Boxer Rod Salka got into the ring Thursday night against Francisco Vargas wearing shorts that said “America 1st” on the waistband.
Under the phrase were red and blue bricks to represent the wall that President Donald Trump wants to build.
Salka, 35, held his own for the first couple rounds, but things went south during the fifth round. Vargas landed a direct uppercut, sending Salka to his knees. Then in the next round a punch opened up a gash above Salka’s eye. That ended the fight.
Lmao enjoy getting plastered by a Mexican my guy pic.twitter.com/uQnETLC0vE
— Phil Lo Grey-co (@BoxrecGrey) April 13, 2018
Salka’s boxing record is now 24-5, with 4 KOs. He had won his five previous fights. Salka is also known for getting viciously knocked out in the second round of match against Danny Garcia back in 2014.
Vargas, 33, is now 25-1-2. He represented Mexico during the 2008 Olympics. He previously held the World Boxing Council super featherweight title from 2015 through 2017.
Back in 2016, Salka ran for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, losing to the Democratic incumbent William Kortz by more than 30 percentage points. He ran for the 38th district seat, which is in Allegheny County near Pittsburgh.
When he announced his candidacy, he said, “The military taught me a great deal about urgency. You can’t just get around to things. They have to be done quickly and done well. That’s the kind of urgency I want to bring to Harrisburg, where the current crew can’t get a budget passed. It’s not enough to just show up. You have to do your job.”
Salka enlisted in the National Guard back in 2001.
