The son of world champion Fernando Vargas spent 13 months in prison: how he saved his career.

Fernando Vargas Jr. changes his life after prison

According to The Sun: Fernando Vargas Jr. realized he had to change his life when he saw the expression on his mother's face after the verdict was announced.

The son of the former world champion risked losing his chance to become a star, falling under the influence of bad company.

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However, by promising to dedicate his life to boxing (even using mattresses in prison for training), Vargas Jr. was given a second chance.

The 28-year-old boxer is one of three young talents in the boxing world and the older son of the former welterweight champion.

Yet at 21 years old, Vargas Jr. found himself behind bars, spending 13 months there without ever revealing the reason for his imprisonment.

“I felt like I was breaking my life. I would have never believed I would get a second chance,”

he noted on the BURN FACTORY podcast.

“I went to court and heard them say, and I thought, ‘What? Months? Years?’ I was in shock,” he added.

Vargas Jr., who turned his back on boxing ambitions, fell under bad influence growing up in Southern California and was struck when he saw his mother's face in court.

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“I was in handcuffs, and when I had to turn and see her face, it was just hopeless,”

Vargas Jr. said.

He realized that boxing was his way out and was not going to let anything stop him, even while behind bars.

The American made glove substitutes out of twisted mattresses and his cellmates' slippers for training.

“It really got me thinking that I had to box. I told myself that then,”

Vargas stated.

“I was twisting mattresses, people held them, and I hit them. I did rounds, 30 seconds, people had slippers from the shower.”

“People probably thought, ‘What is this guy doing?’ But I knew what was waiting for me.”

“I came out and said, ‘I have to give my heart to boxing.’ There was no plan B,”

he said.

After being released, Vargas Jr. got a job in excavation, balancing heavy physical labor with training. He would wake up at 4 AM, start his shift at 5 AM, return home at 2 PM for a nap, and at 6 PM he would head to the boxing gym.

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Vargas Jr. was often so tired that he would sleep in the bathroom during work, but he was finally committing to boxing.

“I didn’t want to box, it was just something I could do,”

he admitted.

“But when I came out, I qualified for the last chance, won the Golden Gloves and just started working.”

Vargas turned professional in 2020 and built a record of 17-0, becoming one of the most promising boxers in the 154-pound weight class along with brothers Emiliano and Amand.

The most important night of his career will happen on Saturday when he steps into the ring against Irishman Callum Walsh, who has a record of 14-0, during an event featuring Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and Terence Crawford.

“I know that this opportunity that I got on September 13 means more to me than it does to him,”

Vargas summarized.

“Everything I've been through, all the tears, everything I've experienced, was for this moment.”

Getty Fernando Vargas Jr. is an example of how a hard path can transform a life. His dedication to boxing, despite tough circumstances, demonstrates strength of spirit and loyalty to his dreams. Now, as he prepares for an important fight, all his efforts ahead could lead to incredible results, as this moment is the result of many hardships faced.