Four candidates for Fight Of The Year so far, and we still have five months to go

08/03/2016 James Slater

In a sign of how good a year it has already been for boxing here in 2016, we have at least four absolutely cracking fights being looked at as candidates for winning this year’s FOTY distinction – and as great as these fights have been, we still have some potential thrillers to look forward to in the remaining five months of the year.

So far, fans and experts are agreed how the Keith Thurman-Shawn Porter fight, the Orlando Salido-Francisco Vargas fight and the more recent Carl Frampton-Leo Santa Cruz fight are all up there as genuine FOTY candidates. I would like to add to the list the terrific Jamie Conlan-Anthony Nelson fight.

Rumble, Young Men, Rumble: Vargas And Salido Go To War

06/05/2016 Andrew Huntley

This article isn’t quite what I had intended to write earlier in the week.

Initially, I had wanted to write about last night’s clash for the WBC 130lb championship that pitted the undefeated title-holder Francisco “Bandido” Vargas and the grizzled, battle-hardened Orlando “Siri” Salido. It was a match-up between two Mexican fighters with some measure of skill and an abundance of will; and I knew that all hell would break loose the moment one of them managed to land a good punch. It carried the promise of excitement and intensity, and it elicited a sense of anticipation in me that I hadn’t felt about a boxing match in quite some time.

Francisco Vargas and Orlando Salido fight to 12-round draw

06/05/201606/05/2016 HBO Boxing

(Photo Credit: Tom Hogan/Golden Boy Promotions) LOS ANGELES (June 4, 2016) -WBC Super Featherweight World Champion Francisco “El Bandido” Vargas (23-0-2, 17 KOs) retained his title against former three-time world champion Orlando “Siri” Salido (42-13-4, 30 KOs, 1 NC) after going the distance in a 12-round blood bath before a nearly sold-out, raucous crowd of 7,378 at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. and televised live on HBO® Boxing AfterDark.

Salido and Vargas exchanged heavy blows in the first round, with Salido getting the better of Vargas in a flurry of punches late in the round. Round four saw Vargas injured, with blood pouring from a cut on his eye obtained by a head butt. The war continued on and brought the crowd to their feet in round six, where Vargas held Salido against the ropes several times with a flurry of punches. The warriors didn’t stop and kept the pressure on each other until round 12, which saw Vargas and Salido laying into one another relentlessly until the bell.

Vargas-Salido post fight quotes

06/05/201606/04/2016 Golden Boy Promotions

(Photo Credit: Tom Hogan/Golden Boy Promotions) StubHub Center, Carson, California

Francisco Vargas draw 12 Orlando Salido

“I feel really good about this decision,” said Vargas. “I knew coming in that I was going to be facing a very tough opponent; however I didn’t expect for him to head butt me and give me so many cuts to the face. Overall, I’m happy I was able to face this skilled warrior.”

Francisco Vargas vs. Orlando Salido: Potential FOTY at the StubHub

06/04/201606/03/2016 Chris Carlson

Two Mexican warriors clash this Saturday night live on HBO, from the StubHub Center, in Carson, CA. It’s a classic tale of young lion versus old lion matchup on paper hosted at the perfect venue. Will the fresher fighter in Vargas be the difference in the end? Or will Saildo’s battle tested experience guide him to the victory?

This can’t miss matchup between 130-pound titleholder Francisco Vargas and Orlando Salido came very close to being called off all together, after Vargas tested positive for the banned substance clenbuterol.

Video: Francisco Vargas: 129.6 lbs. Orlando Salido: 130 lbs.

06/05/201606/02/2016 Golden Boy Promotions

Saturday’s HBO Boxing After Dark doubleheader telecast begins at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT. Opening up the telecast from the StubHub Center in Carson, CA., is a 10 round featherweight matchup between Julian Ramirez and Abraham Lopez. The main event of the evening, a 12-round super featherweight title bout, features Francisco Vargas defending his crown against Orlando Salido in what is expected to be all out slugfest.

Vargas-Salido quotes

06/01/2016 Golden Boy Promotions

(Photo credit: Golden Boy Promotions) LOS ANGELES (June 1, 2016) -WBC Super Featherweight World Champion Francisco “El Bandido” Vargas (23-0-1, 17 KOs) and former three-time world champion Orlando “Siri” Salido (43-13-3, 30 KOs, 1 NC) hosted today, a Los Angeles media workout ahead of their upcoming in a 12-round battle that will take place June 4 at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. and televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark.

They were joined by undefeated Julian “El Camaron” Ramirez (16-0, 8 KOs) and Abraham “Chamaco” Lopez (20-0-1, 15 KOs), who will meet in the ring for the first time to battle for the vacant NABA Featherweight Title in the co-main event on June 4 along with undercard fighters “King” Gabriel Rosado (22-9, 13 KOs) of Philadelphia; Tijuana’s Antonio “Tony” Gutierrez (20-1-1, 9 KOs); Christian “Chimpa” Gonzalez (13-0, 12 KOs) of Buena Park, Calif.; Nick Arce (7-0, 6 KOs); and Santa Ana, Calif.’s Alexis Rocha (2-0, 2 KOs).

Vargas – Salido quotes

05/20/201605/17/2016 HBO Boxing

Eric Gomez: Good afternoon to everyone and good morning to some of you west coasters. Welcome to the Francisco Vargas Orlando Salido international media call. We are rapidly approaching what would be a thrilling fight between Mexican Warriors on Saturday, June 4th at the StubHub Center in Carson, California. Francisco ‘El Bandido’ Vargas versus Orlando ‘Siri’ Salido will battle in what will sure to be a candidate for fight of the year for Vargas’ WBC Super Featherweight Championship live on HBO Boxing After Dark.

HBO is by far the best network in boxing and the StubHub Center is one of the best venues to watch live boxing in southern California. The StubHub is no stranger to great fights and this fight is surely going to down as one of the best fights of the year and it will add to the book at the StubHub Center.

Francisco Vargas and Orlando Salido talk about their June 4 fight

04/01/201603/30/2016 Golden Boy Promotions

(Photo Credit: Tom Hogan Photos/Golden Boy Promotions) LOS ANGELES (March 31, 2016) – 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®.

Vargas vs. Salido on Saturday, June 4

03/11/201603/10/2016 Golden Boy Promotions

The StubHub 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. Francisco “El Bandido” Vargas (23-0-1, 17 KOs), fresh from his Fight of the Year victory over Takashi Miura, will defend his WBC Super Featherweight World Title for the first time against fellow Mexican warrior and former three-time world champion Orlando “Siri” Salido (43-13-3, 30 KOs, 1 NC) in a 12-round Fight of the Year candidate televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark®.