Felix Vargas is the story’s second protagonist, the best friend and “amigo brother” to Antonio. In contrast to the long and lean Antonio, Felix is “dark, short, and husky” (123). He wears his hair in an Afro, and his stocky frame makes him a powerful slugger at close range. His fighting style as a direct, heavy hitter is reflected in his personality and in his friendship with Antonio: Felix often initiates the story’s action, both in the boys’ relationship and in the ring. 

When the boys learn that they will be fighting against one another in the division finals, Felix is the one who finally addresses the tension between them. While Antonio is worried about how the fight will affect their relationship, Felix seems more preoccupied with how their friendship will affect the fight. He tells Antonio that he “[wants to] win, fair and square” (126), and he makes his friend promise that they will enter the ring as “two heavy strangers that want the same thing and only one can have it” (127); there must be no going easy on one another. To help them both process the situation, Felix decides to stay with his aunt in the Bronx so that he won’t have to see Antonio in the days leading up to the fight. 

The night before the fight, Felix psyches himself up by imagining Antonio as an opponent who needs to be defeated. He watches The Champion with Kirk Douglas, seeing himself as “the champion” in the lead role and Antonio as “the challenger.” He imagines “blasting Antonio against the ropes” until his friend falls into “a broken bloody mess” (129-30), creating a stark contrast to Antonio, who tries not to think of his friend at all. Despite this violent preparation, Felix also goes to sleep praying for a quick knockout to spare Antonio unnecessary pain, illustrating the conflict he feels between fighting like a good boxer and behaving like a good friend. 

In accordance with his more direct nature, Felix makes the first move in the fight. With his stockier build, Felix has less reach, but his “dynamite-packed fists” are powerful at close range (131), so his strategy is to “[rush] Antonio like a bull” and get in close (137). He “plays possum when hurt” (137), hoping to lure his opponent into the range of his powerful fists. When Antonio lands a strong first punch, Felix’s worry that his friend will go easy on him is “neatly dispelled.” The fight is as bloody as Felix could hope for, yet the amigo brothers’ friendship survives.