Verdejo and Pedraza added to March 17th card at Madison Square Garden

Felix Verdejo and Jose Pedraza have been added in separate bout to the March 17th event at The Theater at madison Square Garden, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

Verdejo (23-0, 15 KOs), a 2012 Olympian and the 2014 ESPN.com prospect of the year, will face Antonio Lozada Jr. (38-2, 32 KOs).

“I’m very happy to return to New York with the task of showing the world that I’m back to retake what is mine,” said Verdejo, 24, whose miserable 2017 included various injuries that knocked him out of a mandatory world title shot against then-lightweight titleholder Terry Flanagan. “I was hardened by the tough times we went through after Hurricane Maria, but like my people, I will rise again stronger than ever. March 17 will be the first step in that direction.”

Pedraza (22-1, 12 KOs), 28, a 2008 Olympian and former junior lightweight world titlist, will face Jose Luis Rodriguez (23-11-1, 13 KOs).

“I feel very happy to be fighting for a promotional company like Top Rank. They want to take my career to the next level, and part of that is fighting in venues like Madison Square Garden,” Pedraza said. “I’m going to give it my all so fans will enjoy my return to the ring. With Top Rank in my corner, I will become world champion once again, and I know that I have the potential to become a superstar.”