Fernando
Vargas steps back into the ring on Saturday, July 26 to face No.1 contender Fitz
Vanderpool. The Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles will host the event.It’s been four years since Vargas had a so-called tune-up fight. After defeating Yory Boy Campas in December of 1998 and becoming the IBF world champion, Vargas fought a 26-10-2 Howard Clarke.
The Clarke fight would be the last tune-up fight the “Aztec Warrior” would give himself. For his next eight fights spread out over four years, Vargas would face only world-class opposition.
“I want to fight the best fighters out there,” is the catch phrase we hear from today’s top fighters. But few follow up and stand by the quote.
Vargas is the exception.
After stopping Clarke in the fourth round, Vargas dominated Raul Marquez (30-1 at the time) winning by TKO in 11. In his next title defense, he took on Ronald “Winky” Wright, winning a 12-round majority decision. Continuing to take on all challengers, Vargas next defeated Ike Quartey and Ross Thompson.
The invincible Vargas would suffer his first loss in his next bout when he was stopped in the 12th round by Felix Trinidad. In that fight, Vargas got up off the canvas and continued to press Trinidad, knocking him to the canvas. But he came up short as Trinidad took it to him in the final round.
Coming off his first loss, Vargas refused to take tune-up fights, defeating Wilfredo Rivera by TKO in six and stopping Shibata Flores in seven. By Defeating Flores, Vargas became the WBA world champion.
Next came the opportunity to fight his California rival, Oscar DeLaHoya. The two would fight in a heated battle on Sept. 14, 2002 with DeLaHoya stopping Vargas in the 11th round.
During the last four years, Vargas has allowed his moniker “Aztec Warrior” to become dormant and focused more on “Ferocious” and “El Feroz”
Inside Boxing reporter Peter Juarez had the opportunity to talk to the fighter, Vargas indicating he was going back to the things that made him a champion.
Here is the one-on-one with the Aztec Warrior:
Juarez – Coming up on July 26th you’re fighting at home against Fitz Vanderpool, do you have a special game plan?
Vargas – We have a great game plan that Buddy and Garcia have thought up but of course I cannot talk about the game plan we look forward to executing. I got away from what made me successful as a young fighter and that’s being intelligent and picking my spots.
Juarez – Do you have a prediction for the fight?
Vargas – I’m definitely going to predict that I’m going to win, it may come late in the fight or by knock out. I’m definitely going to be ready.
Juarez – I noticed you mentioned Buddy McGirt into your team, Now that you added him, how is the experience training with him?
Vargas – It’s good having 2 great minds, having Buddy McGirt that gets along great with Garcia and there’s no animosity, there’s no who trains who or who goes first or this and that. There is no egos at the end of the day It’s about getting the job done.
Juarez – The Vargas DeLaHoya feud seems to be behind you, are you still looking toward a rematch with Oscar?
Vargas – Absolutely! I met with Oscar, never can we say we are friends, he won’t be coming over to my house at Christmas time. I met with him as a business man. Just like he is the head of his company, I’m the head of mine. He wants a rematch with Shane Mosley and with Trinidad, (Which we're both not going to get a rematch with Trinidad.) If it’s good on his plate why not on mine? When you (DeLaHoya) told me to my face that you would give me a rematch, in front of the whole world. You (DeLaHoya) being Mexican and I’m being Mexican, If you say something to somebody’s face like that, then you turn around and not do it, that’s being a “rajon” and if he’s Mexican like I’m Mexican that’s very offensive. So hopefully he does give me a rematch.
Or just incase he’s not… That’s why I’m fighting Vanderhood July 26th and then he will have to give me a rematch 9 months later after the fact.
Juarez – Vernon Forrest in the past has mentioned you are a shot fighter, he’s fighting on July 12 against Ricardo Mayorga, does he interest you at all?
Vargas – When you’re a great fighter, of course people are going to say good things and bad things about you. If Vernon Forrest wants he can move up in weight to fight me.
Juarez – Jermain Taylor’s camp has also said some negative thing about you, how do you feel about Taylor?
Vargas – His people say it but I’ve never heard him say it. Promoters and managers can open their mouths all they want.
Vargas’ advisor Roland Arellano interjected in reference to Jermain Taylor, “You have to earn the right to get you’re a$$ kicked.” Indicating Taylor needs to get on Vargas’ level before he can even think about fighting Vargas.