Boxing

 

Bad Blood: Ferocious Taunts, Ferocious Insults, and A Golden Response.

Mike Samuels

14.09 - From December to May, then once again to September, the fight between Fernando Vargas and Oscar De la Hoya was built around "Bad Blood", and many boxing experts and fans never thought the fight would materialize.

Oscar De la Hoya was too much of a "Chicken" to step into the ring with the young, strong willed, and lion hearted Ferocious one.

Oscar De la Hoya was to busy working in the production studio on another Grammy nominated album.

Oscar De la Hoya doesn’t have the heart or determination.

It’s hard to get up and run when you’re wearing silk pajamas.

The list of questions continued through out the long and agonizing months up to this big mega fight of the summer. The doubts that swayed through our minds, the questions you found yourself asking over and over, and the love or hate you showed for either Vargas or De la Hoya was put to rest tonight.

Who is the better fighter?

Who deserves victory?

Who is ready and who isn’t?

Fernando Vargas shot off at the mouth and promoted the hell out of this fight. He even went to extremes by pushing De la Hoya at a press conference in January, and then referring to his foe as talking like that of a homosexual. During all of the pre-fight frenzy, De la Hoya remained as calm as the other side of the pillow, refusing to say much about Vargas or his comments.

Tonight, however, The Golden Boy delivered a Golden Response to Nando’ and his critics. And there wasn’t a damn thing ‘gay’ about how he did it.

Oscar De la Hoya started the fight off by moving around the ring; utilizing his strengths from the get go and popping Vargas with jabs, with an occasional focus on the body. Things were on easy street until Vargas decided to make a physical presence – one that was apparent from the first days– felt by backing De la Hoya into the ropes and punishing him with short combinations. Vargas turned the round around, sent De la Hoya rearing into the ropes and staggering him momentarily with a left hook.

At the conclusion of the first round the Golden Boy didn’t look so golden. A scratch like cut formed on his cheek and his face was beat red. Mandalay Bay was throwing a fit for their Mexican hero, El Feroz.

The remainder of the fight was a sea-saw battle for the most part. With De la Hoya coming back in the second round and boxing supremely, followed by Vargas coming back the next round and forcing De la Hoya against the ropes, where he was most vulnerable for Nando’s attack. Vargas was punishing De la Hoya, hitting him more than he had ever been hit in any of his previous thirty-six professional fights, and showing him how "Real Mexicans" go to war.

But De la Hoya weathered the storm for the first half of the fight and managed to keep things close to even on all three score cards. From the sixth round on De la Hoya proved that the blood of a Mexican runs through his veins and down to his soul. He made adjustments, threw his right hand (the one that had disappeared), swayed against the ropes, and boxed circles around Vargas, continuously popping him with two and three punch combinations.

There was nothing fake about his Mexican’s heritage.

And while De la Hoya got stronger, Vargas seemed to slow down and eat more and more punches. As each round passed the Golden Boy’s confidence grew and he began to open up his attack. Vargas is always a game fighter, though, and he can never be counted out. He brought out a ferocious display of will in the tenth round, pushing De la Hoya back momentarily and landing a few shots with bad intentions. But De la Hoya stayed away from the bigger bombs and snapped Nando’s head back violently, then following up with digging shots to the body, and then stole the round by stunning Vargas with seconds remaining.

Oscar began to pull away, but Vargas was still at range.

Going into the tenth round it was still very close. De la Hoya appeared to show more life in his legs, kept his hands down very low, and bobbed his head back and forth, as if to let Nando’ know he was is control and on the verge of taking him out.

The eleventh round would prove to be the exit point for Fernando Vargas. The frustration was evident in his corner as well as on his face. Still fighting with a sense of caution De la Hoya executed a picture perfect body flurry, following it up with a left hook on the neck – similar to the one that Trinidad used to knock down Vargas – that sent the Ferocious one stumbling to the canvas. Nando’ isn’t a push over, and he got back up within seconds, but The Golden Boy rushed him and shook him with a random delivery of shots to the face that left the "Firm but Fair" Joe Cortez only one choice, to step in and call an end to the bout.

AFTER THOUGHTS

If you doubted Oscar De la Hoya’s power at 154lbs, don’t stop just yet. He doesn’t have the power to knock most guys out, but Vargas is very susceptible to the left hook. He doesn’t take it well, as proved by Tito before De la Hoya. The thing that makes Oscar dangerous is his heart. It was over looked in this fight because Vargas’s heart has acted like a poster child in helping to promote him to the big time. But Oscar De la Hoya is no slouch and he came to fight tonight.

