On Friday, July 24 Golden Boy will make its return to regularly scheduled boxing as Vergil Ortiz Jr. (15-0, 15 KOs) defends his WBA Gold Welterweight Title in a 12-rounder against tough contender Samuel Vargas (31-5-2, 14 KOs).
The clash will take place at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California. It will be the first event in the United States for streaming giant DAZN after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Evan Sanchez (7-0, 6 KOs), a welterweight prospect of Parlier, California, was originally supposed to fight in March of this year. But just like the main event itself, his fight was canceled only a week before it was supposed to take place.
In a recent interview with Round By Round Boxing, Sanchez said that he stayed in shape in case he’d get another opportunity.
“I stayed in the gym,” said Sanchez. “I kept working out. I was prepared in case we got a notice to fight again.”
As luck would have it, Sanchez got the call to be on the undercard of Ortiz vs. Vargas, just as was initially planned in March.
Sanchez will step up in competition as he faces tough challenger Issouf Kinda (18-4, 7 KOs) in a six-round clash. As one of the first fights back since the start of the pandemic, Sanchez feels that it is a great opportunity for him to be back on July 24.
“This means that Golden Boy believes in me,” said Sanchez. “A lot of people will be watching, so I hope to end the fight with a knockout. If I do, it will be an amazing night.”
Also on the undercard are Shane Mosley Jr. (15-3, 9 KOs), Hector Valdez (12-0, 8 KOs) and Seniesa “Superbad” Estrada (18-0, 7 KOs) in separate bouts.
Chief support for the event will be a 10-round clash between Hector “El Finito” Tanajara Jr. (19-0, 5 KOs) and Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta (32-3-3, 17 KOs) for the USNBC Lightweight Title.
Which fight are you looking forward to most?
