Jessie Vargas has had quite the accomplished boxing career. As an amateur, he was a two-time U.S. junior national champion, a two-time Mexican national champion, and he also was a member of the 2008 Mexican Olympic team. As a pro, he has a 29-2-2 record, and has held world titles at the super lightweight and welterweight divisions.
Vargas says those accomplishments wouldn’t be possible without his parents. As part of DAZN’s Voices from the Ring series during Hispanic Heritage Month, Vargas recounts how big a role his parents played in shaping his boxing path, and describes the importance of his Mexican heritage.
‘I give my parents all the credit for asking the best of me’
By Jessie Vargas
Boxing became part of my life at a very young age. I was only 8 years old when I first entered a boxing gym. My reason of joining was learning self-defense. I knew it would be necessary growing up in a tough neighborhood. My parents also had a reason — they wanted to impose an afterschool activity to keep me busy in a positive way and away from bad influences. I’ve had a lot of success in the sport of boxing, but there have also been tons of struggles and sacrifices along the way.
Growing up I didn’t get to see my dad much. He worked two jobs to provide for us, but we always had my mother to care for my sister and me. She was my father’s eyes and ears in the boxing gym when he wasn’t there, and he would get the 411 update on how good or bad the training was. When my father found out about the bad days, he would really give me some harsh words in an aggressive tone to focus on improving and to never settle. The days I didn’t do well, he would escort me to the gym himself the following day to make sure that I would perform the best way possible. One thing I remember is my dad forcing me to give it my best each day in the boxing gym. He would say, “It’s a dangerous sport, and if you’re going to go through with it, you have to be committed. If not, just quit now.” I loved the sport too much to quit.
There were several times where I wasn’t on the same page with my father, and it always had to do with boxing. I remember quite vividly a scenario when my dad woke me up in the morning to run at our nearest park. I wasn’t a morning person — but who is at 8 years old. I was ordered to go for a run, and that infuriated me to the point where I cried out of frustration. Running was something I didn’t enjoy, but eventually I understood that sacrifices needed to be made. That’s when my hard work began. I always stayed disciplined, which made me standout from the rest of the kids training in the gym. Mixing discipline with talent made for a positive story.
VOICES FROM THE RING SERIES: Amanda Serrano | Andrew Cancio | Seniesa Estrada
Growing up, boxing kept me busy. There were times where I made friends who weren’t the best influence on me. I tried my best to choose my friends wisely. It didn’t happen immediately, it took time, and eventually I would make the right decisions. There were times when my friends would offer me drugs, and that’s something I was terrified to touch. I feared all the facts and stories I learned in school and knew it destroyed people’s lives. I decided to avoid those friendships. Other friends would party, and I have to admit that I was a little guilty when it came to the high school parties with my friends. My father had to have a little talk with me when he noticed I was being distracted. He said one simple statement: “Would you like to work your entire life like me following orders from your bosses, or do you prefer to be your own boss, become a world champion and retire without ever having to worry about working a day in your life. To get to live life as a champion takes some sacrifice, Jessie.” It was deep and made a lot of sense. He put it in a way where I visualized what he was saying.
One thing that we encountered in many occasions was problems with managers of the boxing gyms. Some wanted everyone in the gym to be at their mercy at all times, and others wanted the parents to leave their kids under their full guidance during the time at the gym. We witnessed many unfair circumstances with boxing fights, where some kids would get hurt. Some trainers had favoritism with certain kids, and others just didn’t have the simple knowledge or care enough to protect the kids in general. My parents were always very attentive. They weren’t intimidated to stand up for me if they needed to, and trainers despised it. My parents always put me in a position where I would continue to elevate my skill as a fighter.
It wasn’t always boxing, though. Growing up in a Mexican family, it was common for our families to have parties and family reunions often. The best part of the family parties was the amazing food my mother and aunt would cook. It remains a tradition to this day.
After becoming national champion in numerous occasions in the U.S., I decided to make the Mexican national team, as I was always proud of my heritage. I completed my goal of making the team, and it came with many sacrifices, such as living abroad away from my family at the age of 17. It was a solitary year. All I had was boxing and a dream. I was living alone in a country I had never lived in. I knew that making the Mexican national team would help gain the international experience I needed in my boxing career. Competing internationally was something that I really enjoyed. Some fights I lost, others I won, but the one thing about them was that they were always entertaining for the people watching, which I was proud of. I would always give it my all, and it remains the same to this day.
The pursuit of boxing worked out for me since I am currently an accomplished two-division world champion. The next immediate step is to become a three-division world champion. I give my parents all the credit for asking the best of me. If it wasn’t for them teaching me the power of hard work, determination, sacrifice, belief and all the rides to the gym, it would have been difficult to get to where I am.