With all the legit questions answered by De la Hoya’s performance tonight, I’ll be awaiting to hear a rebuttal of sorts by most boxing writers in the direction of Vargas. Things like, "What makes a real Mexican?" Last time I checked the reputation of a Mexican fighter was one of high honor, respect, and courage. Fernando Vargas showed his courage and heart tonight, as always, but he lacked in the area of respect and honor. I’m sorry, Nando, but after a fight – win, lose or draw, love or hate – you give respect to your opponent. If you need to cool down and take a walk to the dressing room (ala Morales after the second decision against Barrera), that’s acceptable, but it’s only appropriate to come back and give your take on things.

A LESSON TO BE LEARNED

If you’re going to talk the talk, and you go out and give it your best efforts but come up short, you still need to show some class and walk the walk. Even If that means the short walk to give your opponent his props, and not the walk leading you to the dressing room with a second belt.

CLOSING COMMENTS

Bad Blood (and there was PLENTY of it) proved to come through in the clutch and give boxing a great fight that will be remembered as the years pass. De la Hoya has Mosley and Trinidad (pending his retirement) in his sights, as well as a possible unification bout with Ronald "Winky" Wright in mind. Vargas will need to settle down from the most brutal loss of his career, but he’s definitely not a "shot fighter" and one with a bright future ahead of him.

All he needs to do is grow up a little bit more.

Mike Samuels can be reached at Tyson180@aol.com for comments, or entries into this weeks Boxings Baddest: The Fans Speak! Vol 1. Issue 27

0 comments


De La Hoya Vs Vargas - Show Business And Bad Blood Will Be Hotter Than The Mid Day Sun

By Chris Curry

12.09 - Show business and bad blood may be opposites in life. But in boxing put the two together in Las Vegas, you will have more than the mid day sun heating things up. The Golden Boy, Oscar De La Hoya and "Ferocious" Fernando Vargas will finally meet in one of the most anticipated fights of 2002. Now that Sugar Shane has been sweetened again, all eyes will be on September 14th watching two bitter rival World Champions of the Light Middleweight division clash to be number one and reign supreme.

This is what Boxing today is all about. The best against the best. Star power, passion, the will to win De La Hoya Vs Vargas has it all. The winner will become unified WBC/WBA Light Middleweight Champion of the World. For Oscar De La Hoya to win, this will be the beginning of his revenge mission's to close the show. The "Golden Boy" will add an even brighter golden shine on an already elusive career in which he achieved to win versions of the World Championship in five weight class's. Also to beat Fernando Vargas, De La Hoya will add the WBA World Championship to his collection of World titles from the WBC, IBF and WBO starting when he turned professional as a Super Featherweight back in 1992 winning his first version the WBO Title from Jimmy Bredahl on March 5th 1994.

Fernando Vargas at 24 years old is in his second reign as a Light Middleweight World Champion. Vargas turned professional on the 25th of March 1997 knocking Jorge Morales out in a round. Following a string of knock out victories living up to his name "Ferocious", Fernando Vargas was crowned the IBF Light Middleweight Champion of the World, when veteran Yory Boy Campas quit in his corner at the end of the 7th round. A young Champion was born. Following 5 defences of his Championship, Vargas was to enter his first mega fight. In De La Hoya's eyes it should have been him in with Vargas after Felix Trinidad won a controversial verdict over the Golden Boy in 1999 at Welterweight. But it was Trinidad who Vargas would face and he too was bringing a World Championship to the ring after beating David Reid in brutal fashion.

Vargas was served up as polish for the increasing shine of "Tito" Trinidad, who dropped Fernando with "Ferocious" power punching in their classic encounter. Fernando showed terrific heart in getting through the opening round, to later drop Trinidad who in turn closed the show with a 12th round TKO. Vargas was on the comeback route, starting with Wilfredo Rivera. Once again Vargas tasted the canvas in round 2, leaving many observers thinking Trinidad had left a kink in Fernando's armour. Vargas came back ending the contest in round 6 scoring a TKO victory. Shibata Flores of Mexico was Fernando's next opponent for the WBA Light Middleweight Championship of the World. Felix Trinidad vacated the belt when he entered the Middleweight World Championship tournament. "Ferocious" was back. Knocking Flores out in the 7th to become World Champion again. His opponent in waiting was on the comeback also. This would finally bring their paths to meet.

Oscar De La Hoya was awarded back the WBC Welterweight Title, when Trinidad moved from 147 Ibs to 154 lbs. After Knocking out Derrell Coley in round 7, Oscar would meet Sugar Shane Mosley. He said he had to beat Shane to feel like a Champion again. In another skilled fight De La Hoya was out worked in the end leaving Sugar Shane as the new WBC Welterweight Champion. Things had to change in the De La Hoya Camp and Floyd Mayweather Snr., was brought in as his new trainer. Later on, Oscar's music career would be