Fighting on Bradley-Pacquiao Undercard
Las Vegas fighter Jessie Vargas (23-0, 9 KOs) will lace up this Saturday, April 12 on the Timothy Bradley-Manny Pacquiao rematch taking place at the MGM’s Grand Garden Arena. The 24-year-old will be fighting for not one but two titles on the line when he locks horns with southpaw Khabib Allakhverdiev (19-0, 9 KOs) for the IBO and WBA World light welterweight titles. This clash is a battle of unbeatens.
I had the chance to catch up with Vargas at an amateur boxing show held this past weekend at the Center Ring Boxing Gym in North Las Vegas. Also in attendance at this event were female champ Ava Knight and famed referee Richard Steele. Here is my special report from the Vegas fights.
Vargas took time out from his training camp to meet the fans and inspire the youth hoping to become a champ like their local hero. The boxer won his WBC Continental Americas title in a bout last year versus Wale “Lucky Boy” Omotoso. A pro since 2008, Jessie has not forgotten his roots.
As a youngster, he trained at Center Ring Boxing (CRB) with CRB President and Coach Jose Banales. Jessie often makes appearance at the gym with T-shirt sales benefiting the youth club which helps keep at-risk kids off the streets and in the gym. I spoke with the trainers at the gym who like the fact that Jessie maintains this early connection to CRB and continues to show support to the children and teens. Coach Enrique “El Tigre” Vera and his wife were manning the both were “Team Vargas” shirts were offered to the crowd as a fundraiser for the boxing club. The yellow and black tees sported a logo stating: Respect, Humility, Integrity. These qualities remain in Jessie say the veterans who’ve known him since he was a boy. And Coach Jose continues to be a strong mentor to the Vegas kids and teens who train at this gym, just like Jessie once did.
As Vargas’ boxing career flourished, he went on to train with Roger Mayweather and Cornelius Boza-Edwards and then Roberto Alcazar. He is currently under the tutelage of Ismael Salas, who has guided the careers of many stars including Guillermo Rigondeaux, Yuriorkis Gamboa and Jorge Linares.
With Jessie’s big fight nearing, the junior welterweight kept his commitment to CRB and came out to meet the fans in the packed gym. “The kids love him,” trainer Vera tells me. “And his support means a lot to us. This is how we help raise money for the gym through the T-shirt sales.” The gym first opened in 1994; boxing provides a way out in teaching discipline and skill for at-risk kids who may otherwise be tempted by gangs, drugs and crime. The boxing program and its volunteer coaches also opens their doors to area juveniles referred from the court system. Their popular amateur shows will be back in May.
As Jessie Vargas entered the gym, a line formed to meet him. Business was brisk as fans surrounded the Top Rank fighter. He signed autographs and posed with all the fans. Vargas was a blue-chip amateur having fought 140 fights and winning numerous awards before turning pro. This weekend he will be vying for those two championship belts.
Vargas said his camp went well and he will be ready for this Saturday night. During his unbeaten career, Jessie has faced opponents such as Josesito Lopez, Stevie Forbes, Lanardo Tyner, Ray Narh, Vivian Harris, Aaron Martinez and more. He says his toughest foe to date was longtime veteran Cristian Favela, who he faced back in 2011.
Now come Saturday night, he will go toe to toe with Russia’s Khabib “The Hawk” Allakhverdiev. Khabib has claimed victories over Joan Guzman, Nate Campbell, Kaizer Mabuza, among others.
Fellow pro Ava Knight thinks Vargas has a great shot at winning the titles.
“Jessie Vargas is ready for action!” she says. “He’s been killing it in sparring and I believe he’s got it.”
Knight, who has won WBC Silver, IBF and WBO belts, has recently relocated from California to Nevada to train at the legendary Mayweather Boxing Club where The Money Team (TMT) champs all train. The Chico dynamo continues to train with Ben Bautista and hopes to return to the ring soon. She also has competed in bodybuilding and fitness competitions, always training hard and staying busy.
Ava cheered for the young amateurs showcased at this CRB bash. The crowd enjoyed a full day with 18 bouts of action with gyms from both Nevada and California punching it out in the show. Center Ring Boxing and Richard Steele’s Boxing Club were represented in the ring as well as Johnny Tocco’s, LV Fight Club, Mohave Valley, Hit Factory, LV Elite Boxing, Fight Capital and more. There was also a SoCal connection with several boxers from the renowned Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood in the ring. Wild Card trainer Juan “Superman” Jimenez had a busy day with six bouts for his team. And Coach Steve Harpst brought two fighters from his Burbank Boxing Club to compete. Harpst (California Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee and award-winning sculptor) said he enjoys traveling to various shows such as these. Besides Vegas, his club has also fought in Arizona and Canada. I also ran into Michael Chavez, a former amateur star from Southern California. Harbor City’s Chavez now lives in Las Vegas, where he is a boxing and MMA inspector with the Nevada State Athletic Commission. But Michael grew up in amateur boxing and is a strong supporter of the sport, volunteering his time at these shows as a judge and referee.
At Center Ring Boxing (where Jessie Vargas, got his early start) their motto is: “Champions Are Made, Not Born.”
And on Saturday, the kids fighting (ranging from 80 pounds to 185 pounds) got experience inside the ropes while continuing to sharpen their skills in some close battles and spirited wars that had the crowd cheering. Ring emcee for the day was trainer Julio Herrera from the LV Elite Boxing Gym, who kept the day moving with announcements and updates. There were fresh Raspados at the snack bar, a photo booth for the participating boxers, and 18 bouts of fireworks.
After their matches, win or lose, the youngsters were encouraged by pro champs Jessie Vargas and Ava Knight.
Both pros remain humble, giving back to the community, setting a good example for the kids hoping to follow their own dreams.
And the fresh-faced amateurs will be watching with Vargas fighting for victory in his April 12 showdown.
Among those who believe he will win is trainer Jayson Gallegos from the LV Fight Club. The coach has watched many sparring sessions and says Jessie is looking sharp and is ready to win. Gallegos’ boxer Youl Agbayani has sparred Vargas in the past.
Hometown hero Jessie Vargas will get his chance to shine this Saturday night as he faces reigning champ Khabib Allakhverdiev.
Check out some exclusive photos of Jessie, Ava, and the fighters from the show at NLV’s Center Ring Boxing!
Photos by Michele Chong
