Vargas not flinching from new opponent

Jessie Vargas is only 22, but he's quickly grown accustomed to the quirks of the fight game.

The unbeaten welterweight from Las Vegas learned last week that Alfonso Gomez had to pull out of their fight Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden because of back spasms.

Suddenly, Gomez was out and 35-year-old Steve Forbes was in as Vargas' opponent in a 10-round bout to be shown on the pay-per-view portion of the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Miguel Cotto junior welterweight title fight card.

Vargas had tailored his training specifically for Gomez, but said he's unworried about the late change of opponents.

"It has happened many times," the Palo Verde High School product said. "Maybe it's just bad luck. But I'll be ready. I can adjust to anyone's style."

Vargas (18-0, nine knockouts) is coming off a 10-round unanimous decision over Lanardo Tyner in the main event Feb. 24 at the Hard Rock Hotel. It was a nasty, dirty fight with Tyner trying to goad Vargas into abandoning his game plan and force him to brawl rather than box.

"I'm a very intelligent fighter; I can think ahead," Vargas said. "I'm glad I kept my composure. I knew he was trying to get inside my head. But I listened to my corner and they kept telling me to keep cool."

Robert Alcazar, who trains Vargas, was glad his fighter listened.

"It was a great learning experience for Jessie," Alcazar said. "When you're in the heat of battle, it's easy to get distracted. But he's a smart kid. He knew what that guy was trying to do and he didn't allow himself to be thrown off his game. I was very proud of him."

This will be their third fight working together and Vargas, who previously trained under Roger Mayweather, said he and Alcazar have gotten comfortable with each other.

"I see the difference," Vargas said. "He's teaching me all the little tricks and he's teaching me a style that I want to learn and build on. My balance and footwork is better and I'm looking forward to learning more."

Alcazar said: "It's no comparison. We work every day and he's been showing me how talented he is. We're working toward the future so he can fight and win a world title."

Saturday's pay-per-view appearance is another step toward that goal, as was Vargas' headlining spot in February.

"Being on pay per view for this card will blow up my exposure," he said. "But I can't wait until the day when I'm in the main event on a pay-per-view card."

Forbes (35-10, 11 KOs) took Oscar De La Hoya and Andre Berto the distance in 12-round bouts in 2008, but recently has struggled. He has lost twice in a row, the most recent defeat a 10th-round TKO by Karim Mayfield last June in Austin, Texas.

The Nevada Athletic Commission nevertheless approved using Forbes as a replacement for Gomze, and Vargas has no problem with that.

"I'm a very confident fighter and whoever they put in front of me, I'll be ready," he said.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.