WBA champion Jessie Vargas shines with last-minute TV gig
MACAU -- After Chris Algieri finished an interview with a group of American boxing writers about his upcoming match with Manny Pacquiao for the WBO welterweight title, he wasn't finished. He had one more interview to give.
This one, though, was different than the others. The interviewer was not a reporter, but a much more familiar face.
Jessie Vargas, the unbeaten WBA junior welterweight champion who fights Antonio DeMarco on Saturday (Sunday China time) in the co-main event of the HBO Pay-Per-View card at The Venetian Macao, did the interview for Univision with Algieri.
The two men are champions in the same division and are fighting on the same card. The possibility exists that they could fight each other down the road.
But Vargas, a 25-year-old with an ebullient personality and the ability to think quickly on his feet, handled the assignment with aplomb.
He did have one significant problem he had to solve before he could complete the interview.
"When they offered me the opportunity, I said, 'Of course, I'm up for it,' " Vargas said. "But I said, 'You know what, though? I don't have any [dress] clothes. I just brought Team Vargas jackets, comfortable clothes and sweat pants and stuff like that, training gear.' I said, 'I don't know how I'm going to do it.' But I just decided I'd go shopping.
"You know how expensive it is here in Macau? I'm not a cheap guy, but wow, it was pretty expensive."
It may turn out to be money well-spent. Vargas had an easy, natural style during the interview and it was apparent that he quickly put Algieri at ease.
Vargas understands that a fight with Algieri is possible down the line, but he said he had no qualms and thinks Algieri is great for the sport.
"There is a chance we coudl fight, but right now, this is their show, and I was honored just to be able to be a little part of that," Vargas said. "I wish Chris nothing but the best. He's a great guy and a great ambassador for our sport. I actually think we need more fighters like that, fighters who represent the sport well not only inside the ring but outside the ring, as well."
