WBC Super Featherweight World Champion Francisco “El Bandido” Vargas (23-0-1, 17 KOs) and fellow Mexican warrior and former three-time world champion Orlando “Siri” Salido (43-13-3, 30 KOs, 1 NC) today hosted a Los Angeles press conference to discuss their 12-round battle set for June 4 for Vargas’s title at the Stub Hub Center in Carson, Calif. and to be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark®.
Below is what the fighters, their trainers, managers and promoter had to say at today’s press conference:
FRANCISCO VARGAS, WBC Super Featherweight Champion:
“I’m very grateful to HBO, Golden Boy Promotions and my managers for this opportunity.
“I’m very motivated to be fighting a great warrior like Orlando Salido.
“I’m going to be in the best shape in order to give you a war.
“Everybody knows when two great Mexican warriors get in the ring, not one of them will take a step back.”
ORLANDO SALIDO, Mexican Boxing Warrior and Former Three-Time World Champion:
“Thank you to the WBC and Team Vargas for giving me this opportunity.
“I am going to be ready; I am preparing myself for a war. We know it’s going to be a great fight.
“I need to prepare myself for ‘Fight of the Year.’”
OSCAR DE LA HOYA, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions:
“This fight between two Mexican warriors is sure to be a sight to behold in the ring on Saturday, June 4 at the Stub Hub Center in the City of Carson and live on HBO Boxing After Dark.
“The Stub Hub Center in Carson, California has been home to some of the most epic fights of this era and on Saturday, June 4 another chapter will be added to its action-packed history when Francisco ‘El Bandido’ Vargas fresh from his Fight of the Year victory over Takashi Miura in November 2015 on the Cotto-Canelo undercard, will defend his WBC Super Featherweight World Title for the first time against former three-time world champion Orlando ‘Siri’ Salido in a 12-round bout presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Zanfer Promotions.
“This fight will surely be a ‘Fight of the Year’candidate, making it a can’t-miss fight. You hear that, Southern California fight fans? You can’t miss this exciting event so be sure to get your tickets now while they last.
“The fans are going to win and Mexico’s going to win.”
RALPH HEREDIA, Manager for Francisco Vargas:
“Thank you to HBO for this great opportunity for this big stage. Francisco is very excited and he knows what is at stake.
“Orlando Salido is a great fighter. He has been a champion and in a few nominations for ‘Fight of the Year.’
“When two Mexican fighters come together, not one of them will take a step back. Most Latinos grew up watching boxing or soccer so this is a great event for us. It’s going to be a tremendous fight.”
MOSES HEREDIA, Co-Manager for Francisco Vargas:
“We have got another ‘Fight of the Year’ coming in 2016 with this for Francisco Vargas.
“Thank you to HBO for the presence and stage for this fight.
“Come June 4 there will be fireworks and explosions and we will make somebody dance and it’s not going to be my fighter. On June 4, we will remain the champion.”
JOSE SANTOS MORENO, Trainer for Orlando Salido:
“The way these guys fight, you’re going to see a lot of action. Thank you to Team Vargas for this opportunity.”
SEAN GIBBONS, Manager for Orlando Salido:
“Thank you for everyone coming out today. We have a great turnout today so I can only imagine what June 4 will look like.
” I would pay to see this fight; I would buy a ticket for it. Hope to see everyone June 4.”
TONY WALKER, Director of HBO Sports:
“Thank you to Oscar De La Hoya and Golden Boy Promotions for putting together such an outstanding card.
“Thank you Francisco and Orlando. When everyone talks about this being a ‘Fight of the Year’ candidate and no one disagrees, you know you have a good fight on your hands.
“We promise you a great broadcast on HBO. A second fight will be adding to the broadcast, to be named soon.”
“Who will win? That is everyone’s question. The world deserves these kind of matches: the best against the best.
“May the best fighter win because us, the fans, already have.”
JOSE “PEPE” SULAIMAN JR, CEO of the WBC’s Los Angeles Office:
“The WBC wishes to acknowledge Oscar De La Hoya, Golden Boy Promotions, Zanfer Promotions, HBO and Stub Hub Center, which has hosted some of the most intense wars in boxing.
Brendan Hannan, Vice President of Marketing, Communications and Digital at LA Galaxy and Stub Hub Center:
“We are thrilled to host another premiere boxing event at the premiere boxing venue in California at the Stub Hub Center on June 4. We look forward to seeing you all there.”
Tickets for Francisco Vargas vs. Orlando Salido are priced at $200, $100, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased at AXS.com, by phone at 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849), and at StubHub Center Box Office (Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. PT to 6 p.m. PT). VIP Suites are available by calling 877-604-8777. For more information on group discounts or VIP packages, call 877-234-8425.
Vargas vs. Salido is a 12-round battle for the WBC Super Featherweight Championship presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Zanfer Promotions and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, BORN BOLD and Casa Mexico Tequila. The HBO Boxing After Dark telecast begins live at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT.
Photo credit: HOGAN PHOTOS
