Fernando Vargas: A Long Way From Atlanta

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

By Cliff Rold - I remember my first exposure to Fernando Vargas (26-4, 22 KO). It was in the summer of 1996, in the pages of a Ring Magazine with a cover question of whether Lennox Lewis was tough enough to face off with Mike Tyson. The issue previewed the impending Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia and highlighted the then 18-year old fireball from Oxnard, California. He already had a chip on his shoulder and was already talking about the chance to fight Oscar De La Hoya.

It was that clear, that early. Vargas had the makings of a star. On an Olympic team that also featured Antonio Tarver, Eric Morel, David Reid, David Diaz and a kid named Mayweather Jr., Vargas was the personality that stood out right away. He’s also, according to his words, on his way out towards retirement little more than a decade later. If he holds to that, it’s been a hell of a ride.

Vargas missed medaling at the 96 Games. He never claimed absolute supremacy during his long, perhaps too long, stay at Jr. Middleweight. He didn’t earn a bust in Canastota. But I’ll be damned if Vargas didn’t fight.

Whether it was against rough titlist-level guys like Ike Quartey, Yori Boy Campas and Raul Marquez or against men whose careers are marked with World championships like Oscar, Felix Trinidad, Winky Wright and Shane Mosley, Vargas came to give as good as he got. [details]

[ferocity]

He always had a chip on his shoulder(he was a boxer you kind of have too) and always willing to fight anyone in the ring or street. Its crazy to see how far he has come in boxing and i used to train with this guy. I hope Vargas wins and retires and lives the good life. He always knew he was going to be somebody in boxing and you knew by the way he carried himself the he was somebody that you were going to be in a dog fight with if you challenged him. I hope Vargas gets a ko. Vargas by ko in 9.

[crold1]

I lean towards him winning and would be just fine with that

[ferocity]

I lean towards him winning and would be just fine with that

Me, too but you know someone is going to end up getting ko'd. I can't imagine either fighter going 12 rounds not because they can't but because they are the "seek and destroy" type of fighters that look for the ko.

One fight im also interested in seeing is Cintron v. Feliciano on the under-card. I've seen Feliciano fight a few times and the guy is tough, very tough. I don't know if he'll take Cintron punch but i think he'll give Cintron a tough fight for a few rounds. A long road for Feliciano and im glad that he's getting a title shot after putting in years of hard work. Good luck to Feliciano.