Emiliano Vargas says he’s part of the “new era of boxing” after his 42-second knockout win in the first round against Alexander Espinoza (20-4-1, 9 KOs) in a light welterweight contest last Saturday night at the Madison Square Garden Theater in New York City. Vargas says he’s one of the “New stars.”
Vargas: Marketing Gimmick?
The opposition that Top Rank had fed Emiliano has inflated his ego to the point where he thinks he’s for real, yet he’s not pushing for the big fights to prove it. Why isn’t he? He’s more of a marketing gimmick than anything.
Espinoza, 34, looked like he didn’t belong in a ring with anyone. It’s unclear where Top Rank found him and what their purpose was in using him as Vargas’s opponent.
Artificial Development Exposed
It’s impossible to place Emiliano (15-0, 13 KOs) into a category of the “new era’ in the sport, because he’s being matched against poor opposition over and over. Moreover, the young Vargas didn’t come from a great amateur background like other fighters who turn pro. He’s not being developed in a real way since he turned pro. It’s more fake and artificial to make Emiliano look better than he really is.
He would have been better off staying in the amateur ranks to fight the top fighters around the world before turning pro, because he’s being matched against terrible opposition. There’s no real development going on. I see Vargas’ career thus far as more about marketing a product to make a quick buck before Emiliano is exposed as a phony.
Comparing Emiliano to Berlanga, Zayas
It’s the same thing we saw with Edgar Berlanga and are now seeing with Xander Zayas, just maneuvering and marketing a counterfeit product to the naive, easily fooled public. Emiliano is fits in with how they’ve been developed and Britain’s Conor Benn.
“I’m the new era of boxing. All my favorite fighters are 30, 36, and 28. Do you know what I’m saying?” said Emiliano Vargas at the post-fight press conference after his win over the unknown Alexander Espinoza last Saturday night. “There’s a lot of new stars coming up, and I’m definitely one of them.”
Weak Opposition Trend
I don’t see Emiliano as one of the “new stars” in the sport. He’s more of the latest trend involving promoters maneuvering fighters around to make them look exceptional without putting them into fights that would prove that they’re legit.
As an amateur, Emiliano was 23-6. Since he turned pro, Top Rank matched him against only lower-tier fighters. Vargas can’t prove himself with the way he’s being fed fighters that he’s supposed to beat. His opponent last night, dug up from somewhere by his promoters, had been beaten in two out of his last three fights by little-known fighters, Jalen Tait and Rogelio Jimenez.
What Vargas (15-0, 13 KOs) left out is that the Top Rank matchmakers’ decision to continue to match him against weak opposition. This has been a trend among matchmakers, placing their fighters against low-quality opponents to make them appear unbeatable. Besides Emiliano, Xander Zayas and Edgar Berlanga are notable examples.
“However, the cards may fall, my job is to sign the contract and fight the fights,” said Emiliano. “Never say never. I respect Teo 100%. I don’t want a clip to come up, and you guys turn around trashing Teo. I’m the new era of boxing, and a lot of other fighters are. I believe it isn’t anything cocky. Any fighter who became world champion said the same thing.”
Can Emiliano beat any of these fighters below? I can see him having a puncher’s chance against some of them, but the good ones that came from excellent amateur backgrounds would expose him. Ernesto Mecado, Keyshawn Davis, Gary Antuanne Russell, and Richardson Hitchins would all beat Emiliano, showing that he’s not one of the “New stars.” His career is more of a marketing gimmick.
Vargas vs. Top 140-Pounders
Richardson Hitchins
Gary Antuanne Russell
Ernesto Mercado
Keyshawn Davis
Subriel Matias
Liam Paro
Alberto Puello
Jamaine Ortiz
Teofimo Lopez
Arnold Barboza Jr.
Isaac Cruz
Dalton Smith
Sandor Martin
Lindolfo Delgado
Last Updated on 07/27/2025
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