Ali-Vargas Near Done

Brooklyner Sadam Ali looks thisclose to getting a solid and meaningful bout on the slate to kick off his new year.

The hitter, who has accrued solid momentum with wins over banger Luis Carlos Abregu and Chino Santana, will next glove up with Cali boxer Jessie Vargas.

Ali is promoted by Golden Boy and their exec Eric Gomez told me that negotiations are humming along nicely. Vargas is a Top Rank boxer, managed by Cameron Dunkin, one of the very-most shrewd managers in the game.

Particulars need to be hammered out, they are not at the finish line but Gomez seemed quite optimistic the finish line is in sight.

As for HOW MEANINGFUL the bout would be, it could be for the WBO welter crown. Tim Bradley has it, and as we know, he’ll be busy trying to break a 1-1 tie with Manny Pacquiao, on April 9. Being that the 27 year old Ali has waited beyond patiently as No. 1 contender to get a crack at a crown, my intuition is that maybe that crown slips off Bradley’s waist and goes up for grabs, with the Ali/Vargas winner taking it home.

This is personal conjecture, however; an email asking the WBO boss Paco Valcarcel for clarity hasn’t yet been answered.

Gomez told me GB is excited that it looks like the time is near for the 22-0 Ali, who he called talented and personable, to get a shot at pot of gold. It will be up to him, then, to grab it, Gomez said.