Boxing: Francisco Vargas to Defend Featherweight Title Against Orlando Salido

Golden Boy promotions announced Thursday that Francisco Vargas will defend his WBC junior lightweight title against Orlando Salido on June 4 at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., in an HBO-televised event.

Vargas (23-0-1, 17 KOs) is fresh off a spectacular win over Takashi Miura in November, when he captured his first world title. The always-entertaining Mexican is thrilled to be making his first defense of his title against a fellow countryman but doesn’t plan on relinquishing it to Salido.

“I want to fight the best fighters and Orlando Salido is one of the top fighters in the sport,” said Vargas, a 2008 Mexican Olympian. “I intend to retain my title and will be prepared to the best of my ability to dominate in the ring and give the fans a fight they will remember. I know it will be a tough fight. Salido brings a lot of experience, but I promise not to disappoint. In the end the fans will win on June 4, they will witness a battle between two Mexican warriors who will give it their all in the ring.”

Salido (43-13-3, 30 KOs) has seen it all in an underrated career that has seen him vie for multiple titles. He has taken on the best of the best including Juan Manuel Marquez, Robert Guerrero, Vasyl Lomachenko, Yuriorkis Gamboa, Juan Manuel Lopez and countless others. He is hoping to continue his career with a huge win over Vargas for a belt that he’s never had the chance to compete for.

“I was 12 years old when I saw my first fight on television,” said Salido. “It was the great Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. and I watched him knock out his opponent and earn the prestigious green and gold belt. It was then that I knew then that's what I wanted to do, become a world champion boxer just like my idol Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. So here I am, 23 years later looking to win the WBC belt and fulfill my lifelong dream of putting it around my waist. I look forward to giving the fans an epic fight that will be remembered for years to come.”

The 12-round battle will air live on HBO After Dark at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT. Unbeaten welterweight contender Frankie Gomez is slated to appear on the card as well, though an opponent has not yet been announced.