VARGAS DOESN'T DESERVE REMATCH
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF.(INSIDE BOXING) Fernando Vargas held a brief 30 minute press conference at the Beverly Hills Friars Club today. In his first public appearance since being destroyed by Felix "Tito" Trinidad most in attendance were waiting to hear Vargas’ version of what went wrong.
Instead Vargas took the opportunity to claim that the low blows delivered by Trinidad were delivered at times when he had Trinidad in trouble. He claimed that he didn’t think Trinidad was necessarily a "dirty fighter" but a smart one.
"I don’t know if I’d call him dirty. I think he’s tactical. I think he really had to hit low when I had him hurt. He was using his head…that’s smart in my book. He’s a great champion and a great fighter and he deserves to be champion. I just look forward to hopefully getting a rematch in the near future."
"I went there and fought the world champion, pound-for-pound the best fighter in the world and I showed him what I was all about", said Vargas. "Trinidad said that he was going to be fighting a kitty cat. He saw the difference. I want to do it one more time. Hopefully he feels the same way."
Trinidad wasted no time in showing Vargas that his prediction of a short fight was a serious one when early on in the first round a short left hook sent Vargas to the canvas for the first time in his career. Making sure Vargas knew this was going to be a long night Trinidad dropped him again with another left hand. Trinidad himself went down in the fourth round but that has become something of no surprise. Previous fights have shown that when Trinidad arises from knockdowns he is devastating. Vargas now realizes this.
True, Vargas showed he is no quitter. He fought until he was exhausted. The 12th round had Vargas going down 3 more times. The fight was stopped before any permanent damage could be done.
Vargas said he will be training for a rematch with Trinidad. Fighting someone other than Trinidad is not something Vargas was ready to discuss. He anticipates Trinidad is as anxious to fight him again as he is to fight Trinidad. WRONG! Vargas always needed Trinidad. Trinidad never needed Vargas. The IMPATIENCE of Vargas has cost him dearly. He will claim Trinidad is afraid to fight him. Trinidad will do what all seasoned professionals do. See how much money he can make by destroying Vargas again.
Fernando Vargas will have to make major financial concessions in order to get a rematch with the unified junior middleweight title-holder, Felix Trinidad. The "Trinidad Plan" had been laid out prior to the Vargas fight. Trinidad has stated that after destroying Vargas he was setting his sights on the middleweight division. William Joppy and Bernard Hopkins are the middleweight division title-holders awaiting the arrival of the talented Puerto Rican.
Fernando Vargas doesn’t deserve another fight with Felix Trinidad. Granted he is 22 soon to be 23 years old but he still has not learned the word PATIENCE. Having gone to the hospital and been beaten up and bruised like never before, he claims foul, calls it a smart tactic and then asks for a rematch. Reading between the lines one can assume that Vargas feels like he learned the low blow is a defense for being in trouble. He never once acknowledged his own ventures "south of the border". The fight was intense and both fighters were giving it there all. Vargas was outsmarted, outboxed and outclassed by Trinidad.
Vargas has learned nothing from his destruction at the hands of Felix Trinidad. He still wants everything…NOW. Given proper advice Vargas would look to have 2 or 3 fights against good solid opponents to gauge his talent. Looking to fight Trinidad immediately after such a brutal beating can do him no good. He is an excellent fighter. Few before him have dealt with their first loss being so devastating. Coming back to avenge such a loss is only natural but having learned something from that loss is just as, maybe even more important than immediately going back into the ring. He has come a long way in such a short period of time.
Now is the appropriate time to enjoy friends and family. Go on a nice long trip with the wife and children. Spend some of the money banked. Then come back and look at the big picture. Being young, he has no reason to be in a hurry. His marketability has risen as a result of his warrior mentality.
Another loss, and there would be another loss, to Felix Trinidad immediately after this past one could be devastating to Vargas’ mental as well as physical well being.Time off should help him reflect on certain things.
Trinidad now stands at 39-0 with 33 KO"s. He is 18-0 with 15 KO"s in championship bouts. The young Vargas is 20-1 and is 4-1 in championship fights. Felix Trinidad has had 4 times as many KO"s in championship fights as Fernando Vargas has had fights, period! A startling fact that the IMPATIENT Vargas should be made aware of and probably won’t acknowledge anyway when he returns to the ring.
Beating the likes of Ike Quartey, who fights every one 1or 2 years did not have him prepared for what "Tito" Trinidad brings to the table. Quartey asked for a rematch with Vargas and was laughed at. Vargas suggested nothing could be accomplished by beating Quartey again. The same laughter should be heard from the Trinidad camp as Vargas knew of the "Trinidad Plan". He had his opportunity and blew it. He must now re-establish himself in the boxing community. He must show some class. He must show PATIENCE.
Having said this, there is still one factor that overrides all common sense in these type matters. MONEY! Should the Vargas people agree to the financial concessions that Don King would demand there would probably be a Trinidad vs Vargas II.
Let’s hope there is someone advising Fernando Vargas that truly cares about him as a man. He is a father and husband first. A boxer second. The first should take priority over the second.
Maturity both in and out of the boxing ring. That is what a true world champion is all about. Will the real Fernando Vargas please stand up?