Photos: Jorge Garcia/For Showtime – Fans that have purchased over $1 million in tickets to see two-time world champion “El Feroz” Fernando Vargas (26-4, 22 KOs) and three-time world champion Ricardo “El Matador” Mayorga (27-6-1, 22 KOs) in what is anticipated to be a street-style brawl at STAPLES Center will get their chance when the two meet on the day after Thanksgiving on Friday, Nov. 23..
Tickets priced at $300, $150, $100 and $50 are on sale online at ticketmaster.com, via Ticketmaster charge-by-phone lines at (213) 480-3232 or (714) 740-2000 and at all Ticketmaster ticket centers. The bout is scheduled for 12 rounds at a catch weigh of 166 pounds.
Vargas and Mayorga will fight in a highly-anticipated main event of a card that begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT and is being distributed by SHOWTIME® PPV.
Here is what Vargas had to say during a near-75-minute open media workout Thursday:
FERNANDO VARGAS
“I don’t like anything about Mayorga. He has a face only a mother gorilla would love. I’m going to beat the (poop) out of him. He’s a stupid fighter. He doesn’t get it.
“Mayorga says that I’m going to run. I’m not going to run. He’s a stupid (butt). I’m going to knock him out. He’s going to feel the heat.
“I’ve never really hated anyone this much since I fought Ross Thompson. Mayorga has a big mouth and I’m going to shut it for him.
“When I knock him down I’m going to look down at him and say ‘don’t act stupid, it was not that hard.’ That way he’ll get mad and get up, so I can knock him back down again.
“As we get ready for Friday, my trainer, Eduardo Garcia, keeps asking me three things: (1) Is Mayorga more talented than you? No he is not; (2) Is he stronger than you? No he is not; and (3) Does he have more defense than you? No he does not.
“So, plain and simple, that means he is not going to beat me.
“My fans know I’m a smart fighter, but there are also times I have to put myself on the line to make it an exciting fight. Trust me, I’m going to make sure I leave it all in the ring and walk out victorious.
“I told Garcia I wanted to start working out again. He made me who I am, so he knows everything I can do. He, more than anyone, knows my full ability and potential.
“I’m so excited this is happening. He says I am ‘good’ so that I’m so that means that I’m back. He won’t kiss my butt; he tells the truth.
“If he’s happy, I’m happy. He is the father I’ve never had. I have more respect for him than anything. I come to him for advice for more than just boxing, but for life.
“I’ve been working out since January. I’ve been in the gym non stop.
“(The postponement) was very difficult because we had great momentum. But everything happens for a reason. I was taking too many Aspirin and I started bleeding from my stomach.
“I’m a fighter, and I was losing the equivalent of two pints of blood. It took me two months to get back to normal.
“(I can’t forget) what happened at the press conference. The cat tried to sucker punch me. He doesn’t know I’m a counter puncher.
“You try and back hand me at a press conference, that’s the wrong thing to do, I’ll tell you that much. I’ve been in one or two street fights in my life. I let him slip off my jacket and he didn’t land anything.
“I feel good. This is it. I know I’m going to look great in this fight, but that’s it. This is my last fight. I’ve got other things I got to do. I’ve got other business ventures.
“I’m focused. I won’t really think about it being my last fight until I wrap up my gloves for the last time. I am ready to go out on a bang.”