elgigante
03-11-2005, 10:38 PM
http://sportsmed.starwave.com/media/box/2000/0826/photo/aa_vargasko.jpg
Name: Fernando?El Feroz? Vargas
Record: 24-2(22 KO?S)
Weight Class: Middleweight
Key Bouts: Ike Quartey, Winky Wright, Felix Trinidad, Oscar De La Hoya
Olympic fighters from the United States have long had a record of becoming outstanding pros and Fernando Vargas is most certainly no exception. This exciting superstar from Oxnard California has proven to be one of the most exciting fighters in boxing over the period of the last decade. ?El Feroz? backs away from no challenge and even when facing adversity shows the heart of an Aztec Warrior.
After a successful amateur run that ended with a birth on the 1996 Olympic squad, Fernando Vargas turned pro in 1997 and quickly gave notice to the boxing world that he would be a force to be reckoned with in the P4P sweepstakes. Vargas steamrolled through his first 17 opponents, stopping all of them inside the distance. He would use this success to set up a 1998 IBF 154 lb title shot against rugged Mexican Yori Boy Campas. Campas has only lost twice prior to the bout, including a defeat to future Vargas opponent Felix Trinidad and was known for being a dangerous power puncher. Vargas would dominate Campas with superior hand speed and power en route to a 8th round TKO victory, making him the youngest Junior Middleweight champion in the history of the sport at age 21. Vargas would make five successful defenses of this belt including victories over Raul Marquez, who at the time was a extremely heralded fighter and one whom HBO thought was going to be a big star. Vargas battered Marquez into submission in round 11, pitching a shutout on the scorecards along the way. One impressive defense would come against a then unknown but now top 10 P4P?er Ronald ?Winky ?Wright. Wright and Vargas were even on the scorecards through round 9 by most accounts but Fernando would gut out a majority decision win by outworking Wright in rounds 10 through 12..
Another major defense by Vargas was against African sensation Ike ?Bazooka? Quartey. Vargas took on Quartey after he had just lost a controversial split decision to Oscar De La Hoya. Most media types and observers thought that Ike?s power was going to be too much for Vargas and that his propensity to trade was going to get him KO?d. Fernando proved his detractors wrong by putting on a boxing clinic against the ?Bazooka? , beating him to the punch and out jabbing him en route to shutting Ike?s eye and winning a Unanimous decision. One more minor defense would lead Vargas into a unification showdown with undefeated Puerto Rican superstar Felix?Tito? Trinidad.
The bout with Felix Trinidad in 2000 was a battle of two of Boxing?s young superstars at their peak. Whoever won the bout would be in line to make some great paydays fighting the likes of Oscar De La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins and whomever lost would be starting over again from square 1. Right from the opening bell it was apparent Tito was going to take this bout. Felix battered Vargas from pillar to post throughout the bout, knocking him down 4 times in the bout. Vargas though would show his warrior spirit by rising from getting dropped in round 1 and continuing to slug with Tito, even dropping him in round number 4 but it would all be for naught as Fernando would run out of gas in the final round and be dropped three times en route a 12th round TKO loss. This was Vargas first professional loss but he did not let it affect him for long.
Fernando would rebound with victories in 2001 over veterans Wilfredo Rivera and Jose Flores, the latter which earned him the WBA 154 lb title. This would lead him into a showdown with a fellow Mexican American sensation and a man who is considered one of the best fighters of this era, Oscar De La Hoya. The buildup to the fight was a very personal and bitter one. Vargas would often accuse De La Hoya of selling out his Mexican roots in the weeks leading up to the fight. This antagonistic strategy would backfire on Vargas, as he was dominated by a motivated and angry De La Hoya who went on to stop him in round 11.
After the De La Hoya fight, a combination of legal and health problems would limit Vargas to only two bouts over the past 2 and a half years. Now clear of his legal problems Fernando is stepping back into the ring on March 26th as a middleweight taking on top 15 fighter Ray Joval. Here?s hoping that the true ?El Feroz? will return as he is an exciting commodity for the sport of boxing.
