Félix Verdejo is a Puerto Rican former professional boxer and athlete. Félix Verdejo competes in the lightweight division and won the WBO Latino lightweight title in the year 2015.
Early Life
Félix Verdejo was born on May 19, 1993. His age as of 2022 is 28 years and his sun sign is Taurus. Likewise, his full name is Félix Gabriel Verdejo Sánchez. His birthplace is in San Juan in Puerto Rico. He was born to his father Demetrio Verdejo Colon, and his mother Madeline Sanchez. Verdejo has two brothers and two sisters. Sadly, his early life, education, and much information about his family background are in the shade.
Caption: Félix Verdejo’s picture with his mom. Source: Instagram
Professional Life and Career
Verdejo was 9 years old when he started boxing. He represented Puerto Rico at the 2012 Olympics as an amateur. He was a Panamerican Youth Champion. Similarly, he won the lightweight at the 2012 American Boxing Olympic Qualification Tournament. And, with the win, he qualified for the 2012 Olympics. Moreover, he defeated Jose Huertas and Ahmed Mejri before losing to Vasyl Lomachenko in the quarterfinals of the 2012 Olympics.
Later, in October 2012, Sanchez turned professional. This boxer joined Top Rank signing for an undisclosed amount that reportedly included a bonification of $600,000. Similarly, he won the “New Hispanic Promise” category of the 2013 Premios Juventud. Further, BoxingScene and Top Rank voted him “Prospect of the Year”.
Likewise, Sanchez was named 2014 “Prospect of the Year” by ESPN.com. He defeated Mexican Antonio Lopez in April 2015 to win the vacant WBO Latino Lightweight title. Similarly, he defended his title against undefeated Ivan Najera and Josenilson Dos Santos in 2015.
More
Moreover, in February 2016, he defended his title against undefeated William Silva. However, he defeated Jose Luis Rodriguez via unanimous decision in April 2016. And, with his win against Rodriguez, he was ranked at No. 2 lightweight by WBA, and no. 3 by WBO.
Soon after his motorcycle recovery, he returned to fight in February 2017 where he defeated Oliver Flores. Moreover, he pulled out of the fight against Antonio Lozada Jr. in 2017 due to injury. Later, in February 2018, he returned to boxing with the announcement of his fight against Antonio Lozada Jr. Therefore, he suffered his first professional loss at the hands of Lozada Jr.
And, he took 8 months hiatus after his career-first professional loss. However, he returned to the ring with the fight against Yardley Armenta Cruz in November 2018. Then, he defeated Cruz in the second round. Similarly, in April 2019, he defeated Bryan Vasquez via unanimous decision. Moreover, he changed his trainer and started working with renowned boxing trainer Ismael Salas.
Further, he defeated Manuel Rey Rojas in his first fight with a new trainer. However, he lost his WBO Inter-Continental Lightweight title bout against Masayoshi Nakatani. And, he knocked Nakatani twice but lost in the 9th round after he was knocked down twice in the 9th round.
Caption: Félix Verdejo holding his country’s flag. Source: Instagram
Beyond Career
On August 7, 2016, he was involved in a motorcycle accident while traveling from Fajardo to Carolina, Puerto Rico. Therefore, at first, listed in critical condition, he recuperated quickly at a local hospital. Verdejo suffered a head injury and small lacerations. However, he was released from the hospital on August 19.
He was named by police as a person of interest in the disappearance of a 27-year-old pregnant woman, Keishla Rodríguez on April 30, 2021. And, Rodriguez’s family stated that she was pregnant with Verdejo’s child. And, on May 2, he turned himself in to the police and appeared in court via video link, pleading not guilty on May 11. Therefore, it was revealed on January 31 that he would not be facing the death penalty.
Relationship Status
Verdejo is married to Eliz Marie Santiago Sierra. However, not much about his married life is available at present. Together, they share a daughter named Miranda.
Caption: Félix Verdejo’s picture with his wife and daughter. Source: Instagram
Body Measurements
Verdejo has an athletic body built and has a medium-built structure. He stands at 5 feet 9 inches or 175 cm tall. Moreover, he has a maintained weight of 61 kilos or 135 pounds. Similarly, Verdejo’s eye color is dark brown and his hair color is black. Nothing more about his body stats is known.
Social Media and Net Worth
His ‘@diamanteverdejo’ Instagram account has earned over 203K followers. He has gained over 88K followers on his Facebook page. Similarly, his Twitter account ‘@DiamanteVerdejo’ has amassed over 22.8K followers.
Verdejo has earned his fortune from his professional boxing career. However, his net worth as of 2022 is $20 million.
ncG1vNJzZmiamaS0s63PobCmmaOge6S7zGidnqSZrXq3sdGdnKOnXw%3D%3D