Felix Verdejo smashes Will Madera in first round, wants Lomachenko – Bad Left Hook

If Verdejo really has started to put it back together, hes absolutely someone to watch on at 135 pounds, which today is an extremely enjoyable weight class with the likes of Lomachenko, Teofimo Lopez, Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia, Jorge Linares, Luke Campbell, Richard Commey, possibly Gervonta “Tank” Davis if he remains at 135, and other quality fighters. Verdejo isnt old and hes not past the point where he might still have the ability to take advantage of his capability and pan out as the leading fighter he was expected to be. He might be extremely fascinating going forward, which feels great to state.

Felix Verdejo got a late bump to the centerpiece on tonights Top Rank Boxing on ESPN broadcast, and the Puerto Rican fighter, once anticipated to be a huge star in the sport, took advantage of it.

Madera wasnt getting up and referee Robert Hoyle stopped the battle.

Verdejo stressed that while he got a quick win, he didnt do it with reckless desert.

” In terms of the technical and tactical work, we did work clearly on specific things in camp, but more significantly, I was simply listening to him,” Verdejo informed Bernardo Osuna post-fight. “He informed me, Stay steady, stay calm, get out there and do what you understand how to do.

And as for the 2012 Olympics, where he lost to the amateur legend Vasiliy Lomachenko but showed a great deal of promise in defeat, Verdejo would still like some revenge.

” I took my time. I came out here settled, I wanted to measure what he had, how hard he hit,” he said. “Once I figured that out, I just did it, I let my hands go– however always under control, and the knockout came.”

Verdejo, 27, hurt Madera (15-1-3, 8 KO) on a flurry, and then dropped him after pressing the previously-unbeaten (however largely untried, to be reasonable) Madera to the corner, where Verdejo landed a lead right uppercut, a follow-up right-hand man upstairs, and a left hook to put Madera down hard.

” The top man at 135 pounds is Vasiliy Lomachenko. Hes the best in the department, however more significantly, we have incomplete company, and I desire to get the rematch from what happened in the Olympics.”

Verdejo was as soon as viewed as a top prospect in the sport and was a valued signing for Top Rank out of the 2012 Olympics, however an upset loss to Antonio Lozada in 2018 was followed by a string of performances that made mixed reviews at best, even though he was getting wins.

Verdejo (27-1, 17 KO) smashed Will Madera in the preliminary, dropping and stopping his opponent at 2:59.

This was Verdejos 2nd battle with well-known fitness instructor Ismael Salas, following a January win over Manny Rojas where Verdejo sort of overcome 10 uninspiring rounds. Determination and desire have actually long been the questions about Verdejo, however tonight he showed a real killer instinct.

After this performance, there will be the speculation that Verdejo is “back” to what everybody believed he may be, and hes saying just that himself.

” Stay prepared, due to the fact that Felix Verdejo is back, and Im prepared to eliminate versus the best. Thats my message to all of them: be all set.”

Martino Jules MD-8 Aleem Jumakhonov

Mikey Williams/Top Rank

This got run into the co-feature role. Jules is a 23-year-old southpaw featherweight from Allentown, Penn., and he revealed a little bit of skill here, but also some nervousness as this battle used on, with Jumakhonov not disappearing, providing Jules a bloody nose, and bringing some pressure that Jules had some trouble with.

When It Comes To Jumakhonov (8-3-2, 4 KO), this is a 27-year-old fighter, initially from Tajikistan and now based in California, who has the sort of tool set to be a possible fan favorite on B-shows like Golden Boys Thursday night series, a man who might evaluate and perhaps even expose some prospects for a couple of years.

BLH scored this 76-76, which is likewise what among the judges had, but that was overruled by two cards of 78-74 in Jules favor, keeping him unbeaten at 10-0 (2 KO). Hes definitely not an A-grade possibility or anything, however in the very first couple of rounds you could absolutely see some ability in the young fighter, things that can ideally be polished and fine-tuned and possibly provide him a crack to rise the ladder. An absence of punching power might be a huge factor for him, too.

Jared Anderson TKO-1 Hector Perez

The heavyweight department certainly does not lack for washouts still chugging along and fighting, so hell find a lot of willing opponents as he goes along.

” Anybody whos good, any person,” Anderson stated when asked of possible challengers he may battle as he develops. “I desire Olympians, I want previous world champs, challengers, all of it. Anybody who I can get, really.”

Anderson (5-0, 5 KO) entered into the third round last time out on June 9, but was back to preliminary demolition here. Everybody is fully mindful that hes a LONG way off being a competitor, as Perez (7-3, 3 KO) is what the French call “pas très bien,” but there is at least a little bit of speculation as to what sort of steps up he may make over the next year or two.

This fight got postponed however occurred tonight, second fight in The Bubble for both. Anderson, naturally, is a legitimate heavyweight possibility, a 20-year-old blue chipper out of Toledo, and he smashed Puerto Ricos Perez conveniently here, dropping and stopping him in 1:45. Perez decreased and revealed no intention of getting up, actually, so referee Russell Mora called it off after an eight count, making it a TKO.

Kenny Davis Jr MD-4 Eduardo Sanchez

After a pretty even very first round, Sanchez came out weapons blazing in the 2nd, landing 43 of 130 punches in the round. That work rate appeared to be overwhelming Davis once again in the 3rd, until Davis scored with a hard body shot that put Sanchez on the canvas late in the round.

They got possibly the only shot theyre ever getting on an ESPN card, and they put on an excellent battle.

” In terms of the tactical and technical work, we did work clearly on certain things in camp, but more notably, I was simply listening to him,” Verdejo informed Bernardo Osuna post-fight. If Verdejo really has actually begun to put it back together, hes definitely someone to keep an eye on at 135 pounds, which right now is a very enjoyable weight class with the likes of Lomachenko, Teofimo Lopez, Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia, Jorge Linares, Luke Campbell, Richard Commey, possibly Gervonta “Tank” Davis if he stays at 135, and other quality fighters. Verdejo isnt old and hes not past the point where he might still be able to capitalize on his capability and pan out as the top fighter he was expected to be. Perez went down and showed no intention of getting up, truly, so referee Russell Mora called it off after a 8 count, making it a TKO.

The 24-year-old light-weight Davis is now 3-2-1 (0 KO), while the 28-year-old Sanchez falls to 2-3 (0 KO). And for real, hats off to these two guys. They got perhaps the only shot theyre ever getting on an ESPN card, and they put on a great battle.

But Davis likewise hit Sanchez while he was down, which made an alerting to start the fourth and final round, and after that Davis lost a point for losing his mouth piece a second time, which made the scores goofy at 37-37, 38-36, and 38-36, the latter two going Davis way and giving him his third straight victory. BLH likewise had 38-36 Davis for what its worth.

Normally speaking these are two people who, fighting one another, would never, ever get on significant national television, however they did, and bless them, they put on a damn fun four-round scrap.