that sums it up pretty well, he was probably the most entertaining fighter at press confrences as well.
I think his victories against Ike Quartey and Winky Wright will edge him into the HoF eventually. Vargas was the dance partner for some classic match ups in his era. The Wright win was something his contemporaries such as Trinidad, Mosley and De La Hoya did not achieve. De La Hoya never even wanted to get near Winky Wright.
Quartey is probablly his best win considering Ikes postion at the time and he beat Ike by atleast 2-3 rounds where the Wright fight u could flip a coin on who won that.
Sad but true, you also have to remember that he met Trinidad in his prime WAY too early and still gave Trinidad hell.
good point, but with Ikes inactivity, and Wright;s dominance in the division afterwards, I think the Wright win was more notable.
He was far, far more skilled than either of those guys. A peak Vargas was an A-Class fighter, it's a pitty an A+ Trinidad destroyed him, and DLH finished him as an elite level operator.
An extrmely talented fighter, who didnt quite cut it in that elite group of De La Hoya, Tito etc. maybe if his managers were more sensible and took their time and didnt rush him into the big money fights he could have got a better resume together. however Fernando never came across as the patient type and would definately not the type to turn down a big fight. overral a very good fighter, not a great one.
Vargas is a tough one for most of us to figure out how great his legacy is. I do know this...prime Vargas would have been hell for the Floyd of today. Big, strong, aggressive, endless heart.
this is a personal question for me.... I always knew the family were boxers (my grandpa's on both sides fought in Ireland and Germany respectivly) and I always kindda though it was cool but never thought of myself as a boxing fan and certainly never though about fighting myself. all that changed on December second 2000. my dad ordered a fight that night and about 15 minutes before it all started we were watching the build up to it. I had watched Vargas's previous outings against Marquez and Quartey and I was impressed with him. I told my dad I though he wound win,my dad assured me he had no chance to win it. from the opening bell it was clear...Vargas wasnt going to win the fight. Trinidad was too strong,too good, too much... sure he got going through the middle rounds and showed he was truely a great fighter. it was the first time I cryed like that...and for what? I was just watching a boxing match. but to me? at 12 years old it felt like I was watching a Hero. I truely felt durring that fight that he was a hero. spider man and super man coundnt hold a candel to him. the Heart, will, and determination that I saw from that 22 year old that night convinced me that boxing was something more than just another sport. it was a platform for Hero's, it was a springboard to immortality...too me boxing became my life. the next week I asked my grandpa to start training me,and I've fought 35 times as an amature since then. I've come up short 3 times but I've ALWAYS remembered what I saw from Vargas that night. if I go out? I'm going out on my shield. I'm not him,I dont have his style,but I've won the provincial championship (like winning state here in Canada) and I plan on moveing to Montreal to turn pro in a few years (I'll be about 24 then) so to the rest of the world Fernando Vargas will be remembered as a fighter who fought with his heart, a fighter who came up short, a fighter who did alot but not quite enough probably. to me? the legacy wil always be there. Fernando Vargas is my hero inside the ring,never met him, but I love him as if he was my best friend. in my oppinion: if he had been slowed down a little bit he might have become one of the greatest fighters to ever live. "I'll swallow my blood,before I swallow my pride"
:thumbsup I almost cryed typeing that...I'm such a crybaby when it comes to this kindda stuff...but dont expect it in the ring:bbb
A very young Champ that was the 'man' at 154 for some time -although not the Lineal Champ. A courageous boxer that had a lot of guts and took risks. And a fighter that fought the best, and lost against many of them. His win over Winky Wright is notable.