By Francisco Salazar

Things balance out in life, especially in boxing.

Jessie Vargas may be an example of that.

Vargas has been criticized for decision victories that have gone his way and the merry-go-round of trainers that have worked with him in recent years.

Then came the Timothy Bradley fight last June, when he believes an error by referee Pat Russell cost him an opportunity to become a two-time world titleholder.

That is in the past. Vargas believes he has evolved into a more diverse fighter, both psychologically and physically.

He will attempt to prove that tonight when fights Sadam Ali for the vacant WBO World welterweight title at the DC Armory in Washington, D.C. The 12 round bout will precede the 12 round heavyweight bout between Luis Ortiz and Tony Thompson.

Both bouts will be televised live on HBO, beginning at 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT.

It will be more than eight months since Vargas has stepped inside the ring. After unsuccessfully angling for a rematch against Bradley, the opportunity presented itself to face Ali for the vacant title. Bradley vacated the title last month and is fighting Manny Pacquiao on April 9.

After the long layoff, Vargas (26-1, 9 KOs) is glad to fight again.

“I’m just happy to be back in the ring,” Vargas told krikya360.com over the phone on Thursday. “I’ve prepared myself well with a great team around me. I’ve never felt my body feel this good. I’m stronger and faster than ever before. I feel very comfortable.”

More so than the Bradley fight?

“I take no credit from Tim,” said Vargas, who resides in Las Vegas and is promoted by Top Rank. “He has a unique style and, more than anything, I learned about myself. I learned I have to listen to my body because no knows me more than myself. There’s times where I know how hard to push myself and when I need to rest and recover. My trainer prepares a strong regimen every time we work and when it’s necessary to push to my limits.”

That trainer is Dewey Cooper, a longtime trainer in the Las Vegas area. Vargas has known Cooper for many years, even training with him as an amateur. Vargas has received criticism for working with numerous boxing scribes for working with many different trainers, which have included Roger Mayweather, Roberto Alcazar, Ismael Salas, Roy Jones, and most recently, Erik Morales.

It was only natural for Vargas to work with Cooper.

“I reached out to him. I personally called him. We worked for a few days and we worked really well together. I realized this is the man I should’ve worked with. Who better to know me as a fighter and a person than someone who worked with me when I was an amateur? He knows me very well and he’s a smart boxing guy.”

“I thank each trainer for the knowledge they passed on to me. They’ve helped me in one way or another. I know the switching of trainers is what fans have criticized, but they don’t know the story. Mayweather is a great trainer, but fell ill and could only work with me one or two days a week. Alcazar was great, but couldn’t leave his hometown. Ismael Salas was presented a lot of money to train fighters in Europe. I learned a lot from Roy, but he had his commitments aside from training. What was I supposed to do?”

He will have Cooper in his corner when he faces Ali, who has not fought since April 25 of last year when he won a 10 round unanimous decision over Francisco Santana.

Some in boxing may give Ali the edge to defeat Vargas tonight, but Vargas believes his advantages will allow him to be victorious.

“I have experience, power, speed, and mental toughness. What I possess is better than what Ali has. He’s a good boxer, but he’s faced guys who are slower than he is. Saturday night, it will be a different ballgame.”

“I’ve never abandoned my dreams of winning a world title. I’ve never felt so confident. I can only see myself winning a world title on Saturday night.”

Francisco A. Salazar has written for krikya360.com since September of 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (CA) Star newspaper, RingTV, and Knockout Nation. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing