A High-Stakes Co-Main Event
The boxing world is buzzing for the historic showdown between Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez and Terence “Bud” Crawford, but the co-main event promises its own brand of fireworks. On Saturday, September 13, 2025, two undefeated junior middleweight prospects, Fernando Vargas Jr. and Callum Walsh, will put their perfect records on the line at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. This compelling matchup, set on one of the year’s biggest stages, is a rare and welcome clash between two rising stars willing to risk it all for a career-defining victory.
A Tale of Two Fighters
The bout features a fascinating contrast in backgrounds and styles. Both men have demonstrated significant power, with a combined record of 31 wins and 26 knockouts between them.
- Fernando Vargas Jr. (17-0, 15 KOs): The 28-year-old son of legendary former world champion Fernando “El Feroz” Vargas Sr., Vargas Jr. has fought under the immense pressure of his father’s shadow his entire career. Trained by his father, he aims to use this massive platform to carve out his own legacy. Vargas Jr. is a southpaw boxer-puncher who believes his technical skills will be the difference-maker.
- Callum Walsh (14-0, 11 KOs): Hailing from Cork, Ireland, “King” Callum Walsh is a hard-hitting aggressor with formidable backing. Promoted by UFC President Dana White and trained by Hall of Famer Freddie Roach, Walsh has been hyped as a future star. He is known for overwhelming opponents with relentless pressure and seeks to prove he is ready for the division’s elite.
Vargas Jr.’s Path of Redemption
For Fernando Vargas Jr., this fight represents more than just a step up in competition; it’s the culmination of a remarkable turnaround. At age 21, his boxing aspirations were derailed when he was sentenced to 13 months in jail. The experience was a profound wake-up call. Determined to change his life, Vargas Jr. began training behind bars, using rolled-up mattresses as makeshift heavy bags.
Upon his release, he dedicated himself to the sport while juggling a grueling job in excavation, often waking at 4 a.m. for work before heading to the gym in the evening. He turned professional in 2020, and this fight against Walsh is the opportunity he has worked tirelessly for. “Everything that I went through, me crying in the shower by myself, everything I went through mentally was for this moment,” Vargas Jr. stated. “This moment doesn’t mean as much to him as it does to me and I’m going to show that.”
What’s at Stake
In an era where promising fighters are often carefully managed to protect their undefeated records, this matchup is a throwback to a time when the best fought the best. Both Vargas Jr. and Walsh have expressed confidence, with Vargas Jr. predicting they “might just steal the show.” A victory for either fighter would not only preserve their perfect record but also catapult them into the top tier of the talent-rich 154-pound division, placing them firmly in the conversation for a future world title shot.
How to Watch
The entire fight card, including the clash between Vargas Jr. and Walsh and the main event featuring Canelo vs. Crawford, will be broadcast live and exclusively on Netflix. As reported by digitaltrendstoday.com, the event is available to all Netflix subscribers worldwide at no additional pay-per-view cost, marking a significant move in sports broadcasting.
- Date: Saturday, September 13, 2025
- Venue: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Main Card Start Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT
- Broadcast: Live on Netflix
