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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ, July 24, 2000 - Undefeated IBF Jr. Middleweight Champion Fernando Vargas, one of professional boxing's 10 best pound-for-pound fighters, will make his fifth title defense on August 26, 2000, it was announced by Main Events COO Gary Shaw. Vargas will take on the IBF #1 ranked contender Ross Thompson in a 12-round bout at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, NV.

In a championship co-feature, undefeated IBF #3 ranked contender Vernon Forrest challenges IBF #1 ranked contender Raul Frank, in a 12-round bout for the vacant IBF welterweight title. Main Events is promoting the evening of boxing in association with Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. Both championship match-ups will be aired on HBO's "Boxing After Dark" series.

Tickets for this night of championship boxing are priced at $250, $125, $50 and $25 and are on sale now at the Mandalay Bay Box Office and at all Ticketmaster locations. To order tickets by phone call Ticketmaster toll free at (800) 474-4000.

Fernando Vargas (19-0, 17 KO's) launched himself into the "Top 10 pound-for-pound" rankings in his last bout against former WBA Welterweight Champion Ike Quartey. The 22-year-old Oxnard, CA native dominated Quartey to capture a unanimous decision (W 12). Vargas captured the IBF crown on December 12, 1998, when he dethroned Luis "Yory Boy" Campas in eight rounds (TKO 8). On July 17, 1999, Vargas battered former IBF Jr. Middleweight Champion Raul Marquez for 11 rounds to retain his IBF crown for the second time (TKO 11). The knockout victory, Vargas' 17th, ties the record set by undisputed Light Heavyweight Champion Roy Jones, Jr. for the "Most Consecutive Knockout Wins to Begin a Champion's Career." On October 16, 1999, the World Boxing Hall of Fame named Vargas their 1999 "Fighter of the Year." He has successfully defended his crown four times.

Ross Thompson (24-3-1, 16 KO's) has won his last four bouts. The 27-year-old Buffalo, NY native won his first 11 bouts as a professional, eight by knockout. In his last bout on December 18, 1999, Thompson decisioned Derrick Graham to win the WBA/NA junior middleweight title (W 12).

Vernon Forrest (31-0, 25 KO's) has stopped 12 opponents in one round. The 29-year-old Augusta, GA native who now resides in Atlanta captured the WBC continental Americas junior welterweight championship on November 7, 1997, when he floored Ray Oliveira on his way to earning a unanimous decision victory (W 12). Nine months later on August 18, 1998, Forrest knocked Adrian Stone down three times to win the NABF welterweight crown (TKO 11). He successfully defended the NABF crown four times, stopping three of those opponents. Forrest was selected "1998's Fighter of the Year" by the NABF. In his last bout on January 22, 2000, Forrest whipped former IBF Jr. Welterweight Champion Vince Phillips o earn a lopsided unanimous decision by the scores of 120-108, 117-111 and 117-111.

Raul Frank (23-3-1, 12 KO's) has knocked out his last five opponents. The 31-year-old Georgetown, Guyana native has won 11 consecutive bouts, seven by knockout. On October 10, 1997, Frank defeated Purcell Miller to win the vacant USBA welterweight crown (W 12). In his last bout on May 29, 1999, Frank crushed Alex Lubo in six rounds (TKO 6).