LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Millions saw him as the Mexican boxer during the Super Bowl halftime show, but not too many know this is Emiliano Vargas, a Las Vegas local, undefeated boxer, and son of former world champion Fernando “El Feroz” Vargas.
On one of the largest stages in the world, in front of more than 100 million viewers, a young boxer stepped into the spotlight. The 21-year-old prospect from Las Vegas shared the stage with Bad Bunny.
“He was honestly so humble, so cool. I’ve never played dominoes before. I was playing dominoes with him and all his team,” Vargas said.
Unexpected opportunity
Vargas is known as “El General,” undefeated in the lightweight division. He trains at Vargas Boxing Gym in Las Vegas, but one unexpected phone call led him all the way to Levi’s Stadium.
“My lawyer calls me, I could barely hear him because I’m in the hyperbaric chamber, and he’s like, you want to be part of the Super Bowl? I said, bro, what? Did I hear you right? Like, what?” Vargas said.
When asked why he thinks Bad Bunny picked him to represent Latino boxers, Vargas said he believes it was God.
“Like he could have picked a world champion, he could have picked Canelo Alvarez, so I just think it was a blessing when my lawyer told me that Bad Bunny wants Xander Zayas and he wants Emiliano Vargas,” Vargas said.
Training came first
Bad Bunny’s team made sure boxing came first for Vargas.
“They moved my whole training camp to San Francisco, I was out there for a week before and, they took care of everything so I was able to train, I was able to do all my workouts, bring my sparring partners down there, and still do the rehearsals,” Vargas said.
Once on stage, Vargas walked out in shorts featuring the Mexican flag, a nod to his heritage in a show designed to celebrate Latino identity.
“I’m proud to be American, to be born in the best country in the world, but also to be Mexican and that culture and, you grow up fighting in the backyards with your cousins and carne asadas, you’re watching Canelo Alvarez fight,” Vargas said.
Vargas said he may have stepped onto the biggest stage in the world, but he came straight home to Las Vegas, proud of where it all started.
Vargas said his long-term goal is to be known as a great human being.
Emiliano Vargas is back in the ring on February 28 for his next fight against Agustin Quintana. The undefeated Vegas prospect says this is just the beginning.
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