Rey Vargas vs Tomoki Kameda, Diego De La Hoya vs Ronny Rios official for July 13

The planned July 13 DAZN card from Golden Boy is officially official, and will feature not just the Rey Vargas vs Tomoki Kameda main event and Diego De La Hoya vs Ronny Rios co-feature, but a lot of serious prospects are also slated to return to the ring.

Vargas (33-0, 22 KO) will defend his WBC super bantamweight title against Kameda (36-2, 20 KO) in the 12-round main event from Carson, California’s Dignity Health Sports Park (the former StubHub/Home Depot Center).

Vargas, 28, won the title in Feb. 2017, beating Gavin McDonnell in Hull, England, for the vacant belt. He’s made four successful defenses since then, most recently outpointing Franklin Manzanilla on Feb. 9.

“This is going to be a hard and complicated fight,” said Vargas. “Kameda is a difficult opponent who has been a world champion. Above all, however, he has a thorn in his side that he’ll want to take out because I beat him in the amateurs several years ago. This is an interesting fight. He is a quick fighter and he’ll look to take advantage of that, but thanks to God and my corner we are already working to counteract the strategy of this Japanese fighter. God willing, we will walk away with our hand in victory.”

Kameda, 27, is a former bantamweight titleholder. He vacated his WBO title in 2015 to take a crack at WBA titleholder Jame McDonnell, and lost two straight fights to McDonnell in Texas that year. Since then, he’s moved up in weight and gone 5-0, winning the interim title last November against Abigail Medina at Korakuen Hall. Why the WBC needed an interim title is another story, but it’s boxing.

“This is going to be a great battle,” said Kameda. ”I know Rey Vargas very well. We fought in the amateurs during my time in Mexico. I look forward to getting my revenge against him and becoming a two-division world champion. I know Vargas is a tall fighter with long arms, but the Mexican style that I possess will give him a lot of trouble and make for a great fight for the fans!”

De La Hoya (21-0, 10 KO) will face Rios (30-3, 14 KO) in the 12-round co-feature for the interim WBA featherweight title. The WBA currently has a “super world” champion in Leo Santa Cruz, a “world” champion in Can Xu, and a “gold” champion in Eduardo Ramirez, and every single one of them is active, but sure, interim title.

“I’m excited for this great opportunity to showcase my skills at the Dignity Health Sports Park,” said De La Hoya. “This is another step closer to a world title challenge, and I promise to give my fans a night to remember. Ronny Rios is a tough fighter, but these types of challenges motivate me to perform at my best. I won’t be denied a victory come July 13!”

”First and foremost, I would like to thank Golden Boy and DAZN for giving me this opportunity,” said Rios. “Secondly, I would like to thank my team for helping me stay prepared, motivated and focused. I would also like to thank Diego De La Hoya and his camp for accepting this fight.”

Also on the card: featherweight Joet Gonzalez (22-0, 13 KO) will face Manuel “Tino” Avila (23-1-1, 8 KO) in a 10-round bout; top super featherweight prospect Eduardo “Rocky” Hernandez (28-0, 25 KO) returns in a 10-rounder; and welterweight Alexis Rocha (13-0, 8 KO) faces Berlin Abreu (14-2, 11 KO) in another 10-rounder.

Also ALSO on the card: lightweight Jousce “Tito” Gonzalez (8-0-1, 8 KO) in a six-round bout, super middleweight Jonathan Esquivel (10-0, 9 KO) in a six-round fight, and Adrian Benton (1-0, 0 KO) in a junior welterweight four-rounder.