Emiliano Vargas did not give his newfound fan base much time to take in his brilliance.
It was just enough time, however, to confirm that he is a star on the rise.
Vargas, a second-generation pro boxer, racked up his quickest knockout to date, as he needed just 42 seconds to take out Ecuador’s Alexander Espinoza. A pull-counter right hand was enough to produce the bout’s knockdown. It also produced the end of the fight in the ESPN-televised opener Saturday evening from The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
“Twenty-six years ago, my father [Fernando Vargas] fought here. History repeats itself,” Vargas told ESPN’s Bernardo Osuna while standing alongside his family patriarch. “If I can be half as great as he was, I’ll make it a long way.”
Emiliano Vargas, 15-0 (13 KOs), has primarily fought on the West Coast since his pro debut a little more than three years ago. His venture out East came last June and ended in just 92 seconds – more than double the amount of time he needed on Saturday.
“I was ready for 15 rounds tonight,” Vargas insisted. “It was a blessing that I was able to get the job done so quickly. I don’t get paid for overtime.”
Vargas exuded patience early and sought opportunities to draw in Espinoza, who was fighting in the U.S. for the first time. Jabs landed upstairs and to the body for Vargas, who continued to measure up his foe. Espinoza, 20-4-1 (9 KOs), threw a jab but kept his left out long enough to get clipped with a counter right.
There was a brief delay as Espinoza’s knees buckled, before he fell onto his side. He rolled over on the canvas, at which point referee Ricky Gonzalez stopped the contest.
Vargas has now stopped his past six opponents. The past five came in bouts scheduled for eight rounds. He is clearly ready for 10-rounders, though the distance would seem to matter little; he has yet to be extended beyond the sixth round through 15 pro fights.
Rohan Polanco turns away crafty Qunton Randall
Rohan Polanco was determined to become the first fighter to stop Quinton Randall. The unbeaten Dominican welterweight front-loaded, though, and instead for a victory. Scores were 97-93, 99-91 and 100-90 for Polanco in the final bout of the ESPN+ preliminary undercard.
Polanco, 17-0 (10 KOs), immediately took the fight to Houston’s Randall and forced an aggressive pace throughout the contest. Randall, 15-3-1 (3 KOs), did his best to put his massive 8ins reach to good use but was unable to keep the heavier-handed Polanco at bay.
Tempers flared after the end of Round 2. Polanco was in the midst of throwing a right hand, and the shot landed after the bell. Randall attempted to respond in kind, but referee Shawn Clark immediately intervened and directed both boxers to their respective corners.
The more telling blows over the balance of the contest were landed by Polanco. Randall’s offense shut down to the point that Polanco roared, “Come on!” daring his opponent to trade in the fifth. The taunt didn’t immediately take, though Randall enjoyed a brief momentum shift with a straight right hand late in the seventh.
It was enough of a course corrector to provide occasional uncomfortable moments for Polanco, who lunged with his shots and left himself open for counters. Those moments were too few and far between, however, for Randall to leave an impact on the judges.
Juanmita Lopez racks up another TKO at MSG
Juan Manuel “Juanmita” Lopez returned to the site of his pro debut Saturday, and he once again enjoyed an early night at the office.
A second-generation pro boxer and 2024 Olympian for Puerto Rico, Lopez made quick work of fellow Boricua junior bantamweight Jorge Gonzalez, whom he dispatched inside of two rounds. Lopez, 3-0 (2 KOs), scored a pair of opening-round knockdowns and remained in control before the fight was suddenly stopped at 1 minute, 14 seconds of the second round.
Gonzalez, 5-3 (4 KOs), vehemently protested the stoppage – and for good reason. He was already down twice – first from a hook and then from an accumulation of punches – but seemingly with his wits about him in the second.
Lopez remained on the hunt and landed a body shot. A follow-up right hook cupped behind Gonzalez’s head, which pushed him to the canvas. Referee Shada Murdaugh decided that the fight no longer needed to continue, to the dismay of Gonzalez.
The fight was already Lopez’s third since his February 14 pro debut at this very venue. The 19-year-old southpaw is the son of Juan Manuel “JuanMa” Lopez Snr, the former two-division titlist who also fought for Top Rank.
Yan Santana dominates Aaron Alameda over 10
The once-vaunted power of Yan Santana already appears to be a thing of the past. However, the unbeaten Dominican continued to climb the featherweight ranks after a shutout win over Aaron Alameda.
All three judges scored the contest 100-90 for Santana, 15-0 (12 KOs), who has now gone 10 rounds in three of his past four fights. The 25-year-old contender Santana – who is co-promoted by Top Rank, Promociones Miguel Cotto and H2 Entertainment – knocked out his first 11 opponents but has settled into the role of a crafty boxer who prefers to play to the crowd.
That said, Mexico’s Alameda, 30-3 (17 KOs), has never been dropped or stopped in 33 pro fights. The list includes defeats against a pair of two-division titlists in Luis Nery and Angelo Leo.
Steven Navarro tested, goes eight rounds for first time
Steven Navarro went the distance for just the second time in an eight-round, unanimous decision victory over Christopher Rios. Scores were 77-75 across the board for Navarro in their hard-fought heat between California-based junior bantamweights.
Navarro, 7-0 (5 KOs), comes from a boxing family – including his uncle, 2000 U.S. Olympian and former title challenger Jose Navarro – and relied on those deep roots to prevail over a determined Rios. An early scare came when blood streamed from Navarro’s nose and from a cut outside of his left eyelid in the opening round.
Rios, 11-3 (7 KOs), connected with hooks over the top, but Navarro was able to roll with the shots to minimize damage. Navarro constantly switched between southpaw and conventional success. His best moments from either side came when he was at close quarters, including an overhand right and an uppercut that visibly stunned Rios.
The action suggested the fight was very much on the table in the later rounds, but Navarro dug deep to consistently beat Rios to the punch. Rios kept throwing until the final bell, after which both fighters embraced and then jointly paraded around the ring.
Julius Ballo successful in pro debut
Julius “JuJu” Ballo’s presence was felt on both sides of the ropes.
The former amateur standout and now lightweight hopeful enjoyed a successful pro debut with a four-round, unanimous decision over Brandan Ayala. The battle of unbeaten lightweights saw Ballo, 1-0 (0 KOs), prevail by scores of 40-36 on all three scorecards in the opening bout of the five-fight ESPN+ preliminary undercard.
Fighters slotted as the first bout of the night often appear before a nearly empty venue. That was not at all the case for Ballo, who boasts more than 1,000,000 followers across all social media platforms and whose family made the trek from San Diego, California, to lend its support.
Ballo, 22, found frequent success with his jab and right hands over the top, as well as his counter left hook. Ayala, 2-1 (1 KO), was not without his moments, as he tested Ballo’s chin and mettle in a competitive second round.
Ballo – who is co-promoted by Top Rank and Overtime Boxing – originally intended to turn pro on March 22 in his San Diego hometown. However, a hand injury forced him off the date and to the sideline until Top Rank was able to find an ideal slot for the popular lightweight.
