If Trinidad ruined Vargas how do you explain the DLH fight?

Vargas post Tito Trinidad fought:

1) Wilfredo Rivera. His best days were at 147 but he was a very tough and seasoned pro fighter. Rivera was 32-4 and had only been stopped by ODLH, Shane Mosely and gave Sweet Pea Pernell Whitaker 2 very tough fights. Yes, Vargas was knocked down in the 2nd round but why can't we give credit to Rivera for being well prepared for this fight. In the telecast Emmanuel Stewart said that Rivera felt he had never been more ready, he actually had a full 6 week training camp. Rivera said most of his career were short notice fights and this was his last chance to make money. Vargas also took this fight only 5 months removed from the very tough Tito fight. Vargas did look sloppy early in the first 2 rounds but then stopped and pressured Rivera.

2) Shibata Flores. Not a elite champ by any means but a more than competent pro. He was 42-8. More importantly was that Flores was very close friends and a long time sparring partner to Vargas. Vargas said he had trouble early on because Flores knew all his tricks. Rewatching the fight, Flores let his hands go hard early on, he really tried to hurt Vargas. Vargas won by body punching and pressuring. Vargas even was slugging away in the last few rounds, not gun shy at all.

3) ODLH. Brutal fight. Vargas took so many blows and was pressuring throughout. He even mounted a late rally in the 9th banging DLH's body and threw 525 punches. We do have to note that Vargas tested positive for steroids but outside that Vargas certainly didn't look shot, ruined or a broke down fighter like many on these forums have suggested. Most cards had the fight very close until the stoppage. I had DLH up by 2 points. All credit to DLH, this fight showed great skill and toughness by both men. DLH was 34-2 at the time and would not retire for another 6 years.

All of Vargas's post Trinidad fights (2 yrs on) showed a different fighter. Vargas was slower, more flat footed, his upper body movement was decreased BUT saying he was "ruined" is a gross exaggeration. Gone was the dynamo who could out hustle Quartey, the steady ring IQ from the Campas fights and the fighter who tried very hard to not allow fighters to land clean punches like the Marquez fight. But he was still a very tough out.

 

Vargas was up by 3 points on one of the judges scorecard. The fight was very competitive. Vargas looked good but not elite.

The biggest decline I saw in Vargas was his defense. No more parrying or slipping he literally ate everything DLH threw. Against Winky and Quartey you saw Vargas roll after throwing his combos and made guys work to hit him.

 

I agree but we know all this looking back. DLH was only a -240 favourite on that night.

I will never understand why Vargas fought like some bodybuilding hulk vs DLH. We had never really seen that style from him before. Sure he brawled before but it was in spurts, mixed in with periods of outside boxing looking for openings.

 

Vargas tested positive for Stanozol which is commonly used by bodybuilders to "cut" fat and still lean muscle. It also a bridging drug that can be used to stack other drugs onto it.

Vs Rivera, Vargas looked pudgy and very soft, no abs at all.

Here is an interview from around May 2002, when the fight was cancelled for a 2nd time due to DLH's injuring his hand (1 month out). Vargas was totally shredded even then. Safe to say he was juicing throughout that whole year. The fight then set for September.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FnwOrMnnek

 

I think that his bad back played a huge factor, way more than the Trinidad fight.

Credit to Vargas he never once used his back as an excuse.

 

Yep. He fought from the perspective that he was SO much bigger and stronger than DLH. Not sure where he got that from. Vargas outhustled guys he never out muscled them. Vargas went toe to toe with Tito in the 8th-9th rounds but it was a technical attack.

TBH we all talk about Vargas as having a great ring IQ and being very intelligent as a fighter. But that's only one part of the story. Vargas was prone to periods of being outjabbed in his career and got hit a lot. Tito had good success with the jab vs Vargas.

Vargas was totally outspeeded by DLH, the difference in their handspeed was very telling right from round one. Vargas jab was non existent at times during that fight. Perhaps he had no choice but to crowd him and chase down the quicker fighter. Vargas often closed the distance with a straight right and then went inside to muscle DLH.

 

The crazy thing about Vargas is his power hand was his left hook. And when in trouble and being overly aggressive he always went back to it. Vargas tried to back up both Trinidad and DLH with it BUT they both had even better left hands, so it was a dangerous game to play. As the old timers say "you don't hook with a hooker".