Overview

• The referee halted the bout in the fourth round following sustained punishment, prompting an angry protest from Sona Akale.
• The matchup opened the preliminary card at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas for the Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez vs. Terence Crawford event.
• Akale stepped in on short notice for Marcos Osorio-Betancourt, who pulled out earlier in the week because of an injury.
• Verde said he was happy with the result and emphasized that he is prioritizing experience over hunting early knockouts.
• The fight was slated for six rounds at middleweight and the victory kept Verde unbeaten at 3-0 since turning professional after Paris 2024.