A.D. Ibarra
-San Antonio

    Jesse James Leija and Mike Battah were on hand Tuesday at Championfit Gym in San Antonio to promote Thursday's world championship fight as Golden Boy Promotions returns to the Alamo City with a special HBO Latino Boxing two-fight live telecast co-promoted by Leija-Battah Promotions.
    In the headlining bout, 2008 Mexican Olympian, undefeated WBO International and NABF Junior Lightweight Champion Francisco "El Bandido" Vargas (21-0-1, 15 KO's) will put his undefeated record and titles on the line when he faces off against Australian standout "Wild" Will Tomlinson (23-1-1, 13 KO's) from the Freeman Coliseum.
    The Eagle Pass News Gram caught up with Leija who informed us that this card which will air tonight is a perfect lead in to the big May 9th train wreck that will be the Canelo Alvarez-James Kirkland mega-fight at Minute Maid Park in Houston.
    "I have fought on HBO Latino before and it's a great jump start for fighters who want to be on HBO's main lineup.  It brings out the best in fighters who are on the rise" said the former world champion with serious ties to Eagle Pass, "I've been to Eagle Pass, I visited the high school there and I love Eagle Pass.  Two of my best friends are from Eagle Pass.  Michael Miller the attorney is one of my best friends and his brother Timmy is also one of my best friends.  So we want to invite the people of Eagle Pass.  It's just a short drive to SA and it's Spring Break.  Come enjoy the great fights at the Freeman Coliseum."
    The main event pits Francisco Vargas who has been training in the thin air of Mexico City and he says that will help him against Tomlinson who is considered an up and coming star in the boxing world.
    The News Gram interviewed the champion who had the following to say to fight fans in Eagle Pass:
    Danos un mensaje para la gente bonita de la frontera de Mexico y los Estados Unidos:
    "Bueno pues un saludo a toda la gente que esta pendientes y para pues invitarlos que vengan a ver mi pelea.  Va ser una pelea muy emocionante y estamos listos y preparados para darles una gran pelea.
    Juan Manuel Lopez o Genaro Camargo? Cual fue la pelea mas dura para ti?
    "Creo que Lopez.  Era un peleador campeón mundial con gran experencia.  Llegamos igual bien preparados y fue una gran pelea en Las Vegas."
    Que son las diferencias entre sus estilos y el estilo tuyo?
    "Bueno la primera era que el era zurdo y yo soy derecho.  El era un peleador knockeador y yo soy un peleador que va midiendo los peleadores poco a poco."
    Y como se pueden comparar al estilo de Tomlinson?
    "Tomlinson es un peleador fuerte y rápido.  Estuvimos preparando en eso.  Sabemos que va ser una pelea dura.  Estamos preparados para dar un buen espectáculo."
    Estaremos bien pegados a la television en EP y esperemos lo mejor para ti.
    "Pues muy bien, muchas gracias.  Hay le voy a echar muchas ganas para darles una buena pelea esta noche.
    We then met the challenger, Melbourne, Australia's biggest boxing export and future subject of a major motion picture, Will Tomlinson, who was in the company of his lovely girlfriend Tess.  She also lent a helping hand to our exclusive interview:

    Welcome to Texas:
    "Thanks, man.  Thanks for having me Texas, San Antonio."
    We were talking with Jesse James about Costa Tzu, what is it about the Aussie style of fighting?  He says you two are not going to need the ring as both of you will be right in the middle of it, is he accurate in that assumption?
    "He's accurate in that I didn't come over here for anything other than winning and obviously my style of fighting is being on my front foot and to be the aggressor in terms of what's happening in the fight.  That doesn't necessarily mean that I'm going to stand around and bang around stupidly.  I'm going to do everything I can to win, man.  I want to be smart in there.  If it means to bang it out, I'll do that, If I need to box and move, I'll box and move. Whatever I have to do to win, Bud."
    When was your last fight?
    "My last fight was December 4th down in San Diego.  I fought a Mexican kid named Miguel Zamudio and I knocked him out in the 8th round."
    Amazing!  What do you expect from Vargas in terms of his style of fighting and his style in the ring?
    "I expect a tough fight.  He's a very hungry fighter, he's also gonna bring it.  He's the defending champion.  He's got a lot at stake.  It's nothing personal.  There's no bad blood or anything.  I just want what he has.  His titles, his ratings, his credibility.  I'm gonna go and take it."
    Obviously Oscar De La Hoya, Jesse James and Mike Battah have that faith in you that you can move on to bigger and better things after this.
    "Yeah and that makes me feel good.  It gives me confidence in myself in what I'm doing that the world's biggest promoters are looking at me as a future star and are giving me the opportunities to put on shows, win fans and grow as a fighter and a promotional figure.  These opportunities don't come around too often and when they do, you grab on with both hands and that's just what I'm gonna do."
    Ok let's have a little fun now.  What part of Australia do you hail from?
"The best part of the world, man, Melbourne."
    Who's your favorite Australian music artist, AC/DC?  Midnight Oil?
    (Looks at girlfriend) What do we like, Jess?  I'm not really big on music to be honest with you.  I'm more into American music, hip hop and rap."
    Is that what you use to train?
    "I'll train to whatever's playing.  I like Mexican music.  I love being in the gyms in LA and that's all they've got playing in the background.  You feel like your in a good, tough gym."
If someone was going to play you in a movie about Will Tomlinson, who would play you?
"Brad Pitt.  Or Jason Statham!  What's his name?  Mark Wahlberg.  All the good looking ones!"
    So tonight on HBO Latino something's got to give.  In one corner the undefeated Mexican champion, in the other an Australian bulldog who wants to take what he has.  It should make for a very interesting fight that could be the fight of the year so far leading up to the May 2nd showdown between Floyd "Money" Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao!