Felix Verdejo is a Puerto Rican boxer who competed in the 2012 Olympics and was once considered a rising star in the lightweight division. He had a promising career ahead of him, with a record of 27 wins and 17 knockouts, until he was arrested and charged with the murder of his pregnant lover, Keishla Rodriguez Ortiz, in May 2021. This article will explore the life, career, and downfall of Felix Verdejo, as well as the latest news and updates on his case.
Age, Birthday & Early Life
Felix Verdejo was born on May 19, 1993, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. As of 2023, Felix is 30 years old. He grew up in a poor neighborhood and started boxing at the age of nine, following his father’s footsteps. He showed talent and dedication from an early age and joined the Albergue Olímpico de Puerto Rico, a sports academy that provides education and training for young athletes. He has two brothers and two sisters.
Height, Weight & Physical Stats
As a boxer, Verdejo had an athletic body built and a medium-built structure. He stands at 5 feet 9 inches or 175 cm tall. Moreover, he has a maintained weight of 75 kilos or 165.43 pounds. He has a reach of 72 inches or 183 cm and fights with an orthodox stance. He has dark brown hair and eyes and a scar on his forehead from a motorcycle accident in 2016.
Parents & Siblings
According to the web search results, Felix Verdejo is the son of Madeline Sanchez and Demetrio Verdejo Colón. He has two brothers and two sisters, but their names are not mentioned in the sources. He is the only boxer in his family and started boxing when he was nine years old.
Boxing Career
Verdejo represented Puerto Rico in the 2012 Olympics in London, where he reached the quarterfinals and lost to Vasyl Lomachenko, who would later become a world champion. Verdejo turned professional later that year and signed with Top Rank, a leading boxing promotion company. He made his debut in December 2012 and won by knockout in the first round.
Verdejo quickly rose through the ranks and became a fan favorite in Puerto Rico and among the Puerto Rican diaspora in the US. He was known for his speed, power, and charisma, as well as his nickname “El Diamante” (The Diamond). He won several regional titles and was ranked as one of the best lightweights in the world by various boxing organizations. He was also mentored by Felix Trinidad, a legendary Puerto Rican boxer and Hall of Famer.
Verdejo faced some setbacks in his career, such as injuries, weight issues, and lackluster performances. He suffered his first loss in March 2018, when he was knocked out by Antonio Lozada Jr., a Mexican underdog. He bounced back with four consecutive wins but then lost again in December 2020, when he was stopped by Masayoshi Nakatani, a Japanese contender.
Wife, Girlfriend & Kids
According to Felix Verdejo’s Instagram posts, the former boxer has been married for eight years to beauty and lifestyle influencer Eliz Marie Santiago Sierra. Even though the boxer never opened up much about his relationship with his wife and their daughter Miranda, his social media is filled with pictures with his daughter and some with his wife. However, Verdejo also had an affair with Rodriguez Ortiz, a woman he had known since high school1. Rodriguez Ortiz became pregnant with Verdejo’s child in early 2021 and told him about it.
Verdejo’s wife and daughter have not made any public statements about the case or their relationship with Verdejo. It is not clear if they are still together or if they have filed for divorce. Verdejo’s wife has not posted anything on her Instagram account since April 2021, a few days before Rodriguez Ortiz’s murder. Her account has over 100,000 followers and features photos and videos of her beauty products, fashion tips, travel adventures, and family moments.
Felix Verdejo’s daughter Miranda was born on October 15, 2018. She is almost five years old now. She appears to be a happy and playful child who enjoys spending time with her mother and her grandparents. She also likes dressing up, dancing, singing, and playing with toys. She has curly brown hair and brown eyes, like her father.
What happened to Keishla Rodriguez Ortiz?
Keishla Rodriguez Ortiz was a 27-year-old woman who had a relationship with Verdejo since they were teenagers. She worked as a pet groomer and lived in San Juan. She was pregnant with Verdejo’s child at the time of her death.
According to the FBI affidavit, Verdejo contacted Rodriguez on April 29, 2021, and asked her to meet him near her home. He then drove her to a bridge over a lagoon, where he allegedly punched her in the face and injected her with a syringe filled with an unknown substance. He then bound her arms and feet with wire and tied a heavy block to her. He then threw her off the bridge and shot at her body from his car. He then drove away from the scene.
Rodriguez was reported missing by her family on April 29, after she failed to show up for work. Her car was found abandoned near the bridge. Her body was found floating in the lagoon on May 1, after a tip from an anonymous caller. She was identified by her dental records.
Felix Verdejo turned himself in to the authorities on May 2, after the FBI issued a warrant for his arrest. He was charged with kidnapping resulting in death, carjacking resulting in death, and intentionally killing an unborn child. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and is being held without bail at a federal detention center. He faces the death penalty or life imprisonment if convicted.
What is the latest news on Felix Verdejo?
This news is about a former Olympic boxer from Puerto Rico named Félix Verdejo, who was convicted of kidnapping and killing a pregnant woman and her unborn child in 2021. The woman, Keishla Rodríguez Ortiz, was his mistress and told him that she was expecting his child. He did not want her to have the baby and planned to murder her with the help of another man. He lured her into his car, punched her, injected her with drugs, and threw her off a bridge into a lagoon.
He also shot at her body from the bridge. Her body was found two days later and he was arrested and charged by the FBI. He pleaded not guilty and faced a possible death penalty if convicted. However, the prosecution agreed not to seek capital punishment in exchange for a speedy trial. His trial began on July 6, 2023, and lasted for three weeks.
The jury heard gruesome details about the murder, as well as evidence from phone records, surveillance cameras, GPS data, and witnesses. Verdejo’s defense team tried to cast doubt on the credibility of Cadiz Martinez and the forensic experts but did not present any witnesses of their own. Verdejo did not testify in his own defense. On July 28, 2023, the jury found him guilty of kidnapping resulting in death, and intentionally killing an unborn child.
They could not reach a unanimous verdict on the charges of carjacking resulting in death and possessing a firearm during a violent crime. Verdejo faced a mandatory life sentence for each conviction. He showed no emotion as the verdict was read, while Rodríguez Ortiz’s family hugged and cried. His sentencing was scheduled for November 3, 2023.
BIO/WIKI
| Real name | Félix Giomar Verdejo Sánchez |
| Famous As | Felix Verdejo |
| Nickname(s) | El Diamante (“The Diamond”) |
| Weight(s) | Lightweight |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) |
| Reach | 72 in (183 cm) |
| Born | May 19, 1993 (age 30) |
| Place of Birth | San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Education | Albergue Olímpico de Puerto Rico |
| Parents | Mr. and Mrs. Verdejo |
| Siblings | He has two brothers and two sisters. |
| Ex-Wife | Eliz Marie Santiago Sierra |
| Kids | Daughter: Miranda |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | Total fights: 29 |
| Wins: 27 | |
| Wins by KO: 17 | |
| Losses: 2 | |
| diamanteverdejo | |
| felix.verdejo.98 | |
| DiamanteVerdejo | |
| Homepage | Dreshare.com |
Controversy
Felix Verdejo’s case has sparked outrage and protests in Puerto Rico, where violence against women is a serious problem. In January 2021, Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi declared a state of emergency over the issue. In 2021, 53 women and girls were killed because of their gender, according to the Observatory of Gender Equality of Puerto Rico. Rodriguez Ortiz’s family and friends have demanded justice for her and her unborn child, as well as for all the victims of gender-based violence on the island.
12 Facts About Felix Verdejo
- Felix Verdejo started boxing at the age of nine and won several national and international amateur titles.
- Felix Verdejo represented Puerto Rico in the 2012 Olympics and lost to Vasyl Lomachenko, who is considered one of the best boxers of all time.
- Felix turned professional in 2012 and signed with Top Rank, the same company that promoted Manny Pacquiao, Oscar De La Hoya, and Floyd Mayweather Jr.
- He won his first 22 fights by knockout or unanimous decision and was hailed as the next big star of Puerto Rican boxing.
- He suffered a motorcycle accident in 2016 that left him with injuries to his head, face, and left arm. Felix Verdejo recovered and resumed his career, but some observers noticed a decline in his performance and confidence.
- Verdejo suffered his first professional loss in 2018 when he was knocked out by Antonio Lozada Jr., a Mexican underdog who had a record of 38 wins and two losses.
- Verdejo married Eliz Marie Santiago Sierra in 2017 and had a daughter with her named Miranda. They divorced in 2020.
- He had a long-term affair with Keishla Rodriguez Ortiz, who he met when they were both teenagers. She became pregnant with his child in early 2021.
- He allegedly killed Rodriguez on April 29, 2021, by throwing her off a bridge and shooting at her body. He was arrested and charged with murder on May 2, 2021.
- Verdejo pleaded not guilty to the charges and faces the death penalty or life imprisonment if convicted. He is being held without bail at a federal detention center.
- Felix Verdejo has been indicted by a federal grand jury on additional charges of using a firearm during a crime of violence, possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number, and using interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire.
- Felix Verdejo has a co-defendant named Luis Antonio Cádiz Martínez, who is a friend of his who allegedly helped him plan and execute the murder. Cádiz Martínez has cooperated with the FBI and provided details of the crime.
FAQs
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What is Felix Verdejo’s net worth?
Verdejo’s net worth is estimated to be around $3 million as of 2021. He earned most of his money from his boxing career, as well as from endorsements and sponsorships
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Who is Felix Verdejo’s wife?
Verdejo’s wife is Eliz Marie Santiago Sierra, whom he married in 2017 and divorced in 2020. They have a daughter named Miranda.
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Who is Felix Verdejo’s girlfriend?
Verdejo’s girlfriend was Keishla Rodriguez Ortiz, whom he had an affair with since they were teenagers. She was pregnant with his child when he allegedly killed her on April 29, 2021
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What is Felix Verdejo’s record?
Verdejo’s record is 27 wins and two losses. He has 17 wins by knockout.
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