“I’m here to make a statement’: Fernando Vargas Jr. aims to stay undefeated

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The ‘Bouts at the Ballpark’ professional boxing card, put together by MarvNation Promotions, Leg Up Entertainment, and Ringside Ticket Inc., will take place at Southwest University Park in El Paso on Friday night.

Headlining the card is one of the sports’ top prospects: Fernando Vargas Jr.

Vargas Jr., who is 14-0 with 13 knockouts in his pro boxing career, will put his undefeated record on the line against Juan Carlos Cardones (14-4-0, 9 KOs) in a super welterweight fight for the weight division’s WBC FECARBOX title.

“I am here to make a statement,” Vargas Jr. said on Thursday after weigh-ins. “This [fight] is at 154 [pounds] and I am going to get my first strap [belt].”

Vargas Jr. is not only looking for a dominant win but looking to put more respect on his name.

“I want to put more respect on the Jr. name. It’s hard when you come from a legend. Everyone is like ‘ah, well his dad was already an Olympian, his dad was already a world champ’ — I am not my dad,” Vargas Jr. said. “I am me and I know who I am. I fight like myself. I don’t try to mimic his style. I love him, I respect him, he opens my doors, but I got to go in there and fight.”

Vargas Jr. is the son of boxing legend Fernando Vargas, a 1996 U.S. Olympian and a former world champion who went head-to-head against with some of the sport’s best: Felix Trinidad, Ike Quartey, and Oscar De La Hoya to name a few.

“Coming from a legendary father, it is hard to not say that I don’t feel the pressure,” Vargas Jr. said. “But diamonds are made out of pressure.”

Not only is Vargas Jr. the son of one of boxing’s best, but also the brother to fellow pro boxers Amado and Emiliano.

Vargas Jr. is the first of the three brothers to fight these next two weeks.

Emiliano, the youngest brother, will fight on Saturday night when he takes on Jose Zaragoza in a junior welterweight bout in Miami, Florida. Amado is set to fight on July 6. Amado will fight Sean Garcia, brother of Ryan Garcia, on the undercard of the Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal at the Honda Center in Anaheim.

This is Vargas Jr.’s first time fighting in El Paso, Texas. His father made a stop in the Sun City 13 years ago.

Vargas fought Wilfredo Rivera on May 5, 2001, at the Don Haskins Center. It was his first fight back after he suffered a TKO defeat to Felix Trinidad, his first loss in his professional boxing career, in Dec. 2000.

Vargas Jr. stopped Rivera in six rounds to claim his 21st win of his professional boxing career.

“After my fight with Trinidad, I fought here. When I got here, there were hundreds of people at the airport to welcome me to El Paso. I am definitely excited for my son. He’s going to see what the Vargas still pulls.” Vargas said.

Vargas Jr. is excited to see what the Sun City offers and is hoping to put on a show.

Gates for Bouts at the Ballpark open at 6 p.m. and fights begin at 7 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased online at southwestuniversitypark.com.

HERE IS THE FULL FIGHT CARD (Courtesy: MarvNation Promotions)

• Fernando Vargas Jr. vs. Juan Carlos Cordones | Super welterweight, 8 rounds

• Nathan Rodriguez (13-0, 8 KOs) vs. Jose “Tsunami” Saant (15-4-1, 5 KOs) | Featherweight, 8 rounds

• Santos Ortega (7-0-0, 3 KOs) vs. Roman Garcia (5-0-1, 3 KOs) | super bantamweight, 6 rounds

• Abel “El Zorro” Vargas Jr. (40-0-0, 30 KOs) vs. German Ivan Meraz (65-69-3, 41 KOs) | lightweight, 8 rounds

• Jaime Cuesta (8-0-0, 3 KOs) vs. Carlos Padilla (19-15-1, 13 KOs) | light weight, 6 rounds

• Dominic Barry (2-0-0, 2 KOs) vs. Idrees Wasi (1-3-0) | light heavyweight, 4 rounds

• Stephonous Pypers (pro debut) vs. Ramon Stewart (pro debut) | super welterweight

• Hector Morales (3-0-0, 1 KO) vs. Josh Rodriguez (2-0-0, 1 KO) | super lightweight, 4 rounds

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.