Jose ‘Rayo’ Valenzuela has emerged as one of the sport’s most promising young talents since the pandemic.

The intention heading into his next fight is to make it the last as a perceived work in progress.

"April 16th will mark the day I go from prospect to contender,” Valenzuela told BoxingScene.com ahead of his upcoming clash with former WBC junior lightweight titlist Francisco Vargas this Saturday. “Remember that, because after that, I'm working my way up to become a world champion.”

The lofty goals set out by Valenzuela (11-0, 7KOs) come ahead of his toughest test to date on by far his biggest stage. The 22-year-old Seattle-based Mexican lightweight faces his first former titlist in Vargas (27-3-2, 19KOs) as part of a four-fight Showtime Pay-Per-View event this Saturday from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Local hero and WBC/IBF welterweight titlist Errol Spence Jr. (27-0, 21KOs) headlines versus WBA titleholder Yordenis Ugas (27-4, 12KOs) in the main event, but with Valenzuela keen on stealing the show.

The fight Vargas is a step up from what was supposed to be an increase in competition level for his last fight. Valenzuela made it look effortless in a fourth-round knockout of Austin Dulay last December at The Armory in Minneapolis, scoring his best win to date live in primetime on Fox.

Next comes his first PPV undercard slot, which Valenzuela views as a stepping stone to greater events well within his 70” reach.

"I train hard every fight, but this fight is important to me because I know it's the fight that will take me to the next level of my career,” insisted Valenzuela, who trains alongside unbeaten former two-time WBC super middleweight titlist David Benavidez under the tutelage of David’s father, Jose Benavidez Sr. “My ultimate goal is to become a world champion, for that I know I have to face tougher competition and champions like Bandido Vargas.

“I'm ready for it, ready to face everyone I need to face to get where I want to be."

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox