?Fighter is like a race car. You are not going to go to a regular gas station to put oil in it,? said Dee Dee Hudson, a strength and conditioning coach/ nutritionist, the newest member of team Jessie Vargas when I met him at Mayweather?s Boxing Club last Saturday morning. Hudson, who was hired last November to help Jessie make a successful transition from 140 pounds division to welterweight, explained the importance of proper nutrition and how he helps Jessie built up strength in a new division.
?We worked with him for my last fight with Tyner and everyone could see I was a lot stronger,? confirmed Vargas after he finished six rounds of sparring in the ring with two different opponents:? I didn’t get tired. I finished the tenth just like started the first.?
Twenty two year old Vargas is gearing for a big fight against Southern California, Alfonso Gomez on May 5th on the undercard of his promoter and mentor, Floyd Mayweather. I asked Jessie how does it feel to perform on that big of a stage? ?It feels great. I am kind of getting used to it,? replied Vargas (18-0,9KO?S):? I fought under Mayweather Ortiz which any time Floyd fights it is one of the biggest boxing events, so I am kind of getting used to it, getting used to the light, I guess you can say. I am getting closer to the main event. So I think it’s going to be no different than a fight with Josesito.?
While sparring, Jessie gets instructions from a new coach, Robert Alcazar who recently replaced, Roger Mayweather. Alcazar who is better known for training Golden Boy, Oscar De La Hoya and recently working with late Edwin Valero, thinks highly of his young prot?g?, Jessie Vargas.? He fights like Oscar,? said Alcazar with a smile.
After sparring Vargas went to do his drills on speed and heavy bag.? So what were you working on in the ring today?? I asked Jessie. ?Just working on movement; coming in, coming out, in the body, in the head, just everything,? replied Vargas:? We have two or three different game plans for Gomez. Whatever style he wants to bring on May 5th, we have three different styles to counter him. He is a very aggressive guy; he is a tough fighter that comes to win. He doesn’t give up and that’s why we made a fight with him. He is just another test that we have to overcome. He is a tough fighter, but I am tough as well. I think I am tougher. I think I am stronger. I think I am faster. I am younger. So I have everything on my side, I think?I know.?
Very few fighters can make successful transition to a higher weight division. Jessie Vargas believes he can and he will. ?This is my second fight at 147, ?Vargas said:?My first one was Leonard Tyner. Everyone knows he was a solid 147 pounder. I wanted to fight someone at that weight that was a strong welterweight and I did and it was pretty easy. I mean it was a pretty good fight and I didn’t have any problems. I am thinking with Gomez I am not going to have any problems as well. I feel a lot stronger. I feel fast. I feel like I still have the speed of 140 pounder and the strength of 147.?
Jessie?s May 5th opponent Alfonso Gomez is naturally a bigger man. Gomez is no nonsense come forward, pressure boxer who has only had trouble with elite fighters. Could Jessie Vargas become an elite fighter? Time will tell.
?So, we are ready for Gomez,? continued Vargas:? If he wants to fight me, we are going to fight and I can throw punches nonstop for ten rounds and I showed it with Tyner. I am going to do the same thing with Gomez. If he wants to fight we are going to fight.? Considering the temperament of Alfonso Gomez, fans will be treated to a great action fight.
Jessie Vargas has been getting a lot of exposure fighting on the undercard of his mentor, Floyd Mayweather. But Floyd is thirty five and it might be time for Jessie to step out of his promoter?s shadow. I asked him how soon before he could headline a show at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
?I think very soon,? replied confident Vargas:? I hope this year, but let’s be patient. I have to talk to my advisor, Al Hayman. He will tell me when it’s time.
