Antonio Vargas reveals what Eddie Hearn said to inspire him for Jesse Rodriguez fight

Antonio Vargas and the seven simple words from Hearn that drove him on through his Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez training camp

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.”

June 13

Jesse Rodriguez vs Sam Eggington 
12x3 WBA World Bantamweight title

Arturo Cardenas vs Jordan Martinez
10x3 WBC Continental Americas Super-Bantamweight title

Elif Turhan vs Gabriella Tellez
10x2 IBF World Lightweight title

Adrian Rodriguez vs Elias Terraza
10x3 Lightweight contest

Trini Ochoa vs Cristian Perez
8x3 Super-Lightweight contest

Xechal Esquivel vs Rayshawn Taylor
6x3 Featherweight Contest

Hector Beltran Jr vs Shaquile Felicia
6x3 Super-Welterweight Contest

Ronny Alvarez vs Filip Stankovic
8x3 Super-Middleweight Contest