The World Boxing Association (WBA) is a sponsor to former world champion Fernando “Feroz” Vargas and his new foundation that aims to give kids a place to train and box.

The opening event was held on November 4th in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Vargas was available to talk about his new gym and what it meant to him.

Vargas explained that he was very excited about it and excited to give kids a fighting chance. He was very pleased that city officials and elected officials came out to support the inauguration and opening ceremony of the gym.

Vargas explained that he can connect with kids because he “knows where they want to go” and he has been in their shoes before, aspiring to become a star and further said, “I can guide them and tell them what things to do and what things not to do.”

He has 60-70 kids in his gym currently and the WBA is fully on board as a sponsor to his nonprofit organization that aims to help youth while simultaneously helping them though the sport of boxing. It goes hand-in-hand with the WBAs campaign to “KO Drugs”.