Rodriguez (23-0, 16 KOs) will become a three-division champion if he beats Vargas (19-1-1, 11 KOs, 1 NC) at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, on DAZN.

Rodriguez is also billed as the “Legend Slayer,” but beating the massive underdog Vargas won’t necessarily add to his aura the same way it did by taking down Juan Francisco Estrada, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, Sunny Edwards and Carlos Cuadras during his breakout run from 2022 to 2024.

“I'm the kind of guy that's never satisfied,” Rodriguez said during a recent training session. “When I win a fight, the next week I'm already thinking about what's next. I don't like to look at my accomplishments too much or pat myself on the back too much. I'm proud of what I've done, but I know there's a lot more I can still do.

“It did take me a while to get the hang of it once I started boxing, but after a couple months in the gym, I got a hang of it, and now I'm a master.”

Rodriguez is riding a five-fight stoppage streak, and last beat Fernando Martinez for the WBA 115-pound title in November, adding to his collection of titles in the division that already included The Ring, WBC and WBO belts.

But Rodriguez is done in the junior bantamweight division as he builds his body for an inevitable fight against 122-pound undisputed champion Naoya Inoue.

“Boxing's hard. I believe it's the hardest sport in the world,” Rodriguez said. “Not only because of the fighting part, but the training. People don't see this part. They only see when we step inside the ring on fight night, but 10-week training camps take a toll on you.

“As far as my motivation. It's my kids and my family now. My dream when I became a professional was to become a world champion, and I did that plenty of years ago. And now that I have kids, I feel like that's my motivation to keep going and give them a better life.

"One of the coaches told me the longer I box, the better life my kids will have. So, I keep that in my mind, and every day when there are days I don't feel like training, but that's what pushes me to keep going.” Manouk Akopyan is The Ring’s lead writer. Follow him on X and Instagram: @ManoukAkopyan.