If Vargas had been protected like Cotto...

[SnoopySmurf]

...I believe he wouldn't be so ****** up today. He got pushed into Trinidad and ODLH too soon, IMO. If he had been given more fights and learned to use defense and not just all out offense, he'd still be the most feared warrior at 154. His best fight of his career was against Ike Quartey. He boxed beautifully and didn't over extend his offense. But that win gave him too much pride, rightfully so but it was the wrong kind. That fight set Vargas up for the wrong time to face Trinidad. Hell, even Trinidad called him a baby during the pre-fight hoopla.

Such a brave and courageous young man. He took on the big guns too soon and paid dearly. He almost won in each of them (I still think Oscar had those damn protectors way too high coz it nullified Vargas' body attack).

Look at Julio Cesar Chavez. He had around 45 wins before he took the title. Tutored and managed so well so he could be prefect every facet of boxing. If only Vargas had that. It's not entirely his fault though. Yori Boy Campas thought he'd pick an easy win. That was a fateful decision to fight Vargas. It was good in the short run and bad at the in the long run.


Anyway, I was just thinking "what could have been" for Vargas. I like the guy. He's a great fighter. But man, the wars were brutal.

[xKillingJokex]

Yeah he was pushed too fast too soon. Theres no denying that this guy is a warrior and was very exciting to watch. He almost had Trinidad , till he was hit with some low blows. Maybe if he had some more fights against some tough but not top tier opponents. He would of been more battle tested to fight against Tito and DLH.

[bigdlb12]

thats what happens when you let fighters pick their own fights

[scap]

...I believe he wouldn't be so ****** up today. He got pushed into Trinidad and ODLH too soon, IMO. If he had been given more fights and learned to use defense and not just all out offense, he'd still be the most feared warrior at 154. His best fight of his career was against Ike Quartey. He boxed beautifully and didn't over extend his offense. But that win gave him too much pride, rightfully so but it was the wrong kind. That fight set Vargas up for the wrong time to face Trinidad. Hell, even Trinidad called him a baby during the pre-fight hoopla.

Such a brave and courageous young man. He took on the big guns too soon and paid dearly. He almost won in each of them (I still think Oscar had those damn protectors way too high coz it nullified Vargas' body attack).

Look at Julio Cesar Chavez. He had around 45 wins before he took the title. Tutored and managed so well so he could be prefect every facet of boxing. If only Vargas had that. It's not entirely his fault though. Yori Boy Campas thought he'd pick an easy win. That was a fateful decision to fight Vargas. It was good in the short run and bad at the in the long run.


Anyway, I was just thinking "what could have been" for Vargas. I like the guy. He's a great fighter. But man, the wars were brutal.

Yes you are right Vargas was pushed to soon but his situation was what it was. Most young fighters dont have the option of making mega millions right out of the gate but with Trinidad how could you tell a 21 year old Nando to pass on the million dollar payday?

Was he rushed with Ike too?

How do you tell a kid to turn down a multi million dollar payday, especially when the kid is a 21 year old Fernando Vargas? Uou listen to guys like Cotto or Juan Diaz talk about how they are taking it slow and doinf whatever their promoters tell them but I think with Nando when he beat Quartey he thought he was the best jr. middle out there and Tito was the next logical fight.

With Cotto and Diaz even though they are doing well I dont believe that they have thought of themsleves as the best fighter in their divisions, Nando did and he simply went after the best.

Nando was a wild animal back then and you cant control a wild animal.

Point taken though had he of someohow been moved slower he may be better off overall and he may have given himself a better chance at Tito-but was Nando's style ever going to stay away from the left hook?

[SnoopySmurf]

Yes you are right Vargas was pushed to soon but his situation was what it was. Most young fighters dont have the option of making mega millions right out of the gate but with Trinidad how could you tell a 21 year old Nando to pass on the million dollar payday?

Was he rushed with Ike too?

How do you tell a kid to turn down a multi million dollar payday, especially when the kid is a 21 year old Fernando Vargas? Uou listen to guys like Cotto or Juan Diaz talk about how they are taking it slow and doinf whatever their promoters tell them but I think with Nando when he beat Quartey he thought he was the best jr. middle out there and Tito was the next logical fight.

With Cotto and Diaz even though they are doing well I dont believe that they have thought of themsleves as the best fighter in their divisions, Nando did and he simply went after the best.

Nando was a wild animal back then and you cant control a wild animal.

Point taken though had he of someohow been moved slower he may be better off overall and he may have given himself a better chance at Tito-but was Nando's style ever going to stay away from the left hook?

True. It's hard not to get involved when Don King is throwing millions at you. But I think this is where his trainer and promoter should have thought
about his 20 pro fights before setting him loose on Trinidad (who already had 38 pro fights, some with big names). I guess the Trinidads knew this was disadvantage for the young but hungry lion and laid the perfect trap for him : fight Vargas while he still doesn't have that much experience.

[riz]

i kinda agree except the part about protected like cotto. cotto has been promoted the mental way.
beat the last two guys to beat him (pinto, abduleav)
hes beaten the current WBA champ. KO'd 2 guys that mayweather went the distance with (corely, sosa). showed he could go 12, when he beat Ndou, which was much more conviciningly then mitchel did. and now taking on branco which is sum1 that gatti couldn't Ko

[cupcrazy01]

i kinda agree except the part about protected like cotto. cotto has been promoted the mental way.
beat the last two guys to beat him (pinto, abduleav)
hes beaten the current WBA champ. KO'd 2 guys that mayweather went the distance with (corely, sosa). showed he could go 12, when he beat Ndou, which was much more conviciningly then mitchel did. and now taking on branco which is sum1 that gatti couldn't Ko

Well put. Alot of people bad mouth Cotto's slow climb, but PBF and Hatton aren't going to fight him right now anyway, so he'd rather fight than sit on his ass. I commend that. Hopefully though, after he dispatches Branco, he will take on either Mayweather, Hatton or possibly Harris in an eliminator.

[SnoopySmurf]

Well put. Alot of people bad mouth Cotto's slow climb, but PBF and Hatton aren't going to fight him right now anyway, so he'd rather fight than sit on his ass. I commend that. Hopefully though, after he dispatches Branco, he will take on either Mayweather, Hatton or possibly Harris in an eliminator.

Well, I don't mean to sound like Cotto's record is padded. I think it's just a well laid out plan for an up and coming fighter. All great fighters started out fighting easy opponents. In fact, if you take their opponent's total records, thier losses outnumber their wins.

[BLOODSHED]

Great point, if Vargas was protected he'd still be here.

[onetwopunch]

He woudnt of been ****** up like he is today..but thats his style..El Feroz..fear no man, he beat Campas, Quartey, and he thought he could do the same againts Tito, and he wanted to prove that he could be a man and fight Tito and beat him at his own game. Who else would he have fought at 154lbs..he wanted to prove he was the best and fell short. Still a great fighter..but now he needs to take it easy, if he fights Mayorga he might have to retire he is not ready for Mayorga, he needs at least 3 more fights. Mayorga is still one of the best at 154lbs.