Antonio Vargas Working Toward Title Goals Friday

Among all the fights on the multitude of cards looking for attention in December, several of the best fights are flying under the radar.

The first is the main event on Friday, December 13, featuring Boxlab Promotions bantamweight contender Antonio Vargas of Kissimmee, Florida (18-1, 10 KOs). Vargas looks to extend his nine-fight win streak and maintain his number one WBA ranking against ninth-ranked contender Winston “El Fantasma” Guerrero of Nicaragua (22-0, 13 KOs).

Antonio Vargas and Winston Guerrero were respectful at Thursday’s weigh-in. Don’t expect the same on Friday. Photo: Joseph Correa, MVP

The vacant WBA interim bantamweight world title is at stake at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. Vargas vs Guerrero will air live on DAZN as part of MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects series. The main card gets underway at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

A win will maintain Vargas’s status as the mandatory challenger for full WBA World Bantamweight champion Seiya Tsutsumi of Japan, a fight Vargas has long wanted to make happen.

Stepping Stones To Title Fight in 2025

Speaking with Vargas minutes before his ceremonial weigh-in on Thursday, Vargas said he’s happy Friday’s fight is for the interim title. Still, it’s a stepping stone toward his ultimate goal.

“I’m like, man, but they said after this, you’re guaranteed to fight for (the title),” said Vargas. “This is an exciting fight, knowing that I won’t have to wait no more, and I’ll be where I’m supposed to be in line of to fight for the world title that I’ve been waiting for almost a year now.”

Vargas appreciates being on the bigger platform provided through Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions series. “It’s definitely a plus. It’s a bigger audience, you know, bigger platform with MVP. I definitely look forward to that. The more people get to see who I am and what I represent. So, I’m real excited about this fight.”

READ MORE: December Boxing Schedule: Season’s Beatings

Antonio Vargas Coming Off FOTY Win in February

Antonio Vargas rallied from a first-round knockdown to score a TKO win over Jonathan Rodriguez in February. Photo: Boxlab

Based on Vargas’s previous performance, fans can expect an all-action fight between Vargas and Guerrero. Vargas and Jonathan Rodriguez of Puerto Rico delivered a Fight of the Year contender in February. Vargas survived a first-round knockdown to score knockdowns in rounds two and seven. Rodriguez survived to the bell of round seven, but his corner decided he had taken too much damage to continue.

Considering Vargas’s single professional loss in 2019 was by first-round knockout, how did he keep his cool and prevail?

Vargas said the first round of the first had been easy for him, but it made him overconfident. He trained to avoid Rodriguez’s solid overhand right and knew to keep his left guard up.

“The last 10 seconds of that round, I’m like, ‘man, this was an easy round. Let me walk back to my corner.’ I don’t think you can touch me. And he ended up throwing a long overhand right as he stepped in with it and caught me clean with my hand down,” recalled Vargas.

Vargas said as he got up, he smiled, “because I’m like, man, I just gave him that, you know? Right from there, after that knockdown, I’m like okay, I’m taking this serious now.” Vargas was able to drop Rodriguez in the second round. He also got so overzealous that referee Chris Young docked Vargas two points for hitting Rodriguez after he was down.

From there, Vargas did his best to knock out Rodriguez. “Every round, I’m gonna stop this guy, I’m gonna knock him out. And I was able to accomplish that.”

Vargas delivered a picture-perfect left hook, his money punch responsible for most of his knockouts, but he also did considerable damage to Rodriguez with his entire arsenal of punches.

“Whatever opening I see, I take advantage of it, and sometimes it’s the right hand or uppercut. But in that case, it was a hook,” explained Vargas, although he considers himself a boxer-puncher, “But I like to fight. I could do both. I like to keep it clean, but at times, I gotta rough up my opponent,” and make a “little bit” of a statement win.

Vargas vs Guerrero: Action Guaranteed

Antonio Vargas and Winston Guerrero at their face-off Thursday. Photo: Joseph Correa, MVP

After Thursday’s weigh-in, Guerrero said, “It’s an honor to be representing my country, I take it very seriously. I’m ready for tomorrow. It’s going to be a war. I’m ready to go, and I’m going to be looking for the knockout.”

Vargas expects another action fight from his Nicaraguan opponent. “He’s going to try to come, put pressure, throw a lot of punches, be the aggressor. He’s kind of a one-dimensional fighter, but that’s what he’s comfortable doing.

“So, I want to make sure I go in there and break him off his rhythm, back him up, and make him respect my power. That’s what I’m looking forward to. He’s going to come at me and, you know, you know, it’s going to be an exciting fight for the fans,” promised Vargas.

Amateur Success = Vargas Pro Versatility

Antonio Vargas won flyweight gold at the 2015 Pan American Games. Photo: AIBA

Vargas set up a solid foundation during his amateur career, winning a gold medal at the 2015 Pan American Games and making it to the Round of 16 in the flyweight division at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games as a member of Team USA. He credits his ability to adapt to a wide range of styles in amateur competition, racking up 125 wins against just seven defeats.

“It’s definitely shaped my career. Going back just to the experience fighting so many different styles, you know, against other countries, the ability to adapt is definitely giving me a lot more tools that I can apply to my professional career,” said Vargas.

He said the experience of traveling to competitions worldwide is hard to replicate anywhere else. “That would be one of my greatest attributes, the ability to adapt. I make the adjustments in the ring, and it makes my life a lot easier inside the ring.”

Vargas is concerned about the future of Olympic boxing competition, with its future uncertain after the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

“You do a little disservice to the fighters because, as a fighter, that’s the highest level you could get in an amateur system. To medal, to go to the Olympics, that’s every kid’s dream. It definitely sets you up to be a better professional,” said Vargas.

Vargas combines two rich boxing traditions through his parents. His father is Puerto Rican, and his mother is Mexican. “It’s like the best of both worlds. It’s two different cultures. “I have two different audiences, two different cultures that can to who I am. And people see that, and they’re like, ‘man, this kid was born to be a fighter because it’s in his blood,’” said Vargas.

Vargas vs Guerrero: Featured Undercard Fights

Influencer figher Javon “Wanna” Walton returns to the ring to take on Erik Hanley of Rancho Cordova, California. Photo: Joseph Correa, MVP

In the co-main event, MVP influencer fighter Javon “Wanna” Walton of Atlanta (1-0-1) returns to the ring to take on Erik Hanley of Rancho Cordova, California (1-1, 1 KO). Walton, age 18, is an actor best known for his role on the HBO series “Euphoria.” Hanley, age 31, is a former Muay Thai trainer fighter trying his hand at boxing.

Impressive heavyweight prospect Dainier Pero faces Watler Burns of Michigan. Photo: Joseph Correa, MVP

Cuban Olympic heavyweight Dainier Pero (9-0, 7 KOs) returns to action against Walter Burns of Michigan (8-2, 6 KOs) for the vacant WBA Continental USA heavyweight title. Pero is trained by Bob Santos.

Big punching Gorgan Hovhannisyan, a native of Yerevan, Armenia, now trains in Los Angeles under the guidance of Hall of Fame trainer Joe Goossen. Photo: Joseph Correa, Front Proof Media

Gurgen “Big Gug” Hovhannisyan of Armenia (6-0, 6 KOs) faces Patrick Mailata of Samoa (6-2, 3 KOs), scheduled for eight rounds. How big is Big Gug? 6-foot-7, and 275 pounds at Thursday’s weigh-in.

Canadian Olympian and amateur champion Tammara “Tamm” Thibeault makes her professional debut against fellow Canadian Natasha “The Nightmare” Spence (8-6-2, 6 KOs) in a four-round super middleweight bout.

Vargas vs. Guerrero airs at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on DAZN Boxing.