Iraq veteran Sammy Vasquez puts unbeaten record on line

Sammy Vasquez has served two tours of duty in Iraq, so when he steps into the ring today to fight Wale Omotoso at the MGM Grand Garden, fear will be the last thing on his mind.

The unbeaten welterweight has managed to keep a healthy perspective on what he does. A former member of the Army National Guard, Vasquez was in Iraq in 2005 and 2006 and again 2008 and 2009. He saw a lot of death and destruction while serving as a scout and reconnaissance security for forces on the ground first in Habbaniya and later in Taji.

“I saw a lot of death — on both sides,” Vasquez said. “I suffered a concussion during my second tour, and every day, you didn’t know if you’d live.

“When I came home, it took me a couple of months to readjust. I was on edge. I couldn’t go into a Wal-Mart because there were so many people.

“But boxing helped me get back to normal, and I’m pleased with how my career has gone. I’ve got a great team behind me, and when I signed with Al Haymon in January, he told me what he would do for me, and so far he’s kept his word.”

Vasquez (18-0, 13 knockouts) said boxing found him as a kid. He was the target of bullies growing up in Pittsburgh, and his father brought him to the gym to teach him how to defend himself.

Boxing turned out to be the perfect transition from the military, allowing Vasquez to work out his frustrations from what he dealt with in Iraq.

The 10-round bout against Omotoso (25-1, 21 KOs), which will be televised by CBS, marks Vasquez’s second appearance in Las Vegas. In 2013, he stopped Leandro Albornoz in the second round at the Hard Rock Hotel.

“It’s an honor to be on this card,” Vasquez said. “The MGM Grand is the mecca of boxing, and I’m glad to be back fighting in Vegas.”

■ MAGDALENO’S PLANS — Las Vegan Diego Magdaleno will have trainer Joel Diaz in his corner for his 12-round lightweight main event fight against Jose Gonzalez on Friday in Hidalgo, Texas.

Diaz has been preparing Timothy Bradley for Saturday’s fight against Jessie Vargas at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., but he agreed to skip Friday’s weigh-in for Bradley to work Magdaleno’s corner for the truTV fight.

“It’s huge,” Magdaleno said. “At first, I didn’t think he’d be able to be there. But Tim told him to be with me, and that’s the kind of guy Tim is. He’s special. He knows how important it is to have Coach in the corner. It’s not the same with anyone else.”

It’s an important fight for Magdaleno (27-1, 11 KOs), who will meet a rugged veteran in Gonzalez (24-1, 19 KOs). The World Boxing Organization’s vacant international lightweight title is at stake, and it’s an opportunity to position himself for a world title shot this year.

“It worked out pretty well,” Magdaleno said. “But now I have extra incentive to win this fight. I don’t want to let Joel down.”

■ MOSLEY JR. ON BKB3 — Shane Mosley Jr. has been added to Saturday’s Big Knockout Boxing card at Mandalay Bay. He will face Jason Kelly of Boston on the undercard of BKB3. The main event on the seven-bout card matches Julian Pollard and Tyrone Spong in the first BKB heavyweight title fight.

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