Is Emiliano Vargas Ready for the Elite? Analyzing His Claim for a World Title Within Four Fights

Emiliano Vargas predicts he’ll be world champion within “three or four fights” following his 42-second first-round knockout over Alexander Eapinoza in a light welterweight fight last Saturday night at the Madison Square Garden Theater in New York City.

Stepping Up Competition

The 21-year-old Emiliano (15-0, 13 KOs) is going to need to step up to world-class opposition, starting with his next fight, for him to realize his vision of capturing a world title within “three or four fights.” Top Rank has matched the son of former two-division world champion Fernando Vargas conservatively, pitting him exclusively against poor opposition to inflate his record.

It’s the same formula that Top Rank has used for Xander Zayas, Keyshawn Davis, Bruce Carrington, and Edgar Berlanga. In Emilian’s case, it’s been even more blatant, perhaps due to him being the son of a popular ex-world champion.

Fans want to see what Emiliano is capable of doing against top-tier opposition at 140. He can clearly punch, but he hasn’t been matched against fighters who can hit back.

Title Shot Prep

Antonio Moran
Jamaine Ortiz
Ernesto Mercado
Jose Ramirez
Arthur Biyarslanov
Adam Azim
Andy Hiraoka

Emiliano didn’t have a spectacular amateur career like some of Top Rank’s other fighters, like Vasily Lomachenko and Keyshawn. But that’s a reason for them to match him against such weak opposition that does nothing to develop him.

Building a PPV Star

If Vargas were still in the amateur ranks, he’d be fighting better opposition than he’s been in the pro ranks. That suggests he’s being intentionally matched against subpar opposition to develop him into a marketable fighter, potentially transforming him into a PPV fighter or ticket seller to become a money maker.

“This is a pit stop. This is a beautiful belt [NABF Junior Welterweight title], but I want the WBC, the IBF, the WBO, and the WBA,” said Emiliano Vargas to the media at the post-fight press conference last Saturday night after his first-round annihilation of Alexander Espinoza.

“I always said it. I’m going to be world champion. It isn’t a cocky thing. I’m going to be world champion real soon in three or four fights,” said Emiliano.