On the undercard of the Xander Zayas-Jorge Garcia event, rising prospect Emiliano Vargas made a brief appearance inside the squared circle as he knocked out Alexander Espinoza (20-4-1, 9 KOs) in the first round at Madison Square Garden Theater in New York City.
(Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank)
This junior-welterweight bout turned out to be one of those rare occasions in which the ring walk was longer than the actual fight. Boxers have a popular saying that they don’t get paid for overtime, and on Saturday night, Vargas got the job done in 42 seconds.
In the opening round of the contest, Emiliano Vargas started the bout off by changing levels with the jab. With 2:27 left to go in the 1st round, Espinoza threw a jab, but Vargas executed a perfect pull counter as he proceeded to land a devastating right hand over the top.
The hard right hand sent Alexander Espinoza down to the canvas. Espinoza was very determined as he made multiple attempts to get up, as his mind was up to the task, but his body wasn’t willing.
As Espinoza was counted out, the 21-year-old Emiliano “El General” Vargas (15-0, 13 KOs) collected his sixth straight knockout victory.
During his post-fight interview, Vargas stated he’s ready for an upgrade as it relates to his level of opponents.
The bout was scheduled for 8-rounds, but Emiliano Vargas only needed 42 seconds to make a definitive statement. Vargas ended the bout early, but he said he was prepared to go above and beyond the distance.
“I was ready for 15 rounds tonight. You know it’s a blessing that I got to do it so quick. They don’t pay for overtime, though, so I had to get it done fast. But like I said, I’m ready for top elite competition. My skills are gonna continue to show through.”
Last Updated on 07/27/2025
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