Felix Verdejo (27-1, 17 KOs) made an emphatic statement in the lightweight division with a blistering first-round knockout against previously unbeaten Will Madera (15-1-3) in the main event of a Top Rank card from the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas.
The once highly touted Verdejo has had to rebuild his image over the years after a motorcycle accident in 2016 and suffering his first defeat via knockout to Antonio Lozada in 2018. The 2012 Olympian was primed to be the next big star to come out of Puerto Rico, but questions regarding his desire to turn his blue-chip status into stardom have weighed heavy on the 27-year-old.
Against Madera, Verdejo took a step in the right direction showing the pedigree, patience and power that once had the boxing world on notice when he arrived on the scene.
Behind a piston-like jab, Verdejo found his range and worked his way inside. Once he realized that Madera didn’t have much to offer in return, Verdejo charged in with 20 seconds left and rattled his opponent with a combination that had Madera in deep trouble.
Verdejo followed the reeling Madera into the ropes and fired a right uppercut that set up the left hook that put Madera down for the count with just a second left in the round.
Also on the card:
Jared Anderson (5-0, 5 KOs) continued his destructive tour through the heavyweight division by collecting a first-round knockout against Hector Perez (7-3). It didn’t take long for Anderson — who was coming off of a third-round knockout on June 9 — to impose his will on Perez. A left hook clobbered Perez and Anderson followed with another series of punches to put down Perez at the 1:45 mark.
Martino Jules (10-0) won a tough majority decision over Aleem Jumakhonov (8-3-2) in an eight-round featherweight bout with scores of 78-74, 78-74 & 76-76.