Boxing News: Vargas Challenges Castillejo in Chicago August 20

BLOOMFIELD, NJ (May 26, 2005) – Two-time world junior middleweight champion Fernando Vargas will battle WBC junior middleweight champion Javier Castillejo on August 20 at the AllState Arena in Chicago, it was announced today by Main Events CEO Kathy Duva. In the 12 round co-feature bout, undefeated WBC/IBF #1 ranked Featherweight contender Rocky Juarez vies for his first world title when he challenges WBC Featherweight Champion In Jin Chi in a potential “Fight of the Year” candidate. Both bouts will be broadcast live on HBO.

“The contract is completed and we are happy to announce this great fight,” Duva said.

The WBC has announced that unless Javier Castillejo accepts a deal from Don King Productions, Inc. to fight Ricardo Mayorga, he will be stripped of his title.  Castillejo and Fernando Vargas have asserted that Mayorga is not a proper mandatory opponent. Both have also stated that although they would prefer to receive the WBC sanction, in the interest of moving forward with the event's promotion the sanction will be required for the bout to take place. Vargas has filed for arbitration on the matter before the Association of Boxing Commissions.

“Javier Castillejo is a champion with or without the WBC belt,” said Duva. “We believe that the designation of Mayorga as a mandatory opponent was improper for the following reasons: Mayorga did not win a mandatory eliminator, as the WBC rules require; he was knocked out in his last bout; he has lost two of his three last bouts; and he failed to make weight the only time in his career he was scheduled to fight at 154 lbs. However you slice it, we believe Mayorga is not a legitimate mandatory under the WBC Rules and that Castillejo should be allowed to make an optional defense against Vargas.”