Rey Vargas


Rey Geovani Vargas Roldán is a Mexican professional boxer who has held the WBC super bantamweight title since 2017.

Amateur career

Vargas won 7 national championships in Mexico as an amateur, as well as a gold medal in the 2009 Panamerican Championships. He competed in the 2009 World Championships but was defeated by Luke Campbell in the first round.

Professional career

Vargas debuted as a professional in May 2010. He won the IBF Youth title in his 11th fight. Vargas won 15 of his first 16 fights by way of knockout. The first fighter to go the distance with him since his second fight was Yuki Murai. In March 2014, Vargas was knocked down for the first time against Sylvester Lopez. Vargas went down in round 2 but won the bout after Lopez suffered an injury and was unable to continue. The two rematched on November of that same year, Vargas won the second fight with a round 8 TKO. Vargas went down once again in round 2 of an eight-round fight against Lucian González, after an overhand right. Vargas was able to survive and get the unanimous decision.
In June 2016, Vargas won a shut-out unanimous decision over Alexis Kabore. With the win, Vargas became the mandatory challenger to the WBC's super bantamweight titlist, Hugo Ruiz. In September 2016, Vargas defeated former WBA super flyweight champion Alexander Muñoz with a 5th-round TKO. Muñoz went down four times until the referee finally stopped the contest.
On 25 February 2017, he faced Gavin McDonnell for the vacant WBC super bantamweight title. The title fight took place in Hull, England. Vargas established control of the fight early on, using his length and head movement to keep the hometown fighter at bay, while landing short combinations. McDonnell attempted to rally back during the later rounds, but he was ultimately unable to turn the scorecards around. Vargas won a majority decision to become a world champion.
Vargas' first defense would come on the Cotto-Kamegai undercard at the StubHub Center, against Ronny Rios. Vargas was also able to out-box Rios, controlling the bout by fighting at range. Vargas won via unanimous decision. Vargas made a second defense against Oscar Negrete in another Miguel Cotto undercard, in this case his farewell bout against Sadam Ali. The match was in December 2017 at Madison Square Garden, and was televised on HBO. Vargas was cut twice by headbutts but used his length effectively to cruise to a wide unanimous decision.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
34Win34–0 Tomoki KamedaUD1213 Jul 2019 Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California, U.S.Retained WBC super bantamweight title
33Win33–0 Franklin ManzanillaUD129 Feb 2019 Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California, U.S.Retained WBC super bantamweight title
32 Win32–0 Azat HovhannisyanUD1212 May 2018 Turning Stone Resort Casino, Verona, New York, U.S.Retained WBC super bantamweight title
31 Win31–0 Oscar NegreteUD122 Dec 2017 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, U.S.Retained WBC super bantamweight title
30Win30–0 Ronny RiosUD1226 Aug 2017 StubHub Center, Carson, California, U.S.Retained WBC super bantamweight title
29Win29–0 Gavin McDonnellMD1225 Feb 2017 Hull Arena, Hull, EnglandWon vacant WBC super bantamweight title
28Win28–0 Alexander MuñozTKO5, 2:223 Sep 2016 Deportivo Zaragoza, Atizapán, MexicoWon vacant WBC International Silver super bantamweight title
27Win27–0 Alexis KaboreUD1211 Jun 2016 Arena Coliseo, Mexico City, Mexico
26Win26–0 Christian EsquivelTKO3, 1:0127 Feb 2016 Honda Center, Anaheim, California, U.S.
25Win25–0 Lucian GonzálezUD85 Sep 2015 Feria de San Isidro, Metepec, Mexico
24Win24–0 Eduardo MancitoUD1023 May 2015 Feria de San Isidro, Metepec, Mexico
23Win23–0 Néstor PaniguaTKO2, 1:1724 Jan 2015 Centro de Convenciones, Ixtapa, MexicoWon vacant WBC International Silver super bantamweight title
22Win22–0 Sylvester LopezTKO8, 2:121 Nov 2014 Arena Coliseo, Mexico City, MexicoRetained WBC Youth Silver super bantamweight title
21Win21–0 Daniel FerrerasTKO2 23 Aug 2014 Convention Center Surman Villa de las Flores, Coacalco, MexicoRetained WBC Youth Silver super bantamweight title
20Win20–0 Vergel NebranTKO6, 2:3414 Jun 2014 Explanada Municipal, Tlalnepantla, MexicoRetained WBC Youth Silver super bantamweight title
19Win19–0 Sylvester LopezRTD7 15 Mar 2014 Estadio de Beisbol, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
18Win18–0 Ernie SánchezUD1021 Dec 2013 Gimnasio Rodrigo M. Quevedo, Chihuahua, MexicoRetained WBC Youth Silver super bantamweight title
17Win17–0 Yuki MuraiUD1026 Oct 2013 Deportivo Agustín Ramos Millán, Toluca, MexicoWon vacant WBC Youth Silver super bantamweight title
16Win16–0 Juanito RubillarKO4, 2:5824 Aug 2013 StubHub Center, Carson, California, U.S.
15Win15–0 Cecilio SantosKO2 8 Jun 2013 Monumental Villa Charra, Tijuana, Mexico
14Win14–0 Seizo KonoTKO3, 2:2227 Apr 2013 Arena Mexico, Mexico City, MexicoWon vacant WBC Youth Intercontinental super bantamweight title
13Win13–0 Marcos CárdenasTKO5, 1:4122 Dec 2012 Auditorio Bicentenario, Morelia, Mexico
12Win12–0 Luis LugoTKO5, 2:472 Jun 2012 Coliseo Olímpico de la UdeG, Guadalajara, Mexico
11Win11–0 Gabriel AguillónTKO1, 1:1725 Feb 2012 Coliseo Olímpico de la UdeG, Guadalajara, MexicoWon vacant IBF Youth super bantamweight title
10Win10–0 Rene VázquezTKO2, 0:2623 Jul 2011 Coliseo Olímpico de la UdeG, Guadalajara, Mexico
9Win9–0 Jorge MoralesTKO2 25 Mar 2011 Arena Jalisco, Guadalajara, Mexico
8Win8–0 Mario Alberto GarcíaTKO3, 2:2226 Feb 2011 Poliforum Zamna, Mérida, Mexico
7Win7–0 Jesus SantillanTKO7 22 Jan 2011 Arena Neza, Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl, Mexico
6Win6–0 Jorge Otocani ReynosoTKO1, 2:076 Nov 2010 Poliforum Zamna, Mérida, Mexico
5Win5–0 Fabian RuizKO1, 2:232 Oct 2010 Coliseo Olímpico de la UdeG, Guadalajara, Mexico
4Win4–0 Jose Luis MedellinTKO2 4 Sep 2010 Arena Solidaridad, Monterrey, Mexico
3Win3–0 Juan Antonio DuqueTKO2 21 Aug 2010 Arena Jalisco, Guadalajara, Mexico
2Win2–0 Hector Esnar BobadillaUD429 May 2010 Arena Tecate, Guadalajara, Mexico
1Win1–0 Claudio PalaciosKO1 10 Apr 2010 Palenque de la Feria, Durango, Mexico