Will Tomlinson: “I’ve got what it takes to beat Vargas”

 
WILL Tomlinson is the first person to acknowledge that sometimes things have to go wrong in order to go right.

 
At 28 years of age, the battle hardened Melbournian who now calls Los Angeles home, speaks with the poise of a veteran as he fast approaches the biggest night of his life.

 
Tomlinson fights for legitimacy and respect, with no easy yards given and definitely none taken.

 
On Friday afternoon (EDT) at the Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, Texas he faces a fighter that no one in the division is lining up to fight, undefeated WBO/WBC #1 rated super featherweight Francisco Vargas.

 
“It’s been a process, but a good process this time around,” said Tomlinson in an interview with Aus-Boxing.

 
“We came into camp nine weeks in advance to the fight date with everything agreed upon. I knew what I was working towards and I’ve been seeing the light at the end of the tunnel,”

 
Although he is signed to the biggest promoter in boxing, being Golden Boy Promotions, Tomlinson has seen the uglier side of the business. Since basing himself full-time in the US, Tomlinson has had to take fights on short notice as well as the in-depth negotiations that go hand-in-hand with the bigger fights.

 
With that said, Tomlinson (23-1-1, 13 KOs) has remained patient and kept working towards his goal of securing a marquee fight in the US. His patience was rewarded with due diligence and a career-defining main event on HBO.

 
“There’s no doubt that it’s a lot easier knowing you’re working towards something,” Tomlinson continued. “Let alone something this big, live on HBO in the main event.”

 
“It makes it easier to do those early morning runs, eating super clean, going to bed early and all that,”

 
“I’ve been able to enjoy it all more, so to speak.”

 
Having a sustained camp at The Rock Youth Ministry with head coach Niko Robledo has helped Tomlinson not only build confidence towards his biggest career date, but also a game plan that will come to fruition on the night.

 
“When I execute stuff in the gym that I feel like will work in training and sparring, it makes me more confident about the fight,” Tomlinson explained. “I know I have the moves and the ability to upset Vargas, it’s just a matter of making sure the moves come out on the night,”

 
“As I’m executing everything really well, I start to feel better and better for the fight. I know I’ve got what it takes to beat Vargas, its just a matter of bringing it out.”

 
“I’ve been sparring with four or five different boys so far.”

 
“It’s been a four week block of sparring at the Elite Pro Gym,” Tomlinson continued. “I’ve used Jessie Roman for more solid and heavier hit outs, cause Vargas is aggressive and strong to make sure we’re prepared for the hard slog,”

 
“We’ve alternated him with undefeated super featherweight Pedro Duran, who is a bit lighter and another young prospect. Mixing it up with them and some other younger dudes that work out at my gym has been great.”

 
Vargas, 30, is an aggressive and violent brawler, a style that Tomlinson has seen and fought many times before. Victories over fighters with that style – such as Mexican duo Alan Herrera and Daniel Ruiz – lead Tomlinson to believe he is more than ready to tackle Vargas.

 
“I believe I’ve had a good enough mix to get ready for Vargas. At the end of the day, I don’t feel like Vargas is a fighter that you need specific sparring for,”

 
“I just need to be conditioned to go with him for ten rounds,” said Tomlinson in closing.

 
“Vargas is not a tricky fighter who mixes it up and changes the pace, I think he’s a pretty one geared fighter – albeit a fast and hard gear – I don’t struggle with one gear and I don’t struggle with that kind of style,”

 
“I feel good about the fight.”

 
 
Photo: Provided/Golden Boy Promotions