One might be a Mexican-American who has mixed with Hispanic gangs, Hollywood movie stars and some world-class world champions and the other might be a former doorman from Liverpool with a penchant for Everton tracksuits - but believe it or not, Fernando Vargas and Tony Bellew seem cut from a similar cloth.
For one, Bellew - as Vargas would be proud to say of himself - likes to "spit flames".
He appears to revel in hot, crackly press conferences where his mouth runs off some rough and ready words for his opponent. He stands tall and proud and refuses to back down.
That's an approach that was popular with Vargas, who had a crazy fanbase in his heyday, and appears to be doing Bellew no harm at this stage of his career. It's helped manoevure him, perhaps somewhat undeservedly, to the front of the queue to face WBO Welsh World Champion Nathan Cleverly.
The two had been slated to meet in May when Bellew was willing to step in as a last-minute replacement for Jurgen Braehmer, who had pulled out. The weight was too much to cut for Bellew but he left his mark after squaring up to Cleverly and labelling him a "f****** rat" on live TV.
Like Vargas - who was just 14-0 when he fought for a world title - Bellew has had a relatively short amount of fights, going unbeaten in 16. Similar to the former light-middleweight champion from Oxnaed, he packs a punch but has appeared reckless at times and paid for it when he visited the canvas twice against the underrated hot-and-cold Ovill McKenzie last year.
And like Vargas too, there's a feeling Bellew - for all his admirable passion and pride, not to mention ability - could be investing too much emotion in a fight when he takes on the colder, clinical Nathan Cleverly. Too much emotion can leave a fighter too exposed and vulnerable and that could well be the case with Bomber.
Will Bellew's investment in mind games pay off? The proof will be in the pudding when the pair meet next month in Bellew's back yard.
Bellew has provided the spice but Cleverly will no doubt feel revenge is a dish best served cold.
For one, Bellew - as Vargas would be proud to say of himself - likes to "spit flames".
He appears to revel in hot, crackly press conferences where his mouth runs off some rough and ready words for his opponent. He stands tall and proud and refuses to back down.
That's an approach that was popular with Vargas, who had a crazy fanbase in his heyday, and appears to be doing Bellew no harm at this stage of his career. It's helped manoevure him, perhaps somewhat undeservedly, to the front of the queue to face WBO Welsh World Champion Nathan Cleverly.
The two had been slated to meet in May when Bellew was willing to step in as a last-minute replacement for Jurgen Braehmer, who had pulled out. The weight was too much to cut for Bellew but he left his mark after squaring up to Cleverly and labelling him a "f****** rat" on live TV.
Like Vargas - who was just 14-0 when he fought for a world title - Bellew has had a relatively short amount of fights, going unbeaten in 16. Similar to the former light-middleweight champion from Oxnaed, he packs a punch but has appeared reckless at times and paid for it when he visited the canvas twice against the underrated hot-and-cold Ovill McKenzie last year.
And like Vargas too, there's a feeling Bellew - for all his admirable passion and pride, not to mention ability - could be investing too much emotion in a fight when he takes on the colder, clinical Nathan Cleverly. Too much emotion can leave a fighter too exposed and vulnerable and that could well be the case with Bomber.
Will Bellew's investment in mind games pay off? The proof will be in the pudding when the pair meet next month in Bellew's back yard.
Bellew has provided the spice but Cleverly will no doubt feel revenge is a dish best served cold.
