Emiliano Vargas stays unbeaten with KO win in Arizona

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Emiliano Vargas needed a challenge in his development as a prizefighter. He got that and was able to come victorious on Feb. 28.

Vargas overcame the game effort and awkwardness of Agustin Quintana, winning by knockout after the ninth round before a partisan crowd of more than 11,000 at the Desert Diamond Arena.

Vargas, who was born in Oxnard, improved to 17-0 with 14 knockouts. He is the youngest son of former two-time world junior welterweight champion and 1996 Channel Islands High graduate Fernando Vargas. Older siblings Fernando Jr. and Amado also fight professionally.

Quintana was game and chose to sit in the pocket with Vargas from the opening bell. Despite Vargas being the more technical and skillful fighter, Quintana was able to find success landing lead and counter right hands to the head. 

Vargas was able to land his share of punches and, by the middle rounds, Quintana’s face began to display bruising from the impact of Vargas’ punches. During these rounds, Vargas began to invest more to the body, connecting with right hands and left hooks.

“I saw him breaking down, round-by-round,” Vargas said in the post-fight news conference. “Quintana was in there for sure. When you break someone’s spirit, you can definitely tell. He’s a good fighter. My hat is off to him.”

Vargas’ punch output and aggression were on display in rounds eight and nine. Vargas connected with several combinations to the head and body. As a result, Quintana’s punch output dropped significantly and suffered a cut over his left eye. 

Prior to the start of the 10th round, referee Raul Caiz Jr. waved the fight off, prompting Quintana to vehemently object to the stoppage. 

At the time of the stoppage, Vargas was ahead on the judges’ scorecards, 89-82, 87-84 and 88-83. 

Carl Moretti, the Vice President of Operations at Top Rank, which promotes Vargas, said the 21-year-old Vargas will fight three more times this year. 

Despite the tough challenge presented by Quintana last Saturday night, Vargas wants to fight the best in the junior welterweight division. He is hoping to face a former world titleholder in his next fight. 

“I’m going to definitely grow from this fight, for sure,” said Vargas.

Quintana, who resides in Buenos Aires, Argentina, falls to 22-3-1, 13 KOs. The 29-year-old had won four straight fights.

Also on the Matchroom Boxing card, junior featherweights Arturo Cardenas and Jordan Martinez (18-0-1, 17 KOs) of nearby Phoenix fought to a split-decision draw.

Cardenas, who is originally from Sahuayo de Morelos, Mexico, goes to 17-0-2, 9 KOs. He is trained by 1993 Channel Islands High School graduate and former IBF junior lightweight champion Robert Garcia. 

Another fighter who is trained by Garcia also fought in Glendale.

Junior middleweight prospect Hector Beltran of Dallas improved to 7-0, 5 KOs, after defeating Cesar Diaz (10-2, 5 KOs) of Peru by decision. All three judges scored the bout 60-54 in favor of Beltran. 

In the main event, Emanuel Navarrete scored a knockout win over Eduardo Nunez (29-2, 27 KOs) of Culiacan, Mexico, at one second of the 11th round. The fight was stopped after Nunez suffered swelling around his eyes and a cut below his right eye.

Navarrete (40-2-1, 33 KOs), who resides in the Mexico City area, successfully defended his WBO junior lightweight title and captured Nunez’s IBF world title belt. 

Francisco A. Salazar covers boxing for The Star. He has also written for Ring Magazine and Boxingscene. He can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) at FSalazarBoxing. 

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Emiliano Vargas stays unbeaten with KO win in Arizona