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It’s been a long time coming for Alex Vargas.
The undefeated Bellport professional boxer, who is also a Suffolk County police officer, is getting his first title match this Saturday.
He’s set to face Puerto Rico’s Julio Enrique Rosa Medina (8-3, 4 KOs) for the WBA Continental Super Lightweight Belt. This is the main event for Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing: Rockin’ Fights 45 fight card at The Paramount in Huntington.
“This is what you always want as a fighter,” Vargas told Greater Long Island on getting a belt fight. “It took years of patience and training to get the opportunity.”
Let’s turn back the clock to look at his journey.
Since going pro in 2018, the 28-year-old Long Islander has amassed an impressive perfect record at 13-0, with five knockouts.
Vargas has been in the boxing game for most of his life. He had his first organized match at 8 years old and won the New York Daily News Golden Gloves at the Barclays Center at 17.
After spending four years in college, he returned to the ring, signing a pro deal at 21. He went on a tear, tearing through opponents.
Vargas quickly became an instant fan-favorite on Long Island, fighting nine of his matches at The Paramount in Huntington. In his debut, he produced the “loudest crowd ever” for the venue.
Then, he took a break to become a real-life superhero. He took 18 months off from boxing to enter the SCPD police academy, a lifelong dream realized, as he previously told GLI. He was part of SCPD’s 185th recruitment class.
“The [SCPD] has been extremely supportive of me being a boxer,” he said. “I already have a lot of people that I work with asking about the fight and wanting to come to support me.”
This May, he returned once again. In his comeback fight, he faced his most accomplished opponent, Mauro “El Rayo” Godoy, who had 37 wins, 8 losses, and 1 draw, with 18 KOs under his belt for an 8-round welterweight bout.
Vargas took care of business, winning via TKO in the 5th round.
Now, he wants what he has been yearning for since he was mimicking Mike Tyson’s trademark hooks in his basement while sparring with his father as a kid: to be a champion.
Vargas’ fight is a sold-out event. To watch online, click here.
Top: Alex Vargas fighting against Antonio Sanchez Hernandez on Feb. 28, 2020, at The Paramount in Huntington, Long Island, N.Y. (GLI Photo/Nicholas Esposito/File)
