KNOW ABOUT THE BIG FIGHT If Verdejo defeats Madera, the 2012 Olympian feels he’ll improve his chances of receiving a title shot. I thought he was winning the fight when he got knocked out. MMA, boxing and wrestling are all facing a major issue: a cracked combat sports pipeline. All Rights Reserved. Rafael's remarks: Diaz, a 22-year-old Puerto Rican prospect, beat up on the shopworn Esquivias, 33, of Carson, California, as he continued to look good on his ascent. He won’t always pull a verbal punch when it might be the best course of action in order to maintain an aura of peace. Verdejo wants another fight within the next few mon… Yep; he’d have to work that much harder, and fate would have to start smiling on him again  if he wanted to become “the next Felix Trinidad.”, Or maybe he’s just not destined to be that…. My bottom line: I hope NYSAC considers his lifetime of service to the sport and realizes he was just thinking in terms of how much was at stake for his fighter. The 27-year-old Verdejo (26-1, 16 KOs) is scheduled to battle Will Madera (15-0-3, 8 KOs), of Albany, New York, in a 10-round lightweight encounter ESPN will air from MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas. Are the Charlos elite champions? Connect with friends faster than ever with the new Facebook app. ET / 7 p.m. Karl's corner called it off to save him from more punishment. NEW YORK — Bob Arum did not hold back in his assessment of Felix Verdejo after the rising Puerto Rican star was stopped in the tenth round by the unheralded Antonio Lozada Jr. at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden. I wasn’t there…but all in all, I think some leeway to factor in the passion felt by participants might be called for here. He said his 10-round decision over Rojas was average. Super middleweight In Verdejo’s first 19 fights of his career, he looked sensational, and it was believed that he would be the next Miguel Cotto or Felix Trinidad. The 26-year-old Verdejo is 3-0 since his lone loss, a stunning stoppage to Antonio Torres in March 2017 at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Vasquez was trying to rebound from a decision loss in July to Felix Diaz, who had stepped in to replace Collazo, who had suffered a torn calf. It’s a euphemism, another way of saying you’re going nowhere. "We have unfinished business from when he beat me in the Olympics. That could devastate the economy and their lives. Felix Verdejo is confident he is well on his way to overcoming the devastating defeat he suffered in March 2018. Verdejo was one of three fighters Arum signed out of the 2012 Olympics, along with Jose Ramirez, who won the vacant WBC junior welterweight title in the main event, and WBO featherweight titleholder Oscar Valdez. Verdejo believes a new trainer and a new outlook on life and his career can get him back on track to achieving the goal […] Divisional rankings -- The top 10 fighters per division, WBA-IBF champ Taylor demolishes Khongsong. Verdejo, 24, was in control early in the fight, landing effective counters on Lozada (39-2, 33 KOs). Twitter. Felix Verdejo picked up his second straight win and the first significant win he’s scored since his March 2018 loss to Antonio Lozada Jr, outpointing Bryan Vasquez over … TM & © 2020 BoxingScene. “He has made adjustments from the technical standpoint. Where do you rank Lopez among the opponents you’ve faced? NYSAC Medical staff will not be intimidated. Sign up for the Boxing Junkie newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Felix Verdejo knocked his opponent down and into the corner with a blistering right hook, left uppercut combination in the opening round of their lightweight fight Thursday. Felix Verdejo vs. Will Madera odds, betting lines, picks: Top Rank predictions from boxing expert who's 12-0 Boxing insider Peter Kahn is 12-0 making picks since the sport returned. Felix Verdejo knows what idle means. The fight was Verdejo’s first in nine months. What went wrong between Canelo Alvarez, Oscar De La Hoya and DAZN? Lightweight Felix Verdejo was on the verge of becoming a bonafide contender until a few lackluster performances, a motorcycle accident and the first loss of his professional career shattered that invincibility. Records: Diaz (20-0, 12 KOs); Esquivias (17-6-1, 10 KOs). Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. Verdejo (23-1, 15 knockouts) had been largely inactive since 2016, when a motorcycle accident caused him to miss out on a fight against then-WBO lightweight titleholder Terry Flanagan. “There are things to improve.’’. Verdejo has good basics and ability but is very repetitive with his offense. Not hard to figure him out after 5-6 rounds. Felix Verdejo knows what idle means. Should England's Flanagan prevail, Top Rank said it would like to work out a deal with Flanagan promoter Frank Warren to put on the fight on June 10 at Madison Square Garden, the eve of the annual Puerto Rican Day parade in New York. Records: Collazo (37-7, 20 KOs); Vasquez Jr. (21-2, 15 KOs). A roundup of the past week's notable boxing results from around the world: Chris Eubank Jr. TKO10 Renold Quinlan