Undercard bout on the MVPW 02 card (prelims/ESPN+ approximately 6:30 p.m. ET / doors 6:30 p.m. ET; main card ~10 p.m. ET; exact ring walk TBD based on earlier bouts)
Venue: Infosys Theater at Madison Square Garden (The Theater at MSG), New York, New York
Fight Context and Fighter Profiles
This late-replacement undercard bout keeps the “undefeated vs. undefeated” theme alive on Most Valuable Promotions’ second card. Chicago’s Rani Jalomo (7-0-1, 4 KOs) steps in on short notice for the originally scheduled Ryan O’Rourke, facing hometown favorite Alex “El Toro” Vargas (14-0, 5 KOs) of Bellport/Long Island, New York. Both fighters are Star Boxing-aligned prospects looking to advance their careers on a nationally televised ESPN platform in front of a New York crowd.
Key Fighter Matchup Dynamics:
Alex Vargas (“El Toro”): Aggressive pressure fighter with solid power, high work rate, and strong body attack. The 14-0 veteran (5 KOs) brings hometown energy and experience to the Mecca of Boxing. He’s known for wearing opponents down inside and has looked sharp in recent outings, including a strong weigh-in at 144.2 lbs.
Rani Jalomo: 29-year-old orthodox fighter from Chicago (5’9″, 7-0-1, 4 KOs). A durable, gritty prospect with a current 7-fight win streak (one earlier draw in his pro career). He weighed in at 141.8 lbs and is bringing “Chicago grit” as a live underdog on short notice. Jalomo’s style emphasizes toughness and volume, but this is a significant step up in competition and spotlight.
The clash pits Vargas’s come-forward pressure and finishing ability against Jalomo’s resilience and counter-punching potential in what should be an entertaining 8-rounder.
Recent Form
Vargas: Perfect 14-0 record with five stoppages. Riding a hot streak of dominant performances, showcasing improved ring generalship and finishing power. He has looked sharp leading into this bout and is highly motivated on home soil.
Jalomo: 7-0-1 with four KOs; last five fights are W-W-W-W-D (draw in 2025). Consistent winner with solid activity, though most bouts have been against lesser competition. The short-notice call-up tests his readiness against a more experienced foe.
Both enter fresh with no recent setbacks.
Fight History
First professional meeting between the two. No prior amateur encounters noted. This was hastily arranged after O’Rourke’s withdrawal, preserving the prospect showdown on the stacked MVPW 02 card (headlined by Alycia Baumgardner vs. Bo Mi Re Shin).
Injury / Weigh-In Report
No injuries reported for either fighter. Both successfully made weight and were cleared to compete.
Vargas: 144.2 lbs
Jalomo: 141.8 lbs
The bout remains intact despite the late change and other minor card adjustments (e.g., one earlier bout pulled for visa reasons). Both camps are fully healthy and ready.
FIGHT ODDS
Rani Jalomo + 465
Alex Vargas – 800
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Thursday, April 16, 2026
