Jessie Vargas, the so-called B-side for as long he can remember, has a chance to flip his long-playing resume.
He can jump from B to A, from secondary to top-of-the-welterweight charts, in an intriguing bout against Mikey Garcia on Saturday night in Frisco, Texas on DAZN.
At one level, it’s a crossroads fight for both. For the ever-stubborn Garcia (39-1, 30 KOs), it’s chance to knock out the memory of the sobering loss to Errol Spence Jr. with a performance that proves he belongs at welterweight. For Vargas (29-2-2, 11 KOs), it’s an opportunity to show that he has always been there, among the best at 147 pounds.
“I plan on giving a fantastic performance, so you acknowledge that I’m the best in the division,’’ Vargas said this week during the final news conference.
Vargas, who has seen how the business works from his role as a ringside commentator, doesn’t have many illusions about why he’s fighting Garcia. He has a well-known name, he has held a couple of belts and his record includes losses by decision only to Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley, two of the biggest names in the game. He’s a solid opponent
“I want the best Jessie Vargas,’’ said Garcia, a Top 5 pound-for-pound contender until Spence.
Garcia needs the best Vargas to get beyond the loss to Spence, who was bigger and better than the multi-skilled Garcia. Vargas is bigger and perhaps that will be enough to convince Garcia that he should have stayed at junior welterweight or lightweight.
Vargas, insightful behind the ringside mike, has studied Garcia. He says he has spent hours looking at video of Garcia’s loss to Spence, his knockout of Roman Martinez and his technical decision over Orlando Salido.
“We’ve picked up on some things, noticed things here and there,’’ Vargas said. “This isn’t an easy fight, but either way I’m coming to win. I’ve done my homework. Mikey is a good fighter, and I’ve looked into some of his past fights.
“We have a big night ahead of us against Garcia. I’m very much prepared. I trained very hard the last two months. It’s the best training camp I’ve had to date. I know what’s ahead of me and I know the opportunity in front of me. I trained my [butt] off for two months, following the game plan. I’ve never looked this good in the ring. I’m feeling good,’’
Good enough, maybe, to finally be the A-side.
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