Emiliano Vargas went deeper than ever before to claim his latest victory.
It wasn’t a daunting task by any stretch, as the undefeated 140lbs prospect had his way with Jonathan Montrel. However, he was forced to go all 10 rounds for the first time as he earned a lopsided decision victory.
Scores were 100-89, 99-90 and 99-90 for Vargas in their ESPN Knockout/Top Rank Classics FAST channel-aired co-feature Saturday evening from Arena Coliseo in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
Vargas, 16-0 (13 KOs), soaked in every ounce of the ambiance on his way to the ring but was all business once the bell sounded to begin the action.
The unbeaten second-generation boxer – whose father, Fernando Snr, was a former two-time 154lbs titlist – immediately made his presence felt against a determined but overmatched Montrel, 19-4 (13 KOs), of New Orleans. Vargas had Montrel in trouble late in the opening round but was unable to put together that final combination to end the fight.
Montrel frequently turned to the referee for assistance in the second, insisting that Vargas was landing illegal blows to the back of the head. Vargas remained focused on the task at hand, as he connected with left hooks and sweeping right hands. Montrel made it to the bell, making him the first Vargas opponent in more than a year to survive two full rounds.
In the third, Vargas scored with effective body shots mixed in with left hooks upstairs. Montrel took the shots well, but his head snapped back after Vargas landed a right uppercut.
Montrel continued to show a sturdy chin against his 21-year-old, heavy-handed foe. A clean right by Vargas cracked Montrel in the fifth, but it came in a singular moment. Montrel managed to land a few power shots of his own and even won over the ref, who cautioned Vargas for hitting behind the head.
Another such warning came roughly 1 minute into the sixth round, though Vargas quickly regrouped and showed greater committed to his power shots. A right hand drove Montrel backward, which prompted Vargas to pick up his output. Montrel fought behind a tight guard and offered little offense in return, or in general.
The bell sounded to begin Round 7, the first such occasion for Vargas who had gone six rounds just twice in his promising career. Vargas persistently continued to land right hands down the middle, all of which Montrel absorbed as he spent most of the rest of the fight playing defense. Vargas refused to get rattled or overanxious to produce a knockout, as he continued to throw in combination and also scored with body shots.
The decision victory snapped a six-fight knockout streak for Vargas, who last went to the scorecards in March 2024 in a six-round unanimous decision in Glendale, Arizona.
Vargas-Montrel served as the chief support to the Rafael Espinoza-Arnold Khegai WBO 126lbs title fight.
