Floyd Mayweather Jr. has found a new talent to promote after Gervonta Davis left his company in 2022. The boxing legend is now backing Jursly Vargas, a 20-year-old lightweight from Curacao, as the next big thing in boxing.
Mayweather started promoting Davis in 2015 when the Baltimore native had less than 10 fights. Their partnership lasted until 2022, when Davis left before his fight with Rolando Romero. Since then, their relationship has been tense.
Now, Mayweather's focus is on Vargas, nicknamed "The Gorilla." The young boxer, born in Curacao and partly raised in Rotterdam, Netherlands, made his pro debut in 2022 with a first-round knockout of Yanko Naydenov. Vargas signed with Mayweather Promotions just a month later.
Vargas has been on a roll, winning all five of his pro fights with four knockouts. His latest victory came against Uhlices Avelino-Reyes, whom he stopped in the fourth round.
Mayweather went on Instagram to drum up support for his new protégé. He wrote:
"Follow and congratulate @mayweatherpromotions fighter @jurslyy on his fourth-round knockout victory!"
Some boxing fans have noticed similarities between Vargas and Davis. Kevin Garcia, a reporter for FightHype, even called Vargas a "Tank Clone" because of their similar height, hairstyle, and speed. The main difference? Vargas is a bit heavier.
Vargas started as a kickboxer and switched to boxing at 16. He now trains at Mayweather's gym in Las Vegas, where he gets to spar with top-notch partners and work with attentive trainers.
The young boxer sees Mayweather as more than just his promoter. He said:
"We started traveling a lot together. Right now, I can call him and he answers. He always tells me what to do and what good decisions to make. He's a mentor, he's always there. He changed my life and I'm grateful to him for everything."
Vargas has set an ambitious goal: he wants to fight for a world title before he turns 21. With Mayweather's backing and his own talent, he might just make it happen.
It's clear Mayweather sees something special in Vargas. The boxing legend's knack for spotting and nurturing young talent could help Vargas become the next big name in the lightweight division.
