Fernando vargas

Bad defense. Zero head movement was always going to cost him.

Has the distinction of being stopped by a bunch of guys moving up in weight---Oscar/Trinidad/even Mosely/amazingly enough another welter in Mayorga.

But I did not buy into the guy the way HBO was pushing him. And just who didn't HBO push when they did have a contract? But I always thought with that defense he was a David Reid or Davey Moore type and would not last long at the top as a winner. Walking a tightrope. Exciting yes, but not a guy going undefeated for long against top competiton where the warts turn into fatal flaws.

 

I feel bad for him tho. We should appreciate the fact he went so much wars to entertain the fans. He competed in it so much to the point he destroyed himself. Now thinking about it, he still haven't had a proper tribute video. Might just do one for him when I got time.

 

He never recovered after the Trinidad fight. He had the potential to reign for a long time at 154 but those champs at 147 were just too experienced. They should of gave him a year or two to recover after the Trinidad fight but his team decided to pump him full of roids and put him in another high profile money fight with DLH less than 2 years after Trinidad. I've seen an interview of Vargas recently though, seems to be doing well and is looking in good shape. Wish him and his family nothing but the best.

 

Definitely not great but looked very good for a while.

Completely agree with @DirtyDan’s post above. He was rushed back in after the Trinidad loss. I always wondered how much his management cared about him as he was matched tough early and then wasn’t built back up after the Tito loss.

 

Very good fighter that had tons of heart and was fun too watch. I just remember hearing a lot of stories especially back when he was on the National team about his life outside of the ring. He ran with a rough crown and had some vices that likely affected his longevity in the ring. From what I have seen he seems to being doing well today and is very dedicated and to his family. When he was younger, he seemed like a guy that it wouldn't surprise you if he ended up dead from the streets. Oxnard is a rough place for a young man too grow up in.

 

Physical injuries are rarely mentioned in Vargas's story. I mean not just the beatings from ODLH and Trinidad but his general durability to recover and train properly as an athlete. Some guys bounce back and do it over and over (like Orlando Salido), others have that one fight and are forever changed (John Mugabi). Vargas peaked very early and never saw that form again. He looked so stiff and had limited upper body movement post Trinidad. He moved so slowly in the fights afterwards and looked very average phycially outisde of the DLH steriod incident. In his own words from 2003 -
“I have always had back problems,” Vargas said. “In my last training camp, it became unbearable. When I threw a punch, it felt like I had thrown my back out. We did an MRI and they told me I have a bulging disk.

“The pain is still there. The pain is always going to be there. But if it’s bearable, I can still train. I’m not going to say it’s 100% now, but it’s better. I have to work through this and fight for my people. If I stay with the treatments, I can maintain. If not, it flares up on me. I want to try to strengthen my back and continue to do the rehab. Hopefully that will work. If it doesn’t, it’s in God’s hands. “I have already done a lot at a young age,” he said. “I have money in the stock market and real estate. I am financially secure. I don’t need to fight anymore.”

 

You also have that elbows out posture of his. That elbow out guys deteriorate a ton when their reflexes diminish just a little. Their hands are in no position to parry anything.

I'm hardly a bloodworth fan either--especially when it comes to defense---so perhaps a better trainer helps things, albiet a small improvement.

 

Not sure what you're saying, Mike. Do you not think fighting Wright and Quartey is 'stepping up' in competition'?

Also, I don't quite follow your point about Mayorga and Vernon Forrest. As I have understood it, you say beating Mayorga takes you past the 'great' threshold. However, despite not beating Mayorga in two tries, Forrest was still great. Is that right? And if so, is it the two victories over Mosley that give him that greatness?

Do the wins against Koval and Castillejo improve him from 'pretty good' or take him to that level?

 

He was pushed too early and also struggled with injuries. He was also willing to fight the best and even though he came up short in most of his big fights he was a warrior

 

I think given his temperament and style, he was guided to the title rather expertly. He was never going to have a long shelf life, so trying to fine-tune this or that over the course of even a couple extra years would be piddling away some of his best years.

He was good enough to give the best of his generation a tough fight, if not quite good enough to beat them. He had legions of dedicated fans to whom he bequeathed some exciting fights. That's a job well done.

 

He was neither, rather an overrated scumbag and edwardian/ fraud (like Cintron and Aurino). He received gifts against Wright and the faded Quartey.
I think David Reed was better and the greater natural talent (more skillful/ gifted).

 

I think he kind of overachieved. In hindsight, Winky had no business losing to him, and it was very competitive even if you thought Vargas didn't deserve it. I think Vargas might be top 5 at 154 if he were around today but I'd be surprised if he were number one.