By: Coach “K,” – After winning his third Golden Glove Championship and climbing to 4-0, 3 Ko’s Ronny “Venezuela” Vargas claimed to Daily News writer Mitch Abramson, January 22nd 2008, “I love my block, I love the people around here. Everyone knows each other, so it’s hard for me to move out and start my life somewhere else. It’s a tough neighborhood, but I’m good, I’m set here.” “I’m comfortable,” he added. “The money hasn’t gotten to my head. The articles in the paper – nothing has gone to my head. My life has changed; now, boxing is my job, but I haven’t changed..”
The inspiring soft spoken, talented, 20 year old, one of the city’s hottest boxing prospects affectionately known as “Venezuela” was gunned down about 3:30 a.m. Saturday morning in a store on Clinton Avenue after a confrontation with two couples.
Vargas left the bodega with his friends after a minor “respect” incident in his Honda Accord and was followed by the other group in a white car with dark tinted windows. The driver of the white vehicle followed and cut off Vargas at Hughes Avenue near East 178th Street, in the East Tremont section of the Bronx. The driver of the white car allegedly pistol whipped Vargas, then shot him in the chest as he sat in his car, Vargas attempted to drive away swiping parked cars before getting out of the car and collapsing in the street.
Ronny “Venezuela” Vargas trained by mentor, Michael “Biggie” O’Connor, of Webster PAL as an amateur turned professional last year fighting as a junior middleweight while being managed by Pat Lynch, best known for managing the high profile Arturo “Thunder” Gatti. Under Lynch’s guidance Vargas quickly and impressively earned an 8-0, record with six knockout victories.
Vargas a standout in the boxing world, his neighborhood and with anyone he met died at St. Barnabas Hospital Saturday morning and Police haven’t made an arrest. The neighborhood, his friends and family, USA Boxing Metro and NYPD need your help. Anyone with information please, contact: NYPD using their confidential access 1-880-577-TIPS.
It is time for New York, New York Daily News, NYPD and USA Boxing Metro to stand up for the likes of a Ronny Vargas and create a reward fund to bring to justice the perpetrator of this cowardly act and then consider a scholarship fund in the name of Ronny “Venezuela” Vargas a true inspiration to young athletes.