Name: Fernando?El Feroz? Vargas
Record: 24-2(22 KO?S)
Weight Class: Middleweight
Key Bouts: Ike Quartey, Winky Wright, Felix Trinidad, Oscar De La Hoya
Olympic fighters from the United States have long had a record of becoming outstanding pros and Fernando Vargas is most certainly no exception. This exciting superstar from Oxnard California has proven to be one of the most exciting fighters in boxing over the period of the last decade. ?El Feroz? backs away from no challenge and even when facing adversity shows the heart of an Aztec Warrior.
After a successful amateur run that ended with a birth on the 1996 Olympic squad, Fernando Vargas turned pro in 1997 and quickly gave notice to the boxing world that he would be a force to be reckoned with in the P4P sweepstakes. Vargas steamrolled through his first 17 opponents, stopping all of them inside the distance. He would use this success to set up a 1998 IBF 154 lb title shot against rugged Mexican Yori Boy Campas. Campas has only lost twice prior to the bout, including a defeat to future Vargas opponent Felix Trinidad and was known for being a dangerous power puncher. Vargas would dominate Campas with superior hand speed and power en route to a 8th round TKO victory, making him the youngest Junior Middleweight champion in the history of the sport at age 21. Vargas would make five successful defenses of this belt including victories over Raul Marquez, who at the time was a extremely heralded fighter and one whom HBO thought was going to be a big star. Vargas battered Marquez into submission in round 11, pitching a shutout on the scorecards along the way. One impressive defense would come against a then unknown but now top 10 P4P?er Ronald ?Winky ?Wright. Wright and Vargas were even on the scorecards through round 9 by most accounts but Fernando would gut out a majority decision win by outworking Wright in rounds 10 through 12..
Another major defense by Vargas was against African sensation Ike ?Bazooka? Quartey. Vargas took on Quartey after he had just lost a controversial split decision to Oscar De La Hoya. Most media types and observers thought that Ike?s power was going to be too much for Vargas and that his propensity to trade was going to get him KO?d. Fernando proved his detractors wrong by putting on a boxing clinic against the ?Bazooka? , beating him to the punch and out jabbing him en route to shutting Ike?s eye and winning a Unanimous decision. One more minor defense would lead Vargas into a unification showdown with undefeated Puerto Rican superstar Felix?Tito? Trinidad.
The bout with Felix Trinidad in 2000 was a battle of two of Boxing?s young superstars at their peak. Whoever won the bout would be in line to make some great paydays fighting the likes of Oscar De La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins and whomever lost would be starting over again from square 1. Right from the opening bell it was apparent Tito was going to take this bout. Felix battered Vargas from pillar to post throughout the bout, knocking him down 4 times in the bout. Vargas though would show his warrior spirit by rising from getting dropped in round 1 and continuing to slug with Tito, even dropping him in round number 4 but it would all be for naught as Fernando would run out of gas in the final round and be dropped three times en route a 12th round TKO loss. This was Vargas first professional loss but he did not let it affect him for long.
Fernando would rebound with victories in 2001 over veterans Wilfredo Rivera and Jose Flores, the latter which earned him the WBA 154 lb title. This would lead him into a showdown with a fellow Mexican American sensation and a man who is considered one of the best fighters of this era, Oscar De La Hoya. The buildup to the fight was a very personal and bitter one. Vargas would often accuse De La Hoya of selling out his Mexican roots in the weeks leading up to the fight. This antagonistic strategy would backfire on Vargas, as he was dominated by a motivated and angry De La Hoya who went on to stop him in round 11.
After the De La Hoya fight, a combination of legal and health problems would limit Vargas to only two bouts over the past 2 and a half years. Now clear of his legal problems Fernando is stepping back into the ring on March 26th as a middleweight taking on top 15 fighter Ray Joval. Here?s hoping that the true ?El Feroz? will return as he is an exciting commodity for the sport of boxing.