-two, 31 KOs) within the Convention Centre in a 10 round bout.[37] It might have marked the first time Lozada Jr. would at any time battle skillfully outside of Mexico, on the other hand Verdejo picked up an personal injury in training, forcing him to drag out from the battle.[38]

In December 2017, WBO president Francisco Valcarcel said that Verdejo would wish to operate his way back again to the necessary place. With Flanagan going to light welterweight and vacating his WBO lightweight title, the WBO purchased their amount #1 Ray Beltrán to battle #three Paulus Moses to the vacant title.[39]

Job from 2018[edit]

On December 22, 2017 it was declared that Verdejo would return towards the ring immediately after thirteen months inactivity on the Madison Sq. Yard Theater on March 17, 2018.[40] A week later, Antonio Lozada Jr. was lined up to combat Verdejo. Lozada was scheduled to combat Verdejo in February 2017. In January 2018, Lozada signed the deal to create the fight Formal.[41][42] Verdejo endured his 1st reduction as an expert, becoming stopped in round ten. Despite the ring rust, owning not fought in above a yr, going into the final round Verdejo was forward 87-84 and 86-eighty five on two scorecards with Lozada in advance 86-85 to the remaining scorecard. In spherical 10, Lozada knocked Verdejo down once. After Verdejo conquer the count and acquired to his feet, Lozada began to unload much more shots which led to referee Eddie Claudio stopping the combat at two:37 from the spherical.[forty three][44]

Next his initial Expert profession defeat, Verdejo took eight months out and returned into the ring in Puerto Rico on November ten, 2018 versus Mexican journeyman Yardley Armenta Cruz. The battle took place on the Mario Quijote Morales Coliseum in Guaynabo. Verdejo returned to profitable methods right after stopping Cruz in round 2. It had been a still left hook which sent him down and he was unable to Get better.[45]