{"id":62016,"date":"2016-08-03T22:16:56","date_gmt":"2016-08-04T03:16:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=62016"},"modified":"2016-08-03T22:19:19","modified_gmt":"2016-08-04T03:19:19","slug":"francisco-el-bandito-vargas-the-newest-mexican-warrior","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=62016","title":{"rendered":"Francisco \u201cEl Bandito\u201d Vargas: The Newest \u201cMexican Warrior\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"SalidoVargaspresser(31)_wm\"<\/a>By Anthony \u201cStacks\u201d Salda\u00f1a
\nPhotos by Cynthia \u201cCindy Lou\u201d Salda\u00f1a<\/strong><\/p>\n

When I think of current Mexican warriors in the fight game the first boxer that comes to mind is WBC World Super Featherweight Champion Francisco \u201cEl Bandido\u201d Vargas, 23-0-2, 17 KO’s from Distrito Federal, Mexico City, Mexico. Francisco is former nine time Mexican National Amateur Champion and a 2008 Mexican Olympian who turned professional in March of 2010. Francisco is currently promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and managed by Ralph Heredia. Some of \u201cEl Bandido\u201d notable wins have come against Abner Cotto, Juan Manuel Lopez and Australian Will Tomlinson. In November of 2015 on card that was headlined by Saul \u201cCanelo\u201d Alvarez and Miguel Cotto, Francisco stole the show in the consensuses and ESPN Fight of the Year in a matchup against Takashi Miura. In a back and forth battle between two warriors, Vargas looked as if he was heading for a first round knockout when he landed a devastating right hand to the face of Miura. <\/p>\n

Vargas continued to batter Takashi in the round and did so much damage with his punishment that one judge scored it 10-8 for Vargas although there wasn’t a knockdown. Later in fight Miura had found his comfort zone and began landing straight left jabs and damaged the right eye of Vargas. Eventually Vargas recovered from a vicious knockdown followed by a battering near the end of the eighth round to rally and record a stunning ninth round technical knockout of Japan\u2019s Miura. That night in Las Vegas not only did Vargas become the WBC World Super Featherweight Champion, but became a champion in the heart of all that witnessed his will to give fans the absolute best show as a boxer in the ring.<\/p>\n

On June 4th a mere 24 hours after the death of Muhammad Ali, Francisco Vargas arrived at the Stubhub Center in Carson, California for what most fight fans and media believed would be another Fight of the Year Candidate. Francisco made his first WBC title defense when he took on \"SalidoVargaspresser(6)_wm\"<\/a>the always tough Orlando \u201cSiri\u201d Salido, 43-14-3, 30 KO’s. When asked about taking on such a tough opponent in his first defense Vargas stated \u201cI felt good about it\u201d. You know, in the history of boxing, the legends are the ones who fight the best, and I want to be known as one of those great fighters. You\u2019ve got to fight the best. People recognize me now and even the non-believers from before know I\u2019m for real. It\u2019s such an honor and privilege. That\u2019s what motivates me, keeps me hungry, makes me want to stay in shape. I want continued success, want to continue as the WBC World Champion.\u201d That night at the StubHub Center, Orlando never backed down from the fight and gave his all in the ring against Vargas. The two fighters battled toe to toe for 12 rounds giving fans a possible fight of the year. That fight left boxing fans wanting more as the fight ended in a majority draw.<\/p>\n

In the last year Francisco Vargas has undoubtedly added his name to a long list of great Mexican champions, a list that includes names such as, Salvador Sanchez, Julio Cesar Chavez, Ricardo Lopez and Marco Antonio Barrera to name a few. Whether it’s in the Mexican blood, the hard upbringing in poverty stricken remote areas of Mexico or the culture and tradition of being come forward all action fighters, Mexicans are warriors. Historically Mexicans are smaller in statue so Mexico will probably never see a heavyweight champion, but it will always be guaranteed that there will never be a shortage of dedicated \u201cMexican Warriors\u201d who leave everything in the ring for the honor and glory. The Stereotype even lives through fighter such as Gennady \u201cGGG\u201d Golovkin as his brutal style of fighting that has been labeled \u201cMexican Style.\u201d
\nAs a Mexican myself nothing can compare to the feeling of hearing blaring Spanish music during a ring walkout. Seeing the green, white, and red flag waving and watching a crowd of passionate Mexican fans go crazy as the majority of the time boxing fans know a war is about to erupt in the ring.<\/p>\n