Circus Vargas

Each punch that boxer Fernando Vargas takes on Saturday will be felt by dozens of kids who train at La Colonia Youth Boxing Club.

“We’re all in a frenzy, in a tizzy, about this thing,” said Alex Flores, a supervisor of the club where Vargas began his career. “It’s a party atmosphere. Everybody’s planning on watching it.”

Vargas, the International Boxing Federation’s junior-middleweight champ, fights Felix Trinidad on Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The winner earns the junior-middleweight titles for both the IBF and the World Boxing Assn.

With the hometown champ taking center stage, the community is abuzz.

“This is a big thing right now,” Flores said. “Is he going to win? Is he going to lose? What are his chances? What do we think?”

Boxing club member Fausto Salas, 17, will have about 20 friends and relatives at his house to watch the fight. Whenever Latino boxers take to the ring, they get more attention from the community, said Salas, who expects Vargas to win.

“He’s representing for us,” he said.

Throughout the community, groups will gather to watch the pay-per-view event.

“My husband has his friends coming over,” said Olga Fernandez, an Oxnard recreation supervisor. “They’re talking about where they’re going to watch the fight, who’s going to bring the drinks.”

Luis Navarrete, 14, sparred at the club Thursday evening. He thinks Vargas will overpower Trinidad, a native of Puerto Rico.

“He looks stronger,” Luis said. “Almost everyone is for Vargas. I like his style.”

Requests for pay-per-view events soar whenever Oxnard natives such as Vargas or former IBF junior-lightweight champion Robert Garcia are on the card, said Cecilia Peraza, a manager for Jones Intercable, which serves Oxnard and Port Hueneme.

“It’s more than usual, than any other fight,” Peraza said. “He’s a local boy.”

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By Thursday, nearly 1,000 people had paid up to $44.95 to watch the fight, Peraza said. Many people wait until the last minute to order the fight. The number of orders at 5 p.m. today typically will double or triple before Saturday’s 6 p.m. fight time, she said.

Not everyone hopes Vargas will come out on top.

“I’m pulling for Trinidad,” said Tony Camacho. “I think Vargas needs a taste of reality to bring his ego down a little bit.”

Nevertheless, Camacho said, he will also pull for Vargas “because he’s from the community.”

Despite recent tension between Vargas and some Oxnard City Council members, the council made a point at its Tuesday meeting to wish Vargas luck. Councilman Bedford Pinkard, who helped found the boxing club, has criticized Vargas for not doing enough to help his old community.

But Mayor Manuel Lopez and other members said that win or lose, Vargas’ accomplishments would bring Oxnard into a positive national spotlight.

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“At times we criticize him, but he’s still ours,” Flores said. “We’re proud of him either way.”

While some laud Vargas as a hero, others think he is too arrogant. But generally everyone wants to see him succeed for the benefit of Oxnard and La Colonia.

“We’re all hoping he’ll do good,” Flores said. “He’s very brash, and that might turn out to be a benefit. . . . He’s a hero here. The kids really look up to him and respect him.”

Jovani Servantes, 12, planned to watch the action Saturday with his family.

“He represents Colonia,” Jovani said.

Other boxers like Vargas’ odds.

“I know him and he’s got a good chance,” said amateur boxer Marco Contreras, 22.

Vargas’ reputation lures kids to the gym to begin their training.

“Most of these kids come to the gym looking for the world champion, Fernando,” he said.