Vargas-Martinez to Air on ESPN

Las Vegas - Unbeaten world-ranked Jessie Vargas of Las Vegas makes his debut fight with Top Rank when he takes on Aron Martinez of Los Angeles in The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Thursday, September 13.

Vargas, 19-0, puts on his unbeaten record on the line against Martinez, 18-1, in a 10-round welterweight bout. Vargas is ranked WBA #9, WBO #10. He has wins over former world champion Steve Forbes and Josesito Lopez who recently defeated Victor Ortiz.

"I've felt a lot stronger - much more powerful - since I moved up to the welterweight division," said Vargas, 23. He is handled by Cameron Dunkin and trained by Robert Alcazar.

On the opening ESPN televised fight, unbeaten Luis Cruz, 19-1, of Las Piedras, Puerto Rico, will take on Jose Felix, Jr., 20-1-1, of Los Mochis, Mexico in a super featherweight bout.

Also, lightweight Terence Crawford, 17-0, of Omaha will face Hardy Paredes, 15-10, of Chile. Big punching heavyweight Andy Ruiz, 15-0, of Mexicali, takes on Maurenzo Smith, 10-2-2, of Houston.

Mikael Zewski, 15-0, of Canada will box on this card, as will hard-hitting Rudy Puga, 3-0, of Salinas, California.

Ticket prices are $100, $50, $25 and may be purchased at The Joint box office, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone 800-745-3000.

Doors open at 4 pm local time. The first bell is 5 pm.

Contacts:

Lee Samuels, Top Rank (702-732-2717)

lee@toprank.com

Ricardo Jimenez, Top Rank (909-615-3436)

rjimenez@toprank.com

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