Francisco Vargas-Orlando Salido Set For War on June 4, StubHub

By Francisco Salazar

After weeks of optimistic talks amongst all parties, the anticipated clash between Francisco Vargas and Orlando Salido is now a reality.

Vargas will fight Salido in what is expected to be an all-out brawl on June 4, manager Sean Gibbons confirmed to BoxingScene.com.

Vargas will defend his WBC junior lightweight title against Salido at the Stubhub Center in Carson, Calif. HBO will broadcast the fight live.

The styles of Vargas and Salido complement each other very well and with the fight taking place at Stubhub Center, where some of the best fights have taken place in recent years, a buzz has generated on social media amongst boxing fans eager to watch the fight.

Vargas (23-0-1, 17 KOs) was involved in what many boxing scribes describe as the fight of the year for 2015, surviving a fourth round knockdown to stop Takashi Miura in the ninth round on November 21. Vargas won the WBC title from Miura.

The Mexico City, DF, Mexico resident has stopped his last four bouts in a row.

Salido (43-13-3, 30 KOs) has not fought since September 12, he fought to a disputed split decision draw over 12 rounds against Roman ‘Rocky’ Martinez, a fight many thought Salido won.

A rubber match (Martinez won the first fight in April of last year) was discussed for this spring, but an agreement was not able to be reached between Zanfer, which promotes Salido, and PR Boxing, which promotes Martinez.

Talks began between Gibbons, who is a liaison for Zanfer, and Eric Gomez of Golden Boy Promotions, who promotes Vargas.

“I am over the top thrilled for Orlando Salido!” Gibbons told Boxingscene.com Friday morning. “Viva!”

Salido, who now resides in Phoenix, Ariz., made his pro debut at the age of 15 on March 1, 1996.
 
Francisco A. Salazar has written for Boxingscene.com since September of 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (CA) Star newspaper, RingTV, and Knockout Nation. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing