Jessie Vargas says he’s a changed man since winning world boxing title

It wasn’t long ago that Jessie Vargas had little to say. He was soft-spoken, cliche-ridden and would stare at the floor while being interviewed.

But the Palo Verde High School graduate has grown up. He’s a world champion and oozes confidence. When he speaks now, it’s with a bit of swagger. He looks you straight in the eye when talking.

Vargas won the World Boxing Association junior welterweight title April 12 with a 12-round unanimous decision over Khabib Allakhverdiev. Tonight at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, the Las Vegan defends his belt for the first time, facing undefeated Anton Novikov of Russia in a 12-round bout on HBO.

“I think I’ve grown a lot,” Vargas said. “I’ve learned from watching others, and I believe in myself. I know I’m a winner. I have a winning mentality. I don’t think of losing.”

Vargas, 25, is 24-0 with nine knockouts since turning pro in 2008. He’s proud of that accomplishment and doesn’t fear having that perfect record blemished.

“How can you have fear when you don’t think you’re going to lose?” he said. “I expected to be undefeated.”

Vargas faces a stiff challenge in Novikov (29-0, 10 KOs), who has a bit of an awkward style, throwing punches from various angles. But Vargas said his trainer, Ismael Salas, has prepared a perfect game plan.

“They did their homework,” Vargas said of his team. “My job is to execute the game plan. We’ve worked a lot on improving my fundamentals, and I’m going to come in stronger and in better shape. You won’t see the same Jessie Vargas.”

Vargas said winning the title in April changed him.

“I have a different outlook on things,” he said. “I feel I have a responsibility to carry myself in a respectful manner. I want to be a good role model for the youth of Las Vegas, and I want to show them that if you work hard and believe that you can achieve your dream.”

His manager, Cameron Dunkin, also notices the change.

“They say when a man wins a title, he becomes 50 percent better,” Dunkin said. “Jessie isn’t satisfied with just being a world champion. He wants to be known as a great fighter.

“The night he won the title, it was very emotional for me. When Jessie came to me a couple of years ago to manage him, I told him he could win a title if he trained hard, listened to the right people and trusted me. It’s a great feeling when you can deliver on your promise and help take him to the top.”

Vargas will make $150,000 for tonight’s fight; Novikov will get $105,000. The nice payday is one perk of being a champion, but Vargas knows even bigger paydays await if he keeps his title.

“I want to be the best fighter in the world, but I also want to be a smart businessman,” Vargas said. “I’m watching my money, trying to make smart, small investments and put myself in a position to make bigger investments in the future.”

Vargas began boxing at age 8 because he was being bullied in his North Las Vegas neighborhood. His father wanted him to be able to defend himself, and while at Richard Steele’s Nevada Partners Gym, Vargas quickly took to the sport.

Once his adversaries saw Vargas could defend himself, they stopped bullying him.

But he never forgot, and now is an anti-bullying advocate. When he speaks to youth groups, he always brings up the subject and reminds the kids that bullying is not an acceptable form of carrying yourself.

And when he brings that championship belt as proof of what’s possible, he gets instant respect.

“It’s an important cause for me,” Vargas said. “You see what kids go through these days with everything going on with social media. Everyone wants to be liked. I tell kids it’s not cool to be a bully, to pick on someone. Hopefully, they’re getting the message.”

Novikov is the first one to try to take the title. At Thursday’s final news conference to promote the fight, Vargas warned him not to even think about touching what is his.

“I don’t even want him looking at it,” Vargas said.

But Novikov has other ideas.

“I think all the pressure’s on (Vargas),” he said. “My job is to go out and win every round and not leave any doubt in the judges’ eyes who’s the better fighter.”

Both fighters made weight Friday. Vargas came in at the 140-pound limit, and Novikov weighed 139.4.

The first bell for the eight-bout card is scheduled for 4 p.m. The HBO telecast begins at 6:45.

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