Split-T Management is pleased to announce the signing of another member of the 2016 United States Olympic Team, Antonio Vargas to a managerial contract. Vargas of Kissimmee, Florida was the Flyweight representative for the 2016 U.S. Team.
“I have known Split-T Management’s David McWater for several years. The people I know told me a lot of positive things about him. He showed me he was a good person and the man who can manage my career the way it should be,” said Vargas.
Said Split-T Management’s David McWater, “Antonio is just a special kid. Of course he has all the talent and physical tools, but he is so much more than that. He’s got incredible focus and determination. Not to mention, he is always very classy. I wanted to represent him since the first time that I saw him at the National Golden Gloves, and I know he will be a world champion.”
He was considered one of the best pound for pound fighters on the squad, and the most successful amateur of the team heading into the games. He was a U.S. Youth Open champion, U.S. National Elite champion, two-time National Golden Gloves champion and won the Gold Medal at the Pan American Games at the age of 18. Those accomplishments led him to be named the 2015 USA Boxing Male Athlete of the Year.
In the 2016 Olympics, Vargas lost to eventual Gold medal winner Shakhobibdin Zoirov of Uzbekistan.
Vargas will turn professional at either 115 or 118 pounds and his handlers believe that he will fight up to junior lightweight before his career is complete.
Vargas has a very exciting style, and he has taken traits from some of the best fighters in the world that he feels makes him a complete fighter.
“I would compare my style to Manny Pacquiao, Vasyl Lomachenko, and going back a bit, Orlando Canizales because all three had fast hands and feet with the ability to stop on a dime and unleash powerful shots to the head and body that can get you out of there.”
Vargas began boxing at age nine.
“I had ADHD, and was a very hyper kid that was always fighting and getting into trouble,” said Vargas. “One of my teachers actually told my parents to put me on medication. My father instead brought me to the boxing in gym in hopes it would help me burn a lot of energy and tire me out.”
“I told my teacher that I was on medication but it was actually boxing that helped calm me down so I could focus on my studies and stay out of trouble.”
As Vargas grew older, boxing became more of a future then just an activity.
“I won a lot of state tournaments, but when I won the US Youth Open Tournament at age 16, I realized I could make boxing my career. I was undefeated for 4 years, which I won several gold medals at the National Golden Gloves, U.S National Championships and Pan American Games.”
Vargas believes that all of his international experience will help him in the pros because he was exposed to the many different styles of boxing, and now he is extremely motivated due to his Olympic experience.
“The Olympics did not go as I wanted. I lost to the eventual gold medal winner. The loss made me real hungry and now I train harder than I ever did before because I want to be the best.”
“I plan on turning professional as either a junior bantamweight or bantamweight and win world championships in four different weight divisions. I am going to achieve greatness while glorifying Jesus Christ and to spread his word.
U.S. Olympic Star Shakur Stevenson Signs Managerial Agreement with Management Team of J. Prince, Andre Ward and Josh Dubin
It’s official. The brightest young star in boxing is turning pro, under the guidance of the managerial team of J. Prince, Andre Ward and Josh Dubin.
“It is an honor and a privilege to represent this young man. Andre, Josh and I know we have the next superstar in the sport,” said Prince. “Shakur is not only a gifted fighter, but someone that has the ability to be an icon. Our first goal is to sign him with the right promoter. Then, we will be with him every step of the journey toward greatness.”
Stevenson won a silver medal in the bantamweight division at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He entered the Olympics with a perfect 23-0 international record and is the first American male to win junior and youth world titles, as well as a Youth Olympic Games gold medal.
The oldest of nine siblings, Stevenson hails from Newark, New Jersey. Though he currently lives and trains in Virginia under the tutelage of coach Kay Koroma, he proudly represents his native city of Newark. Stevenson’s grandfather, Wali Moses, introduced him to the sport and he’s been boxing – and winning – ever since.
Stevenson commented, “I want to give a big thank you to my grandfather – big time – for getting me where I want to be as far as boxing and becoming the boxer I am today.
I want to thank Coach Kay for taking me in and coaching me and keeping me in the boxing environment when I moved away from Jersey. I’m excited for this journey ahead of me and my main goal is to be great!
I know I have a great team behind me with J. Prince as the head of it, working with Josh Dubin and Andre Ward. I know that these guys can get me where I want to be and I feel very comfortable with them behind me. I’m so focused and I promise to put 110 percent into making sure we become great as a team and I plan on becoming one of the best boxers on the planet – which is my main goal.
Now it’s on me to prove to the world that I can be just as great as the legends before me and trust me, I’m up to the task!”
