Vargas worked construction at Allegiant Stadium, now he'll fight there

LAS VEGAS – When Fernando Vargas Jr. emerges from the shadows of Allegiant Stadium to face Callum Walsh on Saturday, he’ll be entering an arena he helped build with his own two hands. 

The 28-year-old Vargas Jr. (17-0-0) will face the TKO-backed Irishman Walsh (14-0-0) in the co-main event of the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford card, which will be the first boxing event held at the stadium since it opened in 2020.

Of course, Vargas Jr. is also the son of legendary super welterweight Fernando Vargas. Despite growing up around the sport, Junior’s journey to the co-main event of Canelo vs. Crawford was a far more turbulent path than that of most second-generation athletes. In fact, his undeniable skill level was the only reason he remained in the sport.

“I get a lot of discredit being a junior,” Vargas Jr. said. “Spoon-fed, given, babied, cherry-picked his way here … I didn't want to box. It was just something that my dad did. I would be a little kid running around right here, seeing Dad do press conferences and going to fights. That wasn’t something I ever wanted for myself, I just never envisioned myself doing it.”

Still, a 17-year-old Vargas would go to his father’s gym with the intention of working out just to keep his body in shape. In doing so, it quickly became apparent through sparring that Vargas Jr. had the same devastating knockout power as his pops. 

“We had a reality show, and I just wanted to go in there and lose some weight, look good,” Vargas Jr. said. “My dad put the gloves on me, I dropped that spar. The next week, another guy came to spar, and I dropped another guy. 

"(Dad) pulled me to the side and said, ‘Son, you got this. I'm not going to vouch for you if you don't got it. This sport is dangerous.’ As soon as he told me that, I put my head down, and I started working.”

Progress slowed after a run-in with the law landed Vargas Jr. in prison for a 13-month sentence at the age of 21, but the dream his father pushed him toward as a teen was still ripe in his mind. He would spend his time in the cell honing his skills and keeping his power sharp by using mattresses and other makeshift items. 

“I made a mistake," Vargas Jr. said. “But when I was in there, I promise you, times we'd work out, I'd have somebody roll up a mattress, and I was in there just straight punches. I mean, guys had shower sandals. I was hitting mitts. I kid you not.”

While in prison, Vargas Jr. also participated in an inmate construction program that allowed him to work on the Allegiant Stadium jobsite during its construction in 2018 and 2019. Just a handful of years later, Vargas Jr. will be on the ground floor of Allegiant Stadium once again, but this time it will be as one of the stars that 60,000 fans will pay hard-earned money to watch perform.

“There are people that I worked construction with who write me to this day,” Vargas Jr. said. “They had me at a job site where we're working on Allegiant Stadium, and now look how good God is. I'm here co-main eventing. It gives me chills. It gives me goosebumps. It's something I can't put into words, but I know God doesn't make mistakes.

“It's humbling, bro. It's like I can't put it into words. I get choked up at times because God is so good. When you don't deserve it, God has mercy, God has grace. I'm just very fortunate to have my family alongside me.”

Despite his 17-0-0 record, Saturday night will be the first big-time opportunity of Vargas Jr.’s career. His late start and subsequent prison sentence meant that, even with his legendary father’s backing, he had to get it out of the mud by fighting outside of the traditional power structure. 

“I turned pro in 2020, and it hasn't been the easiest road,” Vargas Jr. said. “I didn't get the premier boxing stable promotional company. I didn't get the glitz, the glamour of a Top Rank, of a Matchroom, of a PBC. But this fight is going to open all those doors for me, so I'm just focused on what I got to do Saturday. I'm confident in my training and in what we did this camp.”

Saturday’s bout between Vargas Jr. and Walsh is rare in the fact that it pits two relatively young, hyped fighting prospects with undefeated records against one another, especially at a point in their careers where most peers of their stature are cherry-picking matchups to keep their undefeated records intact. 

In Vargas Jr.’s eyes, there’s no greater honor for the family name than going up against another unbeaten star on the biggest stage in the sport’s modern history. Even if it means going out on his shield. 

“How can you be a Vargas and not be proud?” Vargas Jr. said. “My dad put on great fights for fight fans. Some of his biggest wins were losses. I tell my dad that all the time. The fights with Trinidad and Oscar, like he won with the people. That's what we need. That's what boxing needs. Enough of hiding behind promoters. Enough of protecting your 0. 

“You got a 17-0. You got a 14-0. You've got two great fighters that are putting everything on the line. I feel boxing needs more of that."