Photo by ESPN Deportes/Miami
There’s a hell of a lot to like about up-and-coming Welterweight prospect Sammy Vasquez Jr. (17-0-0, 13 KOs).
Before the fighter they call “The Who Can Mexican” even stepped into a professional boxing ring, he was serving eight years in the U.S. National Guard, including two tours in Iraq.
Now, instead of fighting a war, he’s putting on impressive and exciting performances as a prizefighter, and feels there’s nobody out there who can stop his ascent.
[otw_shortcode_quote border=”bordered” border_style=”bordered”]“I want to fight everybody who’s in front of me in the rankings, because those are the people I need to beat to get to the top.” – Sammy Vasquez Jr. [/otw_shortcode_quote]
Vasquez is from Monessen, Pennsylvania, just outside of Pittsburgh, and is starting to build a loyal following in the area.
His last two fights were at the CONSOL Energy Center, both which he won by knockout over opponents with a combined record of 42-1-2.
His next fight is on Showtime’s ShoBox this Friday, February 20. Once again, Vasquez will be fighting at the CONSOL Energy Center where he’ll take on Emmanuel Lartey (16-2-1, 7 KOs).
Lartey’s only losses came at the hands of two very talented fighters in Errol Spence and Felix Diaz.
RBRBoxing had the privilege of talking to Vasquez about his upcoming fight, and his plans for his future in boxing.
Round By Round Boxing: Sammy, first thing I want to talk to you about is your training camp, you’re less than a week away from the fight, could you tell us about where you’ve been training, how camp went and how you feel going into the fight?
Sammy Vasquez Jr: Well I’ve been training in Fort Carson, Colorado, close to Colorado Springs. Camps been amazing, we’ve been out here for six weeks training every day, two or three times a day. Going into the fight I’m definitely ready, I’m feeling very confident in myself, my team and what we’ve been doing here in camp.
RBRBoxing: You’re fighting Emmanuel Lartey, he’s 16-2-1. He’s been in with some very good opponents, do you expect this to be the toughest fight of your career to this point?
SVJ: I would expect it to be, but I guess that’s all hearsay until I actually get into the ring and see what he has to bring to the table. Styles do make fights and I’ve got a different style than Errol [Spence] does, as well as Felix Diaz does. Diaz for example is a forward fighter who likes to brawl. I think if I box Emmanuel and catch him while he’s coming in, I could make it an easy fight.
He doesn’t cause me much concern because I see a lot of his mistakes that I can capitalize on. In his two losses I saw mistakes that those guys weren’t able to capitalize on, I’m going to expose those same mistakes.
RBRBoxing: Sammy, why should boxing fans want to watch you? Why should they tune into your fights?
SVJ: Obviously the main thing is I’m a very exciting fighter and I like to bring the fight to my opponents, but also I’m an all-around good guy. I’m a veteran, I’ve served my duty, I fought in Iraq, and I try to represent my country the best I can. There’s no reason not to root for me, I’m the total package, I don’t mean to sound too arrogant, but I hold myself up to that level, to be the fighter that I should be.
I want to be the kind of boxer that people look up to, who kids look up to. I started boxing because I was being bullied, and bullying is a major epidemic now. Kids are killing other kids because they’re so stressed out from being bullied. If I can change somebody’s life through boxing, then I’m doing my job.
RBRBoxing: I want to talk to you a little bit about the business side, you’re signed with Al Haymon now. It’s a great opportunity for some big paydays and to eventually fight on the big stage, obviously Premier Boxing Champions will be all over free network TV. How excited are you to be with Al Haymon?
SVJ: Everything you said, it’s the whole reason why we decided to go with him, all the opportunity he presents. That’s his job, to line up good fights, and it’s my job to take advantage of those good opportunities, to win those fights and set up even bigger fights. So he does his job, I do my job and together we make money.
So yeah I’m excited, and the more he brings to the table the better I’ll have to be. I just want to be able to showcase my skills on different networks so I can catch more people’s eyes, you can’t beat that.
RBRBoxing: Alright Sammy, this is the last question then I’ll let you go. I want to talk about 2015. You’re fighting at 147, what are some of your goals? And are there any possible opponents who are on your radar right now?
SVJ: My goal for 2015 is to keep fighting and to keep winning so I can present myself the opportunity to be a contender and maybe get a title shot by the end of the year. I don’t do a lot of name calling because I want to fight everybody who’s in front of me in the rankings, because those are the people I need to beat to get to the top.
It doesn’t matter who it is, if they’re in front of me, they’re in front of me for a reason. So I don’t really call names, it’s really just whoever’s in my way. If I’m ranked fifteenth, it’s the fourteen people in front of me, that’s who I want to fight.
Don’t miss the exciting action as Sammy Vasquez Jr. takes on Emmanuel Lartey this Friday, February 20 live on Showtime’s ShoBox starting 10:00 pm, EST.
Header Photo By Dan Grant
