Boxing News: Fernando Vargas/Rocky Juarez Chicago Press Conference

In anticipation of their HBO televised championship bouts on August 20th at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois two time junior middleweight champion “Ferocious” Fernando Vargas and #1 ranked featherweight Rocky Juarez will hold a press conference at Lalo's Mexican Restaurant this Wednesday, June 1, 2005 at 1pm. Lalo's Mexican Restaurant is located at 500 N. LaSalle in the River North section of Chicago, just one block south of Ohio and LaSalle.

Vargas of Oxnard California, 26-2 (23 KOs) will headline the action packed evening of professional boxing as he battles WBC junior middleweight champion Javier Castillejo, 58-5 (39 KOs) of Madrid, Spain in a twelve round bout.

Houston, Texas native Juarez, 23-0 (12 KOs) will battle WBC featherweight champion In Jin Chi, 30-2-1 (13 KOs) of Seoul, Korea in another twelve round championship bout, a potential “Fight of the Year” candidate.

More information regarding this terrific evening of championship boxing in Chicago will be made public at this press conference including ticket information and other fighters scheduled to appear on the fantastic undercard.

Vargas (26-2, 23 KOs) is a two-time junior middleweight champion. The 27-year-old Oxnard, CA native became the youngest junior middleweight world champion in boxing history (21 years and 5 days old) on December 12, 1998, when he dismantled defending IBF champion Yory Boy Campas in seven rounds (TKO 7). Vargas regained a world junior middleweight crown on September 22, 2001, when he stopped Jose “Shibata” Flores to earn the WBA jr. middleweight championship (KO 7). Vargas, one of the sport's most popular boxers, has won his last three bouts. In his last bout on March 26, 2005, Vargas decisioned Raymond Joval (W 10).

Castillejo (58-5, 39 KOs) is recognized as the WBC junior middleweight champion. The 37-year-old Madrid, Spain native has won 21 of his last 22 bouts, losing only to Oscar De La Hoya by decision on June 23, 2001 (L 12). Castillejo was named the WBC champion after the WBC stripped Ronald “Winky” Wright for refusing to defend his crown against Castillejo. Wright elected instead to challenge Felix “Tito” Trinidad on May 14, 2005.

Chi (30-2-1, 18 KOs) captured the vacant WBC featherweight title on April 10, 2004, when he knocked out Michael Brodie in the seventh round of their rematch (KO 7). The first bout ended in a draw. The 31-year-old Seoul, Korea native first attempted to win the WBC crown on July 28, 2001, losing a unanimous decision to then-champion Erik Morales (L 12). Prior to that bout Chi had not lost since 1991. In his last bout on January 30, 2005, Chi successfully defended his WBC title for the second time by decisioning Tommy Browne (W 12).

Juarez (23-0, 16 KOs) was a 2000 U.S. Olympic Silver Medalist. The 25-year-old Houston, TX native dazzled boxing insiders with the ease in which he dispatched his last two opponents.  Juarez demolished former world champion Guty Espadas in two rounds on December 3, 2004, and destroyed perennial contender Juan Carlos Ranchero Ramirez in one round on March 4, 2005. Juarez is ranked #1 by both the WBC and IBF, and is ranked #3 by The Ring magazine.