Emiliano Vargas Set for Feb. 28 Bout Against Quintana

Emiliano Vargas returns February 28 against Agustin Ezequiel Quintana at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. The bout sits underneath Emanuel Navarrete’s junior lightweight unification with Eduardo Nunez for the WBO and IBF titles. Vargas needs rounds more than knockouts at this stage, and Quintana should provide them.

Vargas boxed four times in 2025, winning all of them with three inside the distance finishes, but his opposition has not been tested beyond club-level. At 21, he remains unbeaten and his handlers are bringing him along at super lightweight without throwing him in against legitimate contenders. The activity has kept him sharp while he builds ring time against different looks.

Quintana brings the kind of chin and ring IQ that could push Vargas into the championship rounds. He has been dropped and stopped once in 25 professional bouts and enters on a four fight winning streak. His last outing in 2025 was a lopsided decision over Walter Cordoba. More telling is his December 2024 win over Marc Castro, a split decision upset where he was pegged as a live underdog. That result showed Quintana can box smart when given an opening, and it suggests he will not get blown out early.

This matchup is designed to extend Vargas without putting him in against a puncher or slick boxer who could expose holes. Quintana has proven he can absorb punishment and stay disciplined past the midway point, which gives Vargas a chance to work in the trenches where conditioning and ring generalship become factors. That kind of experience is worth more than another quick knockout at this point in his progression.

The card also features Tahir Smalls against Abel Ramos at welterweight. Smalls is unbeaten, while Ramos has fought for titles three times and brings the kind of veteran savvy that could trouble a prospect.

The event streams on DAZN.