By Miguel Rivera

Puerto Rican contender Felix "El Diamante" Verdejo is gearing up for his scheduled fight with Costa Rican Bryan "Tiquito" Vásquez in April, the now has the goal of staying on the winning path to secure a world title this year.

As BoxingScene.com reported earlier today, the contest will have the WBA's "gold" belt at stake.

"I understand that I am quite mature physically and mentally, and with the preparation of year after year an improvement in my physique is noticable. I understand that I am prepared to bring a world title and give joy to my country," said Verdejo to Sara Hernandez.

Verdejo (24-1, 16 KO's) will face Vasquez (37-3, 20 KO's) on April 20 at Madison Square Garden, New York. This fight will be part of the undercard, to the anticipated main event when Terence "Bud" Crawford will expose his undefeated record and the welterweight title (147 pounds) of the World Boxing Organization (WBO) against Amir "King" Khan.

On the same card, Verdejo's countryman Christopher "Pitufo" Diaz will go against Olympic silver medal winner Shakur Stevenson.

The boxer, who in his last outing last November defeated Yardley Armenta Cruz by knockout, said he expects this year to secure a crack at a world title at 135-pounds.

" I feel very good. Everything is in order. I am very happy because I can work as well as I can, working as much as any boxer when he trains in the gym for a fight. The doctors tell me that everything is fine, that I can break the bags," Verdejo said.

In June 2015, the athlete had an operation on his left hand after a medical evaluation showed he had calcification in a bone. In September of 2017, he injured his right wrist during training camp in Big Bear Lake, California. A fight with Antonio Lozada Jr. on March 17, 2018, when the Puerto Rican experienced his first and only defeat.

"We hope that this is the year of Felix," said coach and manager of "El Diamante", Ricky Marquez, when asked about the possibilities of Verdejo having a starting chance in 2019.

"Felix has just turned 25 years old. He is mature, his body is ready for the challenges, and for that he is preparing, to reach the top positions."