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Rey Vargas Training Camp Quotes
Former world champion and San Antonio’s own Mario “El
Azteca” Barrios shared insights into his training camp with
top trainer Bob Santos and promised fireworks for his
hometown fans when he takes on Jovanie Santiago on Saturday,
February 11 live on SHOWTIME from the Alamodome in an event
presented by Premier Boxing Champions.
Barrios (26-2, 17 KOs) will face Puerto Rico’s Santiago in
the 10-round co-main event of a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP
BOXING® telecast beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. The
action is headlined by undefeated two-division world
champion Rey Vargas dueling top 130-pound contender
O’Shaquie Foster for the vacant WBC Super Featherweight
World Championship.
A former champion at 140-pounds, the 27-year-old Barrios
returns to the ring after dropping his welterweight debut to
former unified champion Keith Thurman in a February 2022
action fight. Following the fight, Barrios reunited with
former trainer Bob Santos, who has recently trained Hector
Luis Garcia and Alberto Puello to world titles. As he looks
to restart his ascent in the star-studded 147-pound
division, he will return to the Alamodome, where he
previously scored an October 2020 KO of Ryan Karl.
Here is what Barrios had to say about training camp,
Santiago and more:
On fighting at home in San Antonio, Texas:
"I’m always excited to give my fans back home an
entertaining fight. I love where I’m from and I’m always
proud to step in the ring representing San Antonio. I’m very
thankful for another opportunity to fight in front of the
San Antonio fans. It’s going to be an explosive night of
boxing and I’m promising an action packed fight.”
On his recent training camp:
“I have relocated my training camp to Las Vegas, Nevada, and
am back working with Bob Santos. It’s been a change of pace,
and coming off a bit of a lay-off, after some really big
fights, it’s been refreshing resting my mind and body after
two hard camps back-to-back. The change is one I think
that’s going to elevate my career these next few years,
because I’ll be training in the fight capital of the world.
“I think a lot of fighters lose motivation once they have
fought on pay-per-view, but being around so many fighters
who are in their prime at the Pound4pound boxing gym out
here has been pushing me every day. I am thrilled with how
the camp has gone, and I think people will see everything
I’ve been working on come fight night. I also have my sister
Selina working in my corner as well. We started this sport
together and I’m thankful to still have her input in the
corner. Everything has been great leading up to this fight.”
On his opponent, Jovanie Santiago:
"I think he’s a quality fighter. He had a close fight with
Adrien Broner that many say he should have won. I thought he
struggled with Gary Antuanne Russell, but Gary is a great
fighter. I personally think Santiago is a guy that if you
take him lightly, he can make you look bad. In no way am I
intending to disrespect him, but I am going to show why I
have been featured on two pay-per-view main events and am a
former world champion. This fight is about me ending this
lay off and proving that I am at a different level, and a
threat in this division. I think you will see a clear
separation between us in this bout."
On what a win does for his career:
"A win puts me in the position I want to be in, which is
competing for a world title. A lot of titles have become
vacant as of late, and I think with a strong showing I could
get in the mix with any of the world champions in the
division. My goal right now is to become a two-time world
champion, and that is what I am set on doing. A win
essentially gives me that next step to get close to a title
eliminator or the bigger names in the welterweight division.
I want to perform in a way that makes my city and my team
proud and continues to make the networks want to see me in
bigger fights."
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