The young promise of Puerto Rican boxing Félix Verdejo defeated Brazilian William Silva by unanimous decision at lightweight and maintained his undefeated condition in the fight played at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Verdejo, 22, although he did not have his best performance, he did respond in the decisive moments and made the balance of the points fall on his side with the cards of the two judges in charge of the fight (100-90 and 99-91 ).
Despite the victory, Verdejo with a 20-0 record and 14 wins achieved by fast track, had difficulties to connect clean shots, against an opponent with resources who kept his distance and avoided being surrounded on the ropes for the exchange of blows.
Silva suffered the first setback of his career in 25 bouts.
“I learned a lot from this fight,” said the “Diamond” Verdejo.
The Puerto Rican fighter was patient and always took the initiative, but he could not hit Silva with a blow that would put him in trouble.
The tenth and final round had the best exchanges, and Verdejo managed to connect several blows that put the crowd on their feet.
“I would have liked it to have ended by knockout, but it is part of the learning I must have as a professional,” Verdejo declared at the end of the fight.
“He is an elusive opponent, he moved a lot,” he commented.
In the main event, American champion Terence Crawford remained undefeated by knocking out the contender, his compatriot Hank Lundy within the welterweight of the World Boxing Organization (WBO) in five rounds.
Crawford (28-0, 20 KOs) retained the 140-pound crown for the second time, always being far superior to Lundy whom he punished harshly.
Crawford landed 89 punches, for just 47 of his rival; The champion threw 247 strokes for Lundy’s 211, and achieved a 36 percent success rate for only 22 for the challenger.
Puerto Rican Verdejo defeated Brazilian Silva and remained undefeated
