Félix Verdejo Attempts first title shot April 25 ThaBoxingVoice

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

After a successful tour of fights along the east coast of the United States, “El Diamante” returns home for the first title bout of his professional career. Fully recovered from the injury on his left hand, rising Puerto Rican star Felix “El Diamante” Verdejo will battle for a World Boxing Organization (WBO) regional title on an April 25 card that will take place at the Mario “Quijote” Morales Coliseum in Guaynabo.

“For me there is nothing better than representing Puerto Rico, honoring my flag and bringing joy to my Island. I’m more than happy and thankful with Top Rank for the opportunity of fighting for a title in front of my people,” said the young prospect that is considered by many as ‘The Next Big Thing’ in Puerto Rican boxing. “I am very grateful with the fans on the Island for the unconditional support they have always given me and that’s why I wanted to give them my first title fight,” said the sensational boxer that was selected by ESPN.com as “Prospect of the Year”.

In what will be his first in-ring appearance of 2015 and his first fight in Puerto Rico since August of 2014, Verdejo, who is undefeated with a record of 16-0 and 12 knockouts, will battle for a WBO regional title against Mexico’s Marco Antonio “El Kua Kua” Lopez (24-5, 15 KO’s) in a 10-round duel in the lightweight division on the main the main event of the “Solo Boxeo Tecate” card that will take place on April 25 card at the Mario “Quijote” Morales Coliseum in Guaynabo.

“Puerto Rico’s favorite son returns to his Island and his fans on April 25 for his 2015 debut and the first title fight of his promising career. We are looking forward to working with Diamante Promotions to continue developing the career of this young talent on the Island. We know this will be a great night of boxing headlined by ‘El Diamante’,” said Carl Moretti, Vice President of Top Rank.

“I want to thank Top Rank for giving us the opportunity of being the partners in Puerto Rico of the world’s leading promoter. Diamante Promotions will become the local promoter of the most beloved rising athlete on the Island and whom I consider my little brother, because I saw him grow and develop from scratch,” expressed Jason Marquez, President of Diamante Promotions.

Verdejo added: “Thanks to God I feel fully recovered from the injury on my left hand. The rest came in handy, but the vacations are over,” said a laughingly Verdejo. “Despite the rest, I kept running in the mornings. I’m ready to return to the gym to prepare and get ready to bring that title to my people”.

Ricky Marquez trainer and manager of Verdejo, said: “We are just at the beginning of training camp. I know we will be training hard, and it will get ‘harder and harder’ as I always say. I wanted to make sure that the injury that Felix suffered healed 100% for his first ten-round bout. I’m sure ‘El Diamante’ will be ready to shine and conquer that title on April 25″.

Tickets to the card that will be presented by Top Rank in association with Diamante Promotions are priced at: $100, $70, $30 and $15, plus applicable charges. Tickets will be on sale on Friday, March 13 and can be purchased at TicketCenterPR.com or by calling (787) 792-5000.

The card will be televised from coast to coast in the United States by UniMas and in Puerto Rico by Univision Puerto Rico.

http://thaboxingvoice.com/felix-verdejo-attempts-first-title-shot-april-25/41841?var=no

The only televised boxing event scheduled for this Saturday will be a classic Puerto Rico vs. Mexico showdown when Gamalier Rodriguez defends his NABO featherweight championship against Jorge Pazos in the scheduled 10-round main event Saturday evening in the Events Center of the Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The Rodriguez-Pazos contest will be seen on Solo Boxeo Tecate, aired on UniMas. Rodriguez, of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, will be making the first defense of the title he won May 18 when he knocked out Alicio Castaneda, of Galveston, TX, in three rounds in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico.

Also on the card is hot prospect and Puerto Rican Olympian Felix Verdejo (6-0, 5 KOs), who seeks to maintain his undefeated record in a six-round super featherweight bout against Guillermo Delgadillo (4-4-1, 0 KOs). Wilfredo Gomez, one of the greatest of all Puerto Rican boxers, will be ringside Saturday evening cheering for fellow-countrymen Rodriguez and Verdejo.

A pro since 2006, the 26-year-old Rodriguez has a record of 21-2-3, 15 KO’s. He has not lost a fight in four years, going 13-0-1, 11 K0s, in that streak. Rodriguez has boxed once in Nevada, twice in California, 10 times in the Dominican Republic and 13 times in Puerto Rico. The Aug. 10 fight will mark his East Coast debut.

Pazos, 24, of Guamuchil, Sinaloa, Mexico, is coming off a 12-round points loss last Oct. 19 to Orlando Cruz, of San Juan, Puerto Rico, in Kissimmee, FL, for the WBO Latino featherweight championship. A pro since 2000, Pazos has a record of 19-5-1, 13 K0s.

The Puerto Rico vs. Mexico rivalry extends to the 10-round welterweight semifinal where Ronald Cruz, of Bethlehem tries to get back on the winning track against Rodolfo Armenta, of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico.

Cruz, 26, has dropped back-to-back 10-round decisions to Antwone Smith, of Miami, FL, and Ray Narh, of Brooklyn, NY, after winning his first 17 fights as a pro with 12 knockouts. He hopes to end his drought against Armenta, 28, of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, who has made a career out of fighting top opposition, including seven men who were undefeated when he fought them.

Now living in Rio Rico, AZ, Armenta has compiled a 12-10-1 record with nine knockouts since turning pro in 2007.

“The Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem has been showcasing world-class talent since the Events Center opened last year,” said J Russell Peltz, who is co-promoting the Aug. 10 card with Top Rank and BAM Boxing. “Already we have had heavyweights Tomasz Adamek, Steve Cunningham and Bryant Jennings, light-heavyweight Sergey Kovalev and junior middleweight Gabriel Rosado. Now we are adding Rodriguez, Félix “El Diamante” Verdejo and unbeaten super middleweight prospect Jesse Hart. The fights have been competitive and have been seen on NBC Sports Network and NBC-TV. We are moving forward with Solo Boxeo Tecate on UniMas. Bethlehem is a hotbed for Hispanic fight fans and August 10 should be another exciting night of boxing.”

http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/puerto-rico-vs-mexico-rivalry-renewed-saturday-217060

By Peltz Boxing –

Bethlehem, PA—It will be a classic Puerto Rico vs. Mexico showdown when Gamalier Rodriguez defends his NABO featherweight championship against Jorge Pazos in the scheduled 10-round main event Saturday evening, Aug. 10, in the Events Center of the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem.

The Rodriguez-Pazos contest will be on Solo Boxeo Tecate, aired on UniMas. It headlines a seven-bout card. First live fight at 7 pm.

Rodriguez, of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, will be making the first defense of the title he won May 18 when he knocked out Alicio Castaneda, of Galveston, TX, in three rounds in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico.
A pro since 2006, the 26-year-old Rodriguez has a record of 21-2-3, 15 K0s. He has not lost a fight in four years, going 13-0-1, 11 K0s, in that streak.

Rodriguez (right) has boxed once in Nevada, twice in California, 10 times in the Dominican Republic and 13 times in Puerto Rico. The Aug. 10 fight will mark his East Coast debut.

Pazos, 24, of Guamuchil, Sinaloa, Mexico, is coming off a 12-round points loss last Oct. 19 to Orlando Cruz, of San Juan, Puerto Rico, in Kissimmee, FL, for the WBO Latino featherweight championship.
A pro since 2000, Pazos has a record of 19-5-1, 13 K0s.

Cruz, 26, has dropped back-to-back 10-round decisions to Antwone Smith, of Miami, FL, and Ray Narh, of Brooklyn, NY, after winning his first 17 fights as a pro with 12 knockouts.

He hopes to end his drought against Armenta, 28, of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, who has made a career out of fighting top opposition, including seven men who were undefeated when he fought them.
Now living in Rio Rico, AZ, Armenta has compiled a 12-10-1 record with nine knockouts since turning pro in 2007.
“The Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem has been showcasing world-class talent since the Events Center opened last year,” said J Russell Peltz, who is co-promoting the Aug. 10 card with Top Rank and BAM Boxing.

“Already we have had heavyweights Tomasz Adamek, Steve Cunningham and Bryant Jennings, light-heavyweight Sergey Kovalev and junior middleweight Gabriel Rosado. Now we are adding Rodriguez, Verdejo and possibly unbeaten super middleweight prospect Jesse Hart. The fights have been competitive and have been seen on NBC Sports Network and NBC-TV. We are moving forward with Solo Boxeo Tecate on UniMas. Bethlehem is a hotbed for Hispanic fight fans and August 10 should be another exciting night of boxing.”

ABOUT AUGUST 10

The Rodriguez-Pazos fight headlines a seven-bout card at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem. Doors open at 6.30pm; first fight 7p.m. Tickets priced at $50 and $75 and $130 (luxury suites) can be purchased through the offices of Peltz Boxing (215-765-0922) and at all Ticketmaster outlets (800-745-3000). Tickets also are on sale at www.peltzboxing.com, www.SandsEventCenter.com, and www.Ticketmaster.com. In Bethlehem, tickets are available at Deja Brew, Inc., 101 West 4th Street (610-865-2739) and at Pronto Insurance Notary, 232 East 3rd Street (610-419-6790). The Rodriguez-Pazos fight will be on Solo Boxeo Tecate, aired on UniMas, on a one-hour delay in the East, beginning at 10pm. The card is being promoted by Top Rank and Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc., in association with BAM Boxing and the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem.

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/2013/gamalier-rodriguez-vs-jorge-pazos-for-nabo-featherweight-title-aug-10-in-bethlehem-pa/