Vargas Evacuated from Hotel.

Two-time world jr. middleweight champion Fernando Vargas and members of his training camp were sent scurrying onto East Monroe St. in Chicago at 9:00 am this morning following a fire at the landmark Palmer House Hilton Hotel, it was announced today by Main Events CEO Kathy Duva. Vargas has been staying at the Palmer House since Saturday, August 6 in preparation for Aug 20 bout against Javier Castillejo at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL.

According to Tribune wire service reports, a fire on the fourth floor “sent firefighters scrambling this morning, but the blaze quickly was extinguished with no reported injuries.”

Vargas (26-2, 23 KO’s) is a two-time jr. middleweight champion. The 27-year-old Oxnard, CA native became the youngest jr. 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). In his last bout on March 26, 2005, Vargas decisioned Raymond Joval (W 10). Tickets for the Aug 20 fight card start at $27 and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 312-559-1212.