Rosas Out, Vargas In For WBA Champ Jamie McDonnell

Fernando Vargas has replaced Juan Alberto Rosas as the opponent for WBA Bantamweight king Jamie McDonnell at The O2 on Saturday night, live on Sky Sports Box Office.

Vargas lands a golden opportunity on the bill following a huge win for the 27 year old Mexican over former World champion Wilfredo Vazquez Jr in Brooklyn in June, and provides the Doncaster man’s first action in the UK since his two brilliant wins over Tomoki Kameda in Texas last year.

McDonnell turned 30 last week and believes a great performance against Vargas can see him land a unification bout in the summer, as he looks to dominate at 118lbs before a potential move to Super-Bantamweight.

“It’s a massive chance for Vargas,” said McDonnell. “It means everything to him and he’s going to bring the fight to me, but I am focused, feeling sharp and looking to make a statement. I’ve been training for lots of styles so it doesn’t bother me. I’m just buzzing to be back in the UK and ready to put on a show.

“I was looking to move up after the first Kameda fight but I am making Bantamweight well so if the big fights keep coming at Bantamweight I will stay there, it just depends on what options are out there for me.”

McDonnell’s clash with Rosas is part of a huge night of action in Greenwich, topped by Anthony Joshua’s World title clash with Charles Martin. Lee Selby defends his IBF Featherweight title against Eric Hunter, while there’s a key Middleweight battle between former World title challengers Matthew Macklin and Brian Rose.

Three-time World Super-Middleweight title challenger George Groves meets unbeaten Scotsman David Brophy, Ohara Davies faces Andy Keates for the vacant English Lightweight title and Nigel Benn’s son, Conor Benn, makes his professional debut.