Felix Verdejo Makes A Statement By Quickly Knocking Out Will Madera
As the main event began for Top Rank’s latest fight night, the announcers pointed out that Felix Verdejo normally runs out of gas after five rounds. The 27-year-old appeared to be aware of that, as he decided to end the new main event for the promotion right away.
Inside the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas, Verdejo (27-1) beat Will Madera (15-1-3) via TKO. He only needed one round to do so.
“I am proud of the work I put in with my trainer, Ismael Salas. The hard work is paying off,” Verdejo said. “Madera is a good fighter, but when I had him hurt, I knew I could finish him.”
The former WBO Latino Lightweight Champion in Verdejo reached in with jabs to start the first as Madera looked to set the pace early. He would then push Madera back with combination shots. Madera looked hurt as Verdejo would just pummel him with left hooks and one-two combinations. Little did he realize that it was just an appetizer for what was to come a few moments later.
Verdejo hit a sweeping right hand, an uppercut, a right, and one last vicious hook that knocked Madera down to the ground. It was one of the fastest main event finishes for Top Rank since the promotion returned to action in June.
.@DiamanteVerdejo folded Madera like a lawn chair 😯 #VerdejoMadera pic.twitter.com/FwmYwnh1jH
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) July 17, 2020
As far as who he would want to face next, Verdejo had a champion in mind that he would want a measure of revenge against. He is looking to avenge a 14-9 loss in the lightweight quarterfinals of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London against current WBA, WBO, WBC, and the Ring Lightweight Champion Vasiliy Lomachenko.
“As for what’s next, Vasiliy Lomachenko is the top guy at lightweight,” Verdejo went on to say. “We have unfinished business from when he beat me in the Olympics. That’s the fight I ultimately want.”
Both fighters were the main event after Mark John Yap came into the weigh-ins nine pounds over the 128-pound limit (136.7). As a result, his fight with Miguel Marriaga was scrapped.
Verdejo has now won four in a row, two of the wins via knockout. Madera is now 1-1-1 in his last three fights. The loss ended his undefeated streak and momentum following a win over Edgar Ramirez back in January.
WEEEEPAAA ‼️🇵🇷@DiamanteVerdejo just put the Lightweight division on notice with an incredible R1 knockout. World title shot next? #VerdejoMadera pic.twitter.com/r9rxUWnpmI
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) July 17, 2020