Eudy Bernardo targets Felix Verdejo

Feb

The Felix Verdejo momentum train chugs along, with another stop to add more passengers, coming Feb. 27. On that evening, the kid with a million-dollar smile, and perhaps equally as valuable a punch, fights at the Madison Square Garden Theater in Manhattan, and on HBO.

He’s to meet 23-0 (14 knockouts) Brazilian William Silva but I expect the 19-0 (14 KOs) puncher/boxer to stay unblemished.

BoxRec says he gloves up again April 16, in Puerto Rico, and the best laid plans have him back in New York in June. He will need foes.

I found a volunteer.

Dominican-born Texas resident Eudy Bernardo (21-0, 15 KOs) wants a whack at the 22-year-old Top Rank Promotions contender.

“Verdejo is a great boxer but I’m better; I just need the opportunity to show my talent,” Bernardo told me. “I want him; I’m ready to put my name on top!”

I saw and was impressed by Bernardo, promoted by Dmitriy Salita, trained by ex-160 and 175 pound titleholder Frank Tate and managed by Lily Mares, in his last outing. That came Feb. 6 in Detroit; he scored second round knockout win over Ghanaian vet Ben Odamattey, with a clinically ruthless efficiency.

And why does Bernardo want Verdejo, a full step-up-plus from Odamattey?

“Because I’m on the top level and, with the training that I have, it will lead me where I want to go and Verdejo is ranked high. It is my time to show who is Eudy ‘AK-47’ Bernardo is,” the boxer said.

Mares tells me why she thinks her kid can handle Verdejo. “I’m with them every training day, watching Eudy work his butt off every single day. He never slacks, always moving forward no matter what life throws his way. Eudy is undefeated 21-0, so why not?”

Promoter Salita seconds that emotion.

“I believe they are the best lightweight prospects in the world,” he told me. “Eudy is big, strong, skilled and hungry. He hasn’t been exposed very much to the US boxing fan but he is very special and has all the tools and experience at 21-0 to be a dominant fighter in several divisions because of his size and strength. NYC has a massive Dominican and Puerto Rican population. Eudy versus Verdejo: that fight in NYC would be huge!”

Michael Woods is strong, skilled and hungry too. That’s what happens when a man looks past a formidable meal like breakfast and goes straight to lunch.