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We’ve known for a while that WBC Super Bantamweight Champion Rey Vargas would defend his title on the undercard of Miguel Cotto vs. Sadam Ali, but his opponent remained up in the air. Golden Boy today told ESPN that Vargas will take on Colombian prospect Oscar Negrete.
Vargas (30-0, 22 KO) edged past Gavin McDonnell for the belt in February and defeated the very capable Ronny Rios on Cotto’s last card. He looks like the goods at age 26 and has a fairly open division ahead of him outside of Guillermo Rigondeaux.
Negrete (17-0, 7 KO) has thus far plied his craft at bantamweight. He originally intended to debut at 122 against Randy Caballero in June, but instead fought Sergio Frias at 118 when Caballero suffered an ankle injury.
Vargas has Julio Ceja, Hugo Ruiz, and Diego De La Hoya below him on the WBC rankings, all of whom would make for a great fight, but Negrete should at least be a solid opponent.