VARGAS: BEATING BAM MAKES ME ‘THE MAN’
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 11 Jun 2026
WBA Bantamweight champion confident of upsetting pound-for-pound star in Phoenix
Antonio Vargas says he’s ready to hand a first pro defeat to Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez and catapult himself into the elite as he defends his WBA World Bantamweight title on Saturday night at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, live worldwide on DAZN.
Vargas (19-1-1 11 KOs) puts his title on the line for the first time and does so in one of the toughest possible assignments in the sport, against two-weight phenom Rodriguez (23-0 16 KOs) who is gunning to become a three-weight World ruler and cement his spot amongst the top names in the pound-for-pound list.
Vargas has other ideas though, and while the 29 year old knows it to be a ‘rough day’ at work in Arizona, the prize for victory on Saturday night goes beyond simply keeping his belt.
“It's one of the biggest fights right now, against one of the biggest names in the sport,” said Vargas. “I'm looking forward to this fight because after I beat this kid, it's going to put me where I want to be at. It's going to be a a good fight for me.
“I look forward to challenging myself, but at the same time, and I know it's going to be a rough day. This is the the biggest fight of my career, the biggest platform as well.
“I think he’s ranked four on the pound-for-pound list, he’s one of the biggest names right now. It motivates me to train hard and to show the world who I am.
“I remember the words of Eddie Hearn at the launch press conference when he said; ‘you beat Bam, and you're the man’. That fused me to keep training hard and to give my best for this fight and to show the world who I am.
“I wouldn't say stop him but beat him. Styles make fights. Bam’s style will force me to use more of my boxing skills, use my pedigree and some of the things that I have inside of me that the world hasn't seen yet.
“Beating a guy like this, it'll put me on on a world stage that that I've been wanting to fulfill. I want to make that dream into reality. I know after I beat this kid, it's going to come true. I want this more than anything. And still.”
FIGHT WEEK SCHEDULE (all times local)
Thursday June 11 - final press conference - live from 1pm on Matchroom’s YouTube channel
Friday June 12 - public weigh-in - Desert Diamond Arena, live from 1pm on Matchroom’s YouTube channel
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