Rey Geovani Vargas Roldán Bio
Rey Geovani Vargas Roldán, born on November 25, 1990, in Otumba, Mexico, is a Mexican professional boxer and a two-weight world champion. He held the World Boxing Council (WBC) super bantamweight title from 2017 to 2020 and the WBC featherweight title from 2022 to 2024. Known for his strong knockout ability and technical skill, Vargas debuted professionally in May 2010 and quickly rose through the ranks.
Early Life and Background
Rey Geovani Vargas Roldán was born and raised in Otumba, Mexico. Details about his family background are limited, but his early exposure to boxing began in Mexico where he developed his skills as an amateur. Vargas won seven national championships in Mexico and earned a gold medal at the 2009 Panamerican Championships. He also competed in the 2009 World Championships, where he was defeated by Luke Campbell in the first round.
Path to Boxing
Vargas transitioned from a successful amateur career to professional boxing in May 2010. Early in his career, he won the IBF Youth title in his 11th fight and demonstrated significant knockout power, winning 15 of his first 16 fights by knockout. His early professional years were marked by rapid progress and notable victories that positioned him for national and international recognition.
Rey Geovani Vargas Roldán Career
Early Career (2010–2016)
Vargas began his professional career with a strong knockout streak. In March 2014, he experienced his first knockdown against Sylvester Lopez but won the bout after Lopez suffered an injury. He also defeated former WBA super flyweight champion Alexander Muñoz in 2016 with a fifth-round technical knockout. By June 2016, Vargas became the mandatory challenger for the WBC super bantamweight title after a unanimous decision win over Alexis Kabore.
WBC Super Bantamweight Breakthrough (2017–2020)
On February 25, 2017, Vargas won the vacant WBC super bantamweight title by defeating Gavin McDonnell via majority decision in Hull, England. He successfully defended the title multiple times, including against Ronny Rios, Oscar Negrete, Azat Hovhannisyan, Franklin Manzanilla, and Tomoki Kameda. Vargas was known for his effective use of reach and head movement, as well as his ability to control fights at range. His defenses were marked by unanimous decisions and showcased his technical skill and resilience despite sustaining cuts from head clashes.
Featherweight and Super Featherweight Era (2020–Present)
In August 2020, Vargas was declared WBC super bantamweight champion-in-recess due to a broken leg injury. That year, he also left Golden Boy Promotions and signed with Premier Boxing Champions. He returned to the ring in November 2021 with a unanimous decision win over Leonardo Baez. In July 2022, Vargas captured the WBC featherweight title by defeating Mark Magsayo via split decision. He later moved up to super featherweight in 2023 but suffered his first professional loss to O’Shaquie Foster in a unanimous decision for the vacant WBC super featherweight title. In March 2024, Vargas retained his WBC featherweight title via split draw against Nick Ball in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Driving Style and Strengths
Vargas fights in an orthodox stance and is known for his reach advantage and technical boxing skills. He effectively uses head movement and combinations to control the pace of his fights. His knockout power and ability to maintain range have been key factors in his success across multiple weight divisions.
Notable Events and Milestones
Vargas’s career highlights include winning the WBC super bantamweight title in 2017 and defending it five times. His capture of the WBC featherweight title in 2022 marked his second world championship in a higher weight class. His first professional loss came in 2023 at super featherweight, a significant moment in his career. Vargas has also been recognized for his resilience in overcoming injuries and returning to championship form.
Rey Geovani Vargas Roldán Career Wins
Rey Vargas has amassed a professional record of 38 fights, with 36 wins, 1 loss, and 1 draw. Of his 36 victories, 22 have come by knockout, demonstrating his power and finishing ability. He has competed primarily in the super bantamweight, featherweight, and super featherweight divisions, achieving championship success in the first two.
WBC Super Bantamweight Highlights
Vargas won the vacant WBC super bantamweight title in 2017 and defended it successfully five times. His first title win came against Gavin McDonnell by majority decision. His defenses included notable wins over Ronny Rios, Oscar Negrete, and Tomoki Kameda. Vargas’s reign at super bantamweight lasted until 2020 when injury forced him into recess status.
WBC Featherweight Highlights
In 2022, Vargas won the WBC featherweight title by defeating Mark Magsayo. He successfully defended the title in 2024 with a split draw against Nick Ball. Vargas has shown adaptability and skill in moving up weight classes while maintaining championship-level performance.
Other Wins & Performances
Before capturing world titles, Vargas won the IBF Youth title early in his career and accumulated a series of knockout victories. His amateur success includes seven national championships in Mexico and a gold medal at the 2009 Panamerican Championships.
Rey Geovani Vargas Roldán Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
There is no publicly available detailed information about Vargas’s family background or any lineage related to sports or boxing.
Personal Life
Details about Vargas’s personal life, including marital status and children, are not publicly documented.
2025 Season Performance
Following his 2024 title defense and subsequent surgery for an undisclosed injury, Vargas was designated WBC featherweight champion-in-recess. Stephen Fulton captured the vacant title in early 2025. Plans for Vargas to return and face Carlos Castro were announced but later postponed due to scheduling changes involving Fulton. The outlook for Vargas’s 2025 season includes a potential return to featherweight championship contention once his recovery and scheduling align.