MOSLEY TKO’S VARGAS IN 10
By Ron Brashear
Inside Boxing Writer/Columnist

LAS VEGAS (IB – February 25, 2006) – From the Mandalay Bay Resort, and televised on HBO’s PPV, the co-promoted event by Golden Boy Promotions and Main Events, featured two veteran Superstars fighting to resurrect their perspective careers. “Sugar” Shane Mosley (42-4, 36 KOs) at the age of 34, took on “Ferocious” Fernando Vargas (26-3, 22 KOs) who is 28 years old. While many may have felt this fight was taking place at least five years or more later than when these guys were in their prime, it turned out to still be a very competitive and entertaining fight.

In the end though, it was Mosley’s speed that made the difference and resulted in a TKO stoppage at 1:22 of 10th round when referee Joe Cortez had seen enough damage to Vargas’ left eye. It was so swollen and so shut, that you may as well have hung a sign on his eye stating; {CLOSED FOR THE WEEKEND}.

At the time of the stoppage, the judges had this fight very close. Judge Chuck Giampa had Mosley winning 86-85, Judge Patricia Jarman had Vargas ahead 86-85, and Judge Paul Smith had Mosley ahead 86-85. So this bout was coming down the stretch of being a split decision but the damage to Vargas’ left eye from the repetitive overhand rights and looping rights fired by the quicker Mosley, left Cortez without much of choice other than to do what’s right and stop the fight and protect the fighter from possible permanent damage. Joe Cortez should be applauded for making the decision to stop the fight!

Vargas had his moments in the fight and appeared to be the stronger of the two and was pushing Mosley around and pressing the action. However, Mosley had the quicker hands and was able to effective counterpunch Vargas. So Vargas is still marketable despite this stoppage and shows he still has skills and of course, plenty of heart!

As for Mosley, he is back in the thick of things and seems primed to be able to rise to the top of the welterweight division (147lbs). I don’t particular see him reigning as dominant in the 154lb class. Of course after the fight, he calls out the man that everyone wants to call out “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather (35-0, 24 KOs) who is; no doubt, boxing’s #1 pound-for-pound fighter in the business today. While this would be a marquee fight based on namesake, I can’t take what I saw against Vargas tonight and equate that to giving Mosley a favorable chance against Floyd. However, once Floyd takes care of Zab Judah in April, who else other than Mosley can remotely compete with Floyd? I sure would be willing to pay to see a Mayweather vs Mosley fight and I’m sure I am not alone…

You have just gone InsideBoxing.com

Ron Brashear can be contacted at brashear@insideboxing.com, ron@brasheargear.com