CAN VARGAS SURVIVE SUCH A DEVASTATING DEFEAT?
LAS VEGAS (INSIDE BOXING) The "Aztec Warrior" as Fernando Vargas likes to be referred to has come to a certain crossroad in his young boxing career. Only 22 years of age he seems to headed towards a long and lucrative stint in the junior middleweight division…IF he can recover from the brutal beating he took from Felix Trinidad on Saturday night.
Boxing history has clear evidence that after being at the top
of their game while young, a devastating loss at the hands of a seasoned veteran
can sometimes mean the end of the road for a fighter who has never tasted
defeat. The true champions recover and become even more determined to find their
place in history.
Defining fights make the champion a champion. Leonard vs. Duran. Ali vs. Frazier. These were fights that were so close that a rematch was warranted.
Trinidad vs. Vargas was so close to being in that category. And then came the 12th round. Being a knockout victim surely leaves a bad taste in the mouth of Fernando Vargas but Felix Trinidad really has no need to ever fight him again. The deciding factor here is MONEY!
I doubt that these two will ever fight again but if the Vargas people put up enough cash…who can say what might happen!
Felix Trinidad has mapped out a plan to go up in weight class and make his mark. Fernando Vargas can control the junior middleweight division for a long while as his body is primed in this weight class for at least the next 4 or 5 years. But being impatient as he is Vargas will probably use everything in his power to get another shot at "Tito".
At this point Trinidad would have nothing to gain and everything to lose in a rematch with Vargas. Beating Vargas again would mean "Tito" would be financially secure in his homeland of Puerto Rico. But losing to Vargas would mean an end to his mapped out legacy in boxing history. Which of the two is more important to "Tito"?
Felix Trinidad is a legend and folk hero in Puerto Rico. He enjoys celebrity status unlike any other Puerto Rican. He has no interest in learning to speak English, as so many here in America insisted he do, as he felt no need to abandon his language just to satisfy non Spanish speaking people.
Look for Trinidad to continue his quest that leads to a showdown with the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world…Roy Jones, Jr.
Fernando Vargas showed himself to be very capable, but immature in the ring. It is still outside the ring where he lacks maturity.
Having proclaimed himself not only the best junior middleweight in the world but the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world one would have hoped that Vargas would step up to the podium and give proper accolades to Trinidad. Admit that he still has a lot to learn about the fight game. He has nothing to be ashamed of. He fought a fantastic fight.
This fight should be looked at as a learning experience. Instead Vargas chose not to give any interview following the fight. The physical and emotional toll on the young junior middleweight from the beating at the hands of Trinidad were given as excuses for not wanting to talk. This after having talked and talked and talked about what he was going to do to Trinidad. We all saw what happened.
There was no need to make any statement other than that on Saturday night Felix Trinidad was the better man. That’s it! Instead he chose not to want to give the credit where the credit is due. At this stage in Vargas’ career and in the junior middleweight division, Felix Trinidad is THE MAN!
That’s to put it plain and simple.