Former welterweight titleholder Jessie Vargas is getting set to make his junior middleweight debut against veteran Humberto Soto on Friday night’s DAZN card at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif., and was the man who threw out the first pitch at Monday night’s Angels-Yankees game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.
⚾️ @jessievargas_ x @Angels
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) April 22, 2019
Jessie taking it all in before throwing first pitch at tonight’s game! #VargasSoto #RungvisaiEstrada pic.twitter.com/AIOvvcxp8e
The 29-year-old Vargas (28-2-2, 10 KO) is working with trainer Freddie Roach for his move up in weight, as he looks to score his first win since 2017. He hasn’t lost since then, either; he’s gone 0-0-2 with draws against Adrien Broner and Thomas Dulorme.
Soto (69-9-2, 37 KO) is what you might call a super veteran at this stage, a 38-year-old former titleholder at super featherweight and lightweight, and an interim titleholder at featherweight. He showed in February that he still has something left in the tank, beating Brandon Rios by decision in Tijuana. He’s certainly going to be small for a junior middleweight, but he has fought pretty well at 140 and 147 in recent years, and remains a crafty fighter.
As for Vargas’ pitch, it was JUUUST a bit outside, he tried the corner and missed.
...not too bad, @jessievargas_! @Angels @DAZN_USA #VargasSoto pic.twitter.com/mYTiHn8PB1
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) April 23, 2019
The Yankees would go on to win the game, 4-3 in 14 innings.
Y’all remember back in 2012 when Robert Guerrero stood by famous people at the Critics Choice Awards?