By Francisco Salazar
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.
That remains to be seen, but Verdejo has too much pride to throw away a bright future and is handling himself well thus far in the media spotlight.
Verdejo will fight Ivan Najera in a clash of unbeaten lightweights tonight inside the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The bout will precede the Nicholas Walters-Miguel Marriaga fight and will be televised live on HBO, beginning at 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT.
Verdejo (17-0, 13 KOs) has feasted thus far on modest opposition as a pro. He shows he can box, decisioning tough Oscar Bravo over eight rounds on August 16, but Verdejo can show he can punch, as was evident of his brutal third round knockout over Sergio Villanueva on October 4.
He faces a decent test tonight in Najera, who is also unbeaten. While the attention and focus for that matter has been more on Verdejo and less on Najera, it could be an excellent opportunity for the Texas-based fighter to pull an upset. Verdejo is not overlooking his opponent.
"I'm ready for any style (Najera brings to the fight)," Verdejo told BoxingScene.com over the phone earlier this week. "I'm grateful for fighting on HBO, something I didn't think would happen, but I believed it would happen when I was younger. I'm very confident in my (abilities). I'm going to be calm and not fight desperately. My focus is to win rounds."
Verdejo is out to prove he is more than a flash in the pan. Top Rank has matched him well since signing him out of the 2012 London Games, where he won a Bronze Medal for Puerto Rico.
In fact, some are beginning to compare him to the great fighters that island nation has produced, from the likes of Wilfredo Gomez and Felix Trinidad.
That may be fair or unfair for Verdejo, considering he has yet to even fight for a world title. But while there are still a number of Puerto Rican fighters that compete today, including Miguel Cotto, 'Rocky' Martinez,' and Jose Pedraza, people in Puerto Rico have rallied around Verdejo.
It was evident two weeks ago at an open workout in the Bronx, where hundreds of fans showed up to meet Verdejo.
"I'm very proud of being Puerto Rican and I felt like I was at home in the Bronx that day," said Verdejo, who is one of Top Rank's brightest prospects. "It's important for me to support anything that has to do with Puerto Rico, including (tomorrow's) Puerto-Rican Day parade. But to fight in front of many Puerto Ricans in Madison Square Garden, where I'm sure they (Top Rank) is building a home base for me in New York City is something I'm looking forward to."
Should he win tonight, Verdejo could be on the cusp of becoming a serious contender in the lightweight division. Verdejo will likely encounter more press, receive significantly higher purses, and
more fans.
All those traits could be the downfall of a fighter, as training becomes more of a chore and basking in the spotlight is more important.
Verdejo does not believe he will become one of those fighters. He grew up very modestly in San Juan and he still lives there with his Mom and brothers.
While some young fighters are swayed by money and a flashy lifestyle, Verdejo is content with continuing to live a modest life, one where humility and discipline are balanced with confidence in and out of the ring.
"I learned as a kid to be disciplined. I've learned to translate that to the gym. I know and understand my roots while growing up in a poor barrio (neighborhood) and I just try to be the best citizen I can be. I do the best to stay true to who I am, accept God, and be a good citizen."
Verdejo has the world at his hands. He is popular amongst his people and boxing fans, has the backing of a major promoter, and could be a very marketable and crossover athlete. He understands the publicity he will receive, which means his life in and out of the ring will be under a microscope.
As far as boxing goes, the sky is the limit for Verdejo. He could win impressively tonight, but there is still more to improve on in the gym. And that is okay with Verdejo. He lives for the gym life and to polish his skills more.
With Cotto still around, but closer to retirement with each fight, Puerto Ricans would want to rally around another great fighter. Verdejo is their guy.
Yeah, he is some fighter, one who could explode on the mainstream sooner than we think.
"I'm ready and thankful to be where I'm at. I'm looking forward to Sunday, where I can spend it with my people."
Francisco A. Salazar has written for Boxingscene.com since September of 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (CA) Star newspaper, RingTV, and Knockout Nation. He can be reached by email at
or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing
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