By Jake Donovan

 

A loaded boxing weekend kicks off one night early, as Francisco Vargas and Will Tomlinson collide in a dangerous crossroads bout Thursday evening in San Antonio, Texas.

Their scheduled 10-round bout headlines live on HBO Latino (Thursday, 9:45pm ET).

Vargas (21-0-1, 15KOs) is already the leading ranked candidate for two alphabet titles at junior lightweight, and could have certainly traveled an easier path in awaiting a crack at either belt to materialize. The rising contender enjoyed a breakout moment with a decisive points win over Brandon Bennett in their Aug. ’13 matchup of unbeaten prospect and has been on a role ever since. 

Two of the biggest wins of his career came in 2014. Appearing on the undercard of a Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez-headlined Pay-Per-View event, Vargas survived a stiff test from Abner Cotto to take a decision win last March. A much easier night was enjoyed in his next fight, stopping faded former two-division titlist Juan Manuel Lopez in three rounds last September. 

Vargas is coming off of an 8th round knockout of Genaro Camargo in a stay-busy fight last December, coming just before his 30th birthday. 

Tomlinson (23-1, 13KOs) left everything behind in Australia in search of bringing his career to the next level. The move stateside including his signing with Golden Boy Promotions, debuting for the California-based company last March, on the very same Canelo-topped card that saw Vargas emerge as a player in the junior lightweight division.

The night didn’t go nearly as well for Tomlinson, who suffered the lone defeat of his career to date with a disappointing 10-round loss to Jerry Belmontes. Further rubbing salt in the wound was the fact that Belmontes had lost two straight, including a points loss to Vargas in his previous fight just three months prior.

Two wins have followed for Tomlinson, who—at 28 and having not endured much punishment to date—still has time on his side. 

So who will come out on top in this pivotal matchup boasting title fight implications? Read on to see how the staff at Boxingscene.com believes the action will play out. 

 

BOXINGSCENE.COM STAFF PREDICTIONS:

FRANCISCO VARGAS vs. WILL TOMLINSON

Ryan Burton (Vargas UD):

The undefeated stronger fighter will start fast but not stop Tomlinson on his way to a dominant UD victory. 

Jake Donovan (Vargas UD):

I expect a much better showing from Tomlinson than in his stateside debut, when his career was a bit in disarray. He has a tall order in Vargas, but will likely give him all he can handle, only to fall just short in what might be the best fight of a loaded three-night boxing stretch.

Takahiro Onaga (Vargas KO7):

Absolute war until Tomlinson wilts. Best fight of the weekend.

Victor Salazar (Vargas KO10):

Vargas to me is a bad man. While on paper this has the making of a great scrap, I think Vargas will outwork and out muscle Tomlinson on Thursday. The two have a common opponent in Jerry Belmontes. While Tomlinson lost a wide unanimous decision, Vargas won a wide unanimous decision. I know styles makes fights but I think Vargas stops Tomlinson late.

Reynaldo Sanchez (Tomlinson late TKO):

This will be a hard test for Vargas. His win over Lopez was good but we all know Lopez was gone. Tomlinson is a very good warrior and still young.

Alexey Sukachev (Vargas UD):

All I need to know about the Australian is just two basic things: 1. He was soudnly defeated by Jerry Belmontes, who himself was shut out by Vargas; 2. It took him eight rounds to finish off china-chinned Miguel Zamudio. As an amateur, Vargas was also a better fighter. That tells me that Wild Will hasn't even a puncher's chance. The only question: will it take Vargas a full distance to defeat Vargas or not?

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox