torcher
Superstar
They’ll be back cool in a couple months
Essential The Official Boxing Random Thoughts Thread...All boxing heads ENTER.
- Thread starter Jesus Is Lord
- Start date
Conscious Pilot
Do Better.
Conscious Pilot
Do Better.
nikkas need to get in the ring and settle it
RoidJonesJr
Superstar
RingTV did a best i faced for fernando vargas...good read
Fernando Vargas was a shooting star who rose to prominence at a young age, becoming the youngest junior middleweight titleholder in history. And he burned out just as quickly.
Vargas was born and raised in a working class home in Oxnard, California. He began boxing when he was 12 and rapidly became a sensation.
“I was the youngest in history to win a national tournament in an open division,” Vargas told THE RING. “I was 16 years of age. My record can never be broken, because kids my age were getting knocked out, so they changed it to 17. I became number one (amateur ranked in the U.S.) at 132 (pounds), at 139, 147 – every time I moved up, I became number one.”
At just 18 he qualified for the 1996 Olympics, then controversially lost in the second round and decided to make the leap to the pros. His services were heavily courted before he signed with Main Events and began his journey in March 1997.
“El Feroz” (“The Ferocious One”) rattled off 14 consecutive wins, all by KO in six rounds or less, to earn a shot at the vastly more experienced Yori Boy Campas, a veteran with a 72-2 record at the time, for the IBF junior middleweight title. Vargas boxed terrifically in what he says was his best win and proudest moment, forcing the heavy-handed Mexican to surrender after the seventh round.
Vargas defended the IBF belt five times in a two-year span, including victories against former world titleholders Raul Marquez (TKO 11), Winky Wright (MD 12) and Ike Quartey (UD 12).
Those wins set Vargas up for one of the biggest boxing events of 2000, his showdown with former welterweight champ and fellow unbeaten 154-pound titleholder Felix Trinidad. Vargas had to get off the canvas twice in a tumultuous opening round. He dropped the Puerto Rican hero in the fourth but was ultimately stopped in the final round of a barnburner.
“I gave everything in that fight. I gave everything in every fight,” Vargas said defiantly. “Should I have waited? Yeah. But I’m a champion, too. I’d been fighting the best, so that’s what I did and I left everything in the ring that night. I could have died, but I would have died a proud man, never giving up, never quitting. That’s what champions do.”
Vargas rebounded with two wins, claiming the WBA strap. All the while he craved a match with Oscar De La Hoya to settle an old grudge.
“I looked up to Oscar as a kid,” said Vargas. “I went to go spar with Oscar in Big Bear and I was running with Robert Garcia. I didn’t know the path, and I fell. Robert was in front of me and he didn’t know that I fell; he had on earphones. Oscar ran by me and laughed and kept running. From that day I said, ‘One day I’m going to beat this motherfukker.’”
The bout took place in September 2002, and Vargas channeled his animosity into bullying De La Hoya early. As the fight wore on, however, De La Hoya’s punches took their toll and he was able to stop Vargas in the 11th round.
Afterward, Vargas was found to have a banned substance in his system (the steroid stanozolol) and served a nine-month suspension.
He returned and reeled off four wins before looking like a shadow of his former self in losing twice against Shane Mosley and then to Ricardo Mayorga. He retired in 2007 with a record of 26-5 (22 knockouts).
Vargas, now 40, lives in Las Vegas and is married with four children. He is still involved in boxing, training two of his sons – both of whom are promising amateurs (“The legacy lives on,” said Vargas) as well as several pros. He has established the Fernando Vargas Fighting Foundation for inner-city kids. Also, he and De La Hoya have since sorted out their differences and are now friends.
Vargas graciously took time to speak to THE RING about the best he fought in 10 key categories.
BEST JAB
IKE QUARTEY: He had a strong jab; he was a great jabber. He was known for his jab and I definitely know why. It was solid when it would land. What you’ve got to do with someone who has a great jab is out-jab him, and I was able to out-jab him and win the fight.
BEST DEFENSE
OSCAR DE LA HOYA: I put a lot of pressure on him, but he definitely had the best defense. He had great head movement. The jab was definitely key for him, his ring I.Q. … he was a great fighter all around.
FASTEST HANDS
QUARTEY: Mosley was fast, but it wasn’t out of this world. Ike Quartey was fast. His jab was fast and his punches were fast.
BEST FOOTWORK
DE LA HOYA: I was trying to cut the ring, but it was difficult to catch him. When I got him on the ropes I’d try to keep him there, and then he’d get out. He had great ring generalship and boxing ability.
BEST CHIN
SHANE MOSLEY: I think Oscar had a great chin. Mosley had a great chin too. I was hitting Mosley with everything but the kitchen sink and he could take it.
SMARTEST
DE LA HOYA: I’m going to have to go with Oscar again. He was very intelligent. If you didn’t move your head after every combination, he was going to get you. If you left yourself open for something, he was going to catch you. He knew how to use the ring.
STRONGEST
FELIX TRINIDAD: I never felt anything like that in my life. I think the wraps helped him. I know that after his fight with (Bernard) Hopkins, they found his hand weren’t wrapped correctly. That made my career shorter. I was trying to keep him off me and I couldn’t; it was constant pressure. I was trying to box and punch, too, but he was the strongest.
BEST PUNCHER
TRINIDAD: Him, but now I know why! I didn’t even know I got knocked out. I was never down in the amateurs or pros, and I went down five times and I don’t remember half the fight. But I know I fought with all my heart.
When I was on the way to the hospital in the ambulance with my wife after the fight, I said, “Baby, did it look bad when I went down?” And she said, “You got up every single time.” And I said, “How many times did I go down?” I didn’t know I went down five times and I got up five times. That’s the warrior that went in. It’s in your DNA. I don’t remember getting up, but I know if I have a heartbeat in my body I’m going to get up. Regardless if I’m in a fight or in life, it doesn’t matter. I’m not going to lay down.
I felt like I was getting hit by a bat. It was like an explosion in my head. I couldn’t believe it. You can see by my expression in the first knockdown. I know I’d have lasted longer in the game if I didn’t take that fight. It’s a risk – I take the good with the bad. (@ChocolateGiddyUp dude feels some type of way)
BOXING SKILLS
DE LA HOYA: Oscar had the best boxing skills. He could do everything. He could box, he could punch, he could go forward and he knew what he was doing.
BEST OVERALL
DE LA HOYA: I think Oscar’s got to be the best boxer I ever faced in the ring. I beat five world champions and I only lost to greats and world champions. I think Oscar was better than anyone else I fought.
Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at elraincoat@live.co.uk and you can follow him on Twitter @AnsonWainwright.
Fernando Vargas was a shooting star who rose to prominence at a young age, becoming the youngest junior middleweight titleholder in history. And he burned out just as quickly.
Vargas was born and raised in a working class home in Oxnard, California. He began boxing when he was 12 and rapidly became a sensation.
“I was the youngest in history to win a national tournament in an open division,” Vargas told THE RING. “I was 16 years of age. My record can never be broken, because kids my age were getting knocked out, so they changed it to 17. I became number one (amateur ranked in the U.S.) at 132 (pounds), at 139, 147 – every time I moved up, I became number one.”
At just 18 he qualified for the 1996 Olympics, then controversially lost in the second round and decided to make the leap to the pros. His services were heavily courted before he signed with Main Events and began his journey in March 1997.
“El Feroz” (“The Ferocious One”) rattled off 14 consecutive wins, all by KO in six rounds or less, to earn a shot at the vastly more experienced Yori Boy Campas, a veteran with a 72-2 record at the time, for the IBF junior middleweight title. Vargas boxed terrifically in what he says was his best win and proudest moment, forcing the heavy-handed Mexican to surrender after the seventh round.
Vargas defended the IBF belt five times in a two-year span, including victories against former world titleholders Raul Marquez (TKO 11), Winky Wright (MD 12) and Ike Quartey (UD 12).
Those wins set Vargas up for one of the biggest boxing events of 2000, his showdown with former welterweight champ and fellow unbeaten 154-pound titleholder Felix Trinidad. Vargas had to get off the canvas twice in a tumultuous opening round. He dropped the Puerto Rican hero in the fourth but was ultimately stopped in the final round of a barnburner.
“I gave everything in that fight. I gave everything in every fight,” Vargas said defiantly. “Should I have waited? Yeah. But I’m a champion, too. I’d been fighting the best, so that’s what I did and I left everything in the ring that night. I could have died, but I would have died a proud man, never giving up, never quitting. That’s what champions do.”
Vargas rebounded with two wins, claiming the WBA strap. All the while he craved a match with Oscar De La Hoya to settle an old grudge.
“I looked up to Oscar as a kid,” said Vargas. “I went to go spar with Oscar in Big Bear and I was running with Robert Garcia. I didn’t know the path, and I fell. Robert was in front of me and he didn’t know that I fell; he had on earphones. Oscar ran by me and laughed and kept running. From that day I said, ‘One day I’m going to beat this motherfukker.’”
The bout took place in September 2002, and Vargas channeled his animosity into bullying De La Hoya early. As the fight wore on, however, De La Hoya’s punches took their toll and he was able to stop Vargas in the 11th round.
Afterward, Vargas was found to have a banned substance in his system (the steroid stanozolol) and served a nine-month suspension.
He returned and reeled off four wins before looking like a shadow of his former self in losing twice against Shane Mosley and then to Ricardo Mayorga. He retired in 2007 with a record of 26-5 (22 knockouts).
Vargas, now 40, lives in Las Vegas and is married with four children. He is still involved in boxing, training two of his sons – both of whom are promising amateurs (“The legacy lives on,” said Vargas) as well as several pros. He has established the Fernando Vargas Fighting Foundation for inner-city kids. Also, he and De La Hoya have since sorted out their differences and are now friends.
Vargas graciously took time to speak to THE RING about the best he fought in 10 key categories.
BEST JAB
IKE QUARTEY: He had a strong jab; he was a great jabber. He was known for his jab and I definitely know why. It was solid when it would land. What you’ve got to do with someone who has a great jab is out-jab him, and I was able to out-jab him and win the fight.
BEST DEFENSE
OSCAR DE LA HOYA: I put a lot of pressure on him, but he definitely had the best defense. He had great head movement. The jab was definitely key for him, his ring I.Q. … he was a great fighter all around.
FASTEST HANDS
QUARTEY: Mosley was fast, but it wasn’t out of this world. Ike Quartey was fast. His jab was fast and his punches were fast.
BEST FOOTWORK
DE LA HOYA: I was trying to cut the ring, but it was difficult to catch him. When I got him on the ropes I’d try to keep him there, and then he’d get out. He had great ring generalship and boxing ability.
BEST CHIN
SHANE MOSLEY: I think Oscar had a great chin. Mosley had a great chin too. I was hitting Mosley with everything but the kitchen sink and he could take it.
SMARTEST
DE LA HOYA: I’m going to have to go with Oscar again. He was very intelligent. If you didn’t move your head after every combination, he was going to get you. If you left yourself open for something, he was going to catch you. He knew how to use the ring.
STRONGEST
FELIX TRINIDAD: I never felt anything like that in my life. I think the wraps helped him. I know that after his fight with (Bernard) Hopkins, they found his hand weren’t wrapped correctly. That made my career shorter. I was trying to keep him off me and I couldn’t; it was constant pressure. I was trying to box and punch, too, but he was the strongest.
BEST PUNCHER
TRINIDAD: Him, but now I know why! I didn’t even know I got knocked out. I was never down in the amateurs or pros, and I went down five times and I don’t remember half the fight. But I know I fought with all my heart.
When I was on the way to the hospital in the ambulance with my wife after the fight, I said, “Baby, did it look bad when I went down?” And she said, “You got up every single time.” And I said, “How many times did I go down?” I didn’t know I went down five times and I got up five times. That’s the warrior that went in. It’s in your DNA. I don’t remember getting up, but I know if I have a heartbeat in my body I’m going to get up. Regardless if I’m in a fight or in life, it doesn’t matter. I’m not going to lay down.
I felt like I was getting hit by a bat. It was like an explosion in my head. I couldn’t believe it. You can see by my expression in the first knockdown. I know I’d have lasted longer in the game if I didn’t take that fight. It’s a risk – I take the good with the bad. (@ChocolateGiddyUp dude feels some type of way)
BOXING SKILLS
DE LA HOYA: Oscar had the best boxing skills. He could do everything. He could box, he could punch, he could go forward and he knew what he was doing.
BEST OVERALL
DE LA HOYA: I think Oscar’s got to be the best boxer I ever faced in the ring. I beat five world champions and I only lost to greats and world champions. I think Oscar was better than anyone else I fought.
Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at elraincoat@live.co.uk and you can follow him on Twitter @AnsonWainwright.
Vargas needed one of them Mosley wins for his legacy.....I felt he was boxing the shyt out of Mosley and Mosley got lucky because of the eye
Off eye and tape; Vargas beats Tito 9/10 times; luckily tito caught a young buck, and may have been cheating with his wraps as well.......I know I have been shytting on Tito recently but i forget about the wraps thing it cant be discounted he and his power looked human as fukk after the wrap scandal....
ChocolateGiddyUp
Superstar
Tito Wraps are legal everywhere but NY off a technicality
fukk outta here Aztec Warrior...maybe if you didnt eat All time great left hooks with your hands down to your waist they wouldn't of had the same career ruining effect
fukk outta here Aztec Warrior...maybe if you didnt eat All time great left hooks with your hands down to your waist they wouldn't of had the same career ruining effect
ChocolateGiddyUp
Superstar
First to drop N Stop Mayorga after the bhop fight ...bu bu bu but the wraps
Maybe Titos power wasnt the same as it was at 147 cuz he was fighting nikkas at 175
NormanConnors
Detroit/MSU Spartan Life
The Winky and Ike fights could have been considered robberies, especially in regards to Ike . I havent seen either in a minute, but i remember there was a ton of Vargas bias at the time.