Tonight we get two title fights on TruTV. The main event is Felix Vendejo (18-0, 13 KOs) putting his WBO Latino Lightweight title on the line against Josenilson Dos Santons (25-3, 15 KOs)
In the undercard, Nonito Donaire (35-3, 23 KOs) takes on Cesar Juarez (17-3, 13 KOs).
Scroll on down for the live blog. Keep reading for preview information.
First, here’s the preview from BadLeftHook.com
Tonight at 10:00 pm EST on truTV, Top Rank’s Friday Night Knockout series returns with a doubleheader from San Juan, Puerto Rico, co-headlined by Puerto Rican prospect Felix Verdejo and Filipino star Nonito Donaire.
Verdejo (18-0, 13 KO) will face Brazil’s Josenilson dos Santos (27-3, 17 KO) in a 10-round lightweight bout. dos Santos, 30, hasn’t fought in 14 months, and has been knocked out in two of his last three fights. He’s never won any fight of consequence outside of Brazil, and it’s arguable that he’s never won any fight of consequence.
While dos Santos has a record that makes him seem better than he is, Donaire’s opponent Cesar Juarez (17-3, 13 KO) has a record that might hide how good he is right now. The 24-year-old Mexican has beaten Cesar Seda and Juan Carlos Sanchez Jr in his last two outings, and could be a bigger danger to the 33-year-old Donaire (35-3, 23 KO) than is thought going in. The fight will be for the vacant WBO super bantamweight title.
And here’s the full card from ESPN.com
At San Juan, Puerto Rico (truTV): Felix Verdejo vs. Josenilson Dos Santos, 10 rounds, lightweights; Nonito Donaire vs. Cesar Juarez, 12 rounds, for vacant WBO junior featherweight title; Christopher Diaz vs. Jerry Guevara, 8 rounds, featherweights; Bayan Jargal vs. William Silva, lightweights; Jonathan Perez vs. Gamalier Rodriguez, 8 rounds, featherweights; Josue Declet vs. Jean Carlos Rivera, 6 rounds, junior featherweights; Nicklaus Flaz vs. Jose Cruz, 6 rounds, junior middleweights; Anthony Mercado vs. Derrieck Cuevas, 6 rounds, junior welterweights; Jean Carlos Torres vs. Orlando Fernandez, 4 rounds, lightweights; Luis Lebron vs. Harold Reyes, 4 rounds, lightweights
And lastly, here’s an excerpt from Yahoo.com’s recent article on Verdejo.
If you’re betting on someone who may become the next big pay-per-view, you could make far worse choices than going with Verdejo.
“We think he’s the whole package,” Arum said. “He can punch, he can box, he’s a charismatic kid. He’s a guy you just don’t want to miss.”
Verdejo, who is 18-0 with 13 knockouts, injured his hand in a win over Ivan Najera in June, and hasn’t fought since. But he said he has no pain and is eager to get back.
“I feel great,” Verdejo said. “I like to feel 100 percent when I get into the ring, so I waited until my hand was completely healed for this fight.”Verdejo figures to become a regular on HBO in 2016. He’s got the kind of talent and charisma that make him a natural for the network.
He shares the card Friday with Nonito Donaire, the former world champion who is attempting to rebuild himself after a crushing loss to Nicholas Walters. Donaire will face Cesar Juarez for the vacant WBO super bantamweight title.
IIt wasn’t long ago that Donaire held a featherweight title and spoke confidently of moving up in weight and winning titles all the way up to 140. He was thoroughly outboxed by Guillermo Rigondeaux in a 2013 match at Radio City Music Hall, then was blown out by Walters on Oct. 18, 2014, when he was stopped in the sixth round.
That made him reassess his commitment to the sport.
“When I was down on the canvas in the Walters fight I thought to myself, ‘This is a blessing,’ ” Donaire said. “It was a blessing because I had lost my way, not giving boxing the respect it deserves. I was searching for something. I was unsatisfied. I went home and rededicated myself to the sport. I worked harder in the gym. I got out of bed early in the mornings and did my running. I went to a Tony Robbins seminar for motivation and then read the book, ‘The Power of Habits.’ ”
He said he feels like he’s 21 again and eager to put on a show.
The fights are on TruTV at 10 p.m. Watch them with me.
