By Miguel Rivera
On Thursday night in Indio, California, super featherweight contender Rod Salka created a lot of controversy in the post-fight of his showdown against former world champion Francisco Vargas.
In a fight that was televised by ESPN2, Salka wore trunks with a brick wall pattern that was accompanied with the written statement of "America 1st."
Salka was putting out an anti-immigrant message - in connection with President Donald Trump's plan to construct a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border, to prevent illegal crossings into the United States.
Salka is no stranger to politics.
In 2016, he ran as a Republican for a seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, losing by more than 30 points to the Democratic incumbent.
He didn't do any better on Thursday, when Vargas dropped and stopped him in six rounds at the Fantasy Springs Casino. Salka's lack of punching power was his downfall, as he was unable to gain the respect of Vargas, who never stopped coming forward while throwing a high volume of power punches.
Vargas, who represented Mexico in the 2008 Olympic games, admits he shocked by the trunks but they further fueled his fire.
"I was surprised when (Salka) was coming to the ring. I saw him dressed with a wall on his clothes, but I kept calm. I was focused on making my fight and on my plan," Vargas said to ESPN Deportes.
"Once we were already in the ring, the wall was an extra ingredient [for my motivation to win], so I gave it everything. Whatever it is I represent Mexico and I feel that wall is against all my countrymen."
Vargas is one of the Mexican fighters who has fought constantly on American soil in recent years, and so has Gilberto Ramírez, Saúl Álvarez and recently Juan Francisco Estrada and Carlos Cuadras as well.
In 2015 and 2016, Vargas took part in contests that were honored by many as he 'Fight of The Year.'