Augusta's sports scene during Masters Week just became a little more crowded.

Rayonta Whitfield, ranked No. 2 in boxing's flyweight division by the WBO, will take on Manuel Vargas in an eliminator bout April 9 at Bell Auditorium.

The fight is part of ESPN2's Wednesday Night Fights series and coincides with ESPN being in Augusta that week to televise the first two rounds of the Masters Tournament and Par-3 Contest.

Whitfield, who is 20-0 with 10 knockouts in his professional career, is looking forward to fighting in his hometown for the third consecutive year.

"I get up for fights like these," Whitfield said during a news conference Thursday. "I feel like I have to prove something."

Promoter Brian Young, of Prize Fight Boxing, said this will be Whitfield's biggest challenge to date. Vargas has won 23 consecutive fights and is ranked No. 9 in the world.

"This is for all the marbles," Young said.

The winner between Whitfield and Vargas (24-2, 10 knockouts) will be the mandatory challenger for both the WBO and IBF flyweight titles and will be ranked No. 1 in the world.

In his most recent fight, Whitfield defeated Kevin Hudgins by unanimous decision in an eight-round bout in Tunica, Miss. In his previous Augusta fights, Whitfield defeated Evaristo Primero by unanimous decision in 2006 and beat Jair Jimenez by TKO in the second round in 2007.

Reach John Boyette at (706) 823-3337 or john.boyette@augustachronicle.com.

FIGHT FACTS

WHAT: Wednesday Night Fights, six-bout card featuring Rayonta Whitfield vs. Manuel Vargas

WHEN: April 9

WHERE: Bell Auditorium

TICKETS: Go on sale Monday, beginning at noon, at James Brown Arena box office, all Ticket-master locations and ticketmaster.com. Cost is $40 ringside, $20 floor and ringside balcony and $15 balcony.