Junior featherweight world titlist Rey Vargas’ mandatory defense against interim titlist Tomoki Kameda has been finalized.
The fight will take place July 13 (DAZN) at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, Golden Boy Promotions announced on Thursday.
Vargas (33-0, 22 KOs), 28, of Mexico, who is coming off a one-sided decision over Franklin Manzanilla on Feb. 9, will be making the fifth defense of the 122-pound belt he won in 2017.
“This is going to be a hard and complicated fight,” Vargas said. “Kameda is a difficult opponent who has been a world champion. Above all, however, he has a thorn in his side that he’ll want to take out because I beat him in the amateurs several years ago. This is an interesting fight. He is a quick fighter and he’ll look to take advantage of that, but thanks to God and my corner we are already working to counteract the strategy of this Japanese fighter. God willing, we will walk away with our hand in victory.”
Japan’s Kameda (36-2, 20 KOs), 27, who is a former bantamweight world titlist, claimed the vacant interim belt by unanimous decision over Abigail Medina in November to become Vargas’ mandatory opponent.
“This is going to be a great battle,” sad Kameda, who has fought regularly in Mexico and will be fighting in the United States for the fifth time. “I know Rey Vargas very well. We fought in the amateurs during my time in Mexico. I look forward to getting my revenge against him and becoming a two-division world champion. I know Vargas is a tall fighter with long arms, but the Mexican style that I possess will give him a lot of trouble and make for a great fight for the fans.”
In the co-feature, Diego De La Hoya (21-0, 13 KOs), 24, of Mexico, the first cousin of Golden Boy CEO Oscar De La Hoya, will face Ronny Rios (30-3, 14 KOs), 29, of Santa Ana, California, in a 12-round junior featherweight fight that is essentially a hometown bout for Rios.
Diego De La Hoya is going to try to fight again at 122 pounds despite having had huge difficulties making weight and having had multiple fights canceled because of his weight issues. “This is another step closer to a world title challenge, and I promise to give my fans a night to remember,” De La Hoya said.
“Ronny Rios is a tough fighter, but these types of challenges motivate me to perform at my best. I won’t be denied a victory.”
Rios is 2-2 in his last four fights, including a decision loss challenging Vargas for his title in 2017.
Also on the card: featherweight Joet Gonzalez (22-0, 10 KOs) 25, of Glendora, California, will square off with Manuel “Tino” Avila (23-1-1, 8 KOs), 27, of Fairfield, California, in a 10-round bout ; and junior lightweight Eduardo “Rocky” Hernandez (28-0, 25 KOs), 21, of Mexico, will face an opponent to be determined in a 10-rounder.