Former two-weight World ruler Jessie Vargas (28-2, 10 KOs) is gunning for the chance to become a two-time champion at 147lbs and victory over Thomas Dulorme (24-3, 16 KOs) would move him into pole position to face newly crowned WBC champion Shawn Porter as the mandatory challenger, after Porter defeated Danny Garcia in Brooklyn earlier in the month.
Las Vegas star Vargas headlines Matchroom Boxing USA’s first show in the States on DAZN and will have his hands full with the Puerto Rican – but with the stakes now raised even more, Vargas believes he can deliver a ‘tremendous’ victory and kickstart an exciting period in the peak of his career.
“My focus has to be solely on Thomas Dulorme,” said WBC #3 ranked Vargas. “This man is no walk in the park, he fights with his heart and always gives it his all, but I have prepared properly and record a tremendous victory. It’s going to be a great show and I’m proud to be headlining it.
“This is the first step in the new phase of my career. As a fighter, it’s always best to have fights lined up and have a clear plan, have a promoter that shows you ‘you are going to fight three times in 12 months’ and when you get that certainty you know you have a couple of weeks off after a fight and then you are into another training camp to give the fans another great. I am still young and I have plenty of years left in me at the very top level – I’m truly excited.
“Shawn Porter is my boy and he’s a great fighter, he’s got a lot of experience, great stamina and power. I will fight the top guys, all the champions, there are some huge fights to make out there at Welterweight. We’re all going to go at it and we’re going to see who ends up on top.”
“Jessie is the leading contender in the WBC rankings and I am very confident that victory on October 6 will lead him to the mandatory position for Shawn Porter,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “That’s a great fight that we would be very interested in but first he must win the Mexico vs Puerto Rico battle in Chicago.”
Vargas and Dulorme clash on a huge night of action in Chicago, with two World title clashes and a huge fight for an American Heavyweight star.
Russian Artur Beterbiev defends his IBF World Light-Heavyweight title against fellow unbeaten puncher Callum Johnson, the Brit in his first World title fight.
Daniel Roman defends his WBA Super-Bantamweight crown against another Brit, second time World title challenger Gavin McDonnell, while Brooklyn’s brash Heavyweight star Jarrell Miller meets Polish legend Tomasz Adamek and three debutants grace the bill as Team USA talents Reshat Mati, Nikita Ababiy and Nkosi Solomon lace them up for the first time.
Along with these World stars and promising youngsters, Chicago fight fans will be able to back two of their own on the night, with former World Lightweight title challenger Jessica McCaskill in action on the bill along with unbeaten Bantamweight prospect Shawn Simpson.