LAS VEGAS – Emiliano Vargas turned 21 on April 16, and to celebrate the momentous occasion, Resorts World featured the second-generation star’s face on the exterior of the casino for The Strip to see.

The Mexican-American Vargas (13-0, 11 KOs) envisions being a major Vegas attraction for years to come, and on Sunday, “El General” will have another showcase opportunity to make his case as a future mainstay when he takes on Juan Leon (11-2-1, 2 KO) at the T-Mobile Arena on the Naoya Inoue-Ramon Cardenas undercard.

“Every fight is a coming out party for me,” Vargas told The Ring in an interview ahead of his Cinco De Mayo Weekend showdown. “My job is to look phenomenal and keep people's attention. The reason I’m not losing interest is that I’m knocking people's heads off. I have to continue to do that. My star and status is growing, and reaching the person who doesn't know about boxing is the main thing.”

With just 38 rounds under his belt, the three-year pro and blue-chip prospect is looking to stay busy. On March 29, Vargas knocked out Giovannie Gonzalez in two rounds, and he’s back at it five weeks later.

“I'm fighting more than a toxic couple,” said Vargas. “I'm happy that Top Rank is keeping me busy by putting me on these big cards. I love fighting in Los Vargas, Nevada. It doesn't get any better than that.”

Top Rank has already kicked off preparation to mold Vargas into a star. The son of two-time junior middleweight champion Fernando Vargas was recently featured at a press conference in Mexico, held a pair of media workouts and is being promised a co main-event slot in the near future. His fight against Leon will stream on ESPN+.

As his profile continues to grow, Vargas is mindful to learn from his father and now trainer’s mistakes, especially while navigating through life in Sin City.

“I don't drink at all. My father was an alcoholic,” said Vargas, who made it a point not to celebrate turning legal age with an adult beverage. “As I got older, I realized who I wanted to be and what I didn't want to be. I was able to see the good and bad with my dad struggling with vices. But my father was a man and decided to break the chain and quit alcohol. I commend him and look up to him a lot. I have an addictive personality. That's why I’m all-in on the sport of boxing.”

Fernando is pleased with the man his son has become.

“I’m super proud of him — he's me, if I never touched alcohol,” Fernando told The Ring. “It means a lot for us to be on this card. Emiliano is excited and dedicated to the sport.”

Emiliano hopes to evolve out of the prospect phase pretty soon, staying at 140 pounds through the end of 2027, and, by then, becoming a world champion.

“I know my skills and what I’m capable of,” said Vargas. “I’m going to continue to get better. I’m going to make them believe. I know I’m going to become a world champion. It's my destiny.”