Jan 15, 2016 4 min read

This time, Sammy Vasquez Jr., will not be the hometown favorite.

He won’t be the boxer with the home-ring advantage.

This time, Vasquez heads into what could be hostile territory.

No matter, the undefeated Monessen native thinks the end result will be the same and he will take the next step in what has been an exciting and undefeated professional boxing career.

“I can call out anybody,” said Vasquez, who lives and trains in Colorado. “But you have to fight somebody and you have to beat them.”

Vasquez (20-0, 14 knockouts), will battle 34-year-old Aron Martinez (20-4-1, four knockouts) Jan. 23 in a key welterweight matchup at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Martinez is from East Los Angeles and is looking to move up in the ranks with a victory. The scheduled 10-round welterweight clash is the co-main event along with a bout between Danny Garcia and Robert Guerrero. The fights will be telecast on the series debut of Premier Boxing Champions on Fox. The broadcast begins at 8 p.m.

Vasquez won three times in 2015, including a fifth-round technical knockout of Jose Lopez on the campus of California University.

The Army veteran has a cult-like following in Monessen and around the Mon Valley as his interaction with young kids has created a family-like caring and enthusiasm for him among school-aged children.

“It’s always great to fight around your home town,” the 29-year-old Vasquez said. “I do it for them. The kind of excitement my fans bring is how you get noticed. It’s how they know you have a following and are marketable. In addition to my ability, the following we receive is huge.

“Because this fight is not in my home territory is really not a factor. I know some will make the trip. I know those who don’t will be watching.”

Martinez, who gained attention last year by losing a controversial split decision in June to Guerrero, a former world champion, and followed it with a unanimous decision over former world champion Devon Alexander in October, is a “brawler.”

Vasquez said his training regiment for the fight has been typical but admitted his camp has also focused on strength and power.

“We’ve done a lot of body work,” said Vasquez, who also had unanimous decisions over Emmanuel Lartey in Pittsburgh and Wale Omotoso last year. “We’ve worked on head movement and boxing moves.

“I will try to do what I can. It depends on what he brings. He might try to box. No way he can beat me just boxing, from what I’ve seen on video. He’s head forward and wants to wear you out. He gets in your chest.”

Vasquez knows Martinez has fought top competition throughout his career.

“He has a bigger name than me,” Vasquez said. “I think we’re on the right track. It supposedly is an elimination bout as we work through a bracket to a WBC (World Boxing Council) welterweight title. We’re on our way. We’re making noise.”

Martinez views the bout as a chance to gain stature.

“It’s going to be a great show,” Martinez told Fightnews.com. “I am ready for this. This is my hometown and I’m ready to put on a great show for everyone at Staples Center. It pushes me hard being the underdog.

“I just try to compete. I don’t call anyone out. I fight whoever they put in front of me. I try to give people a good fight. I’m a brawler. So when people leave the arena I want them to talk about my fight. We are ready for him, we know he’s undefeated, but he’s never fought someone like me. He’s had weaker opposition than me. I think my experience will lead us to victory.”

Vasquez said he will be prepared for whatever style Martinez brings to the ring.

He is confident, he’ll remain undefeated.

“I have a plan,” Vasquez said. “I’m a body snatcher and he leaves himself open in places. I want to take advantage of that. I’m a lot faster than him.

“I have a lot of confidence in myself and in our team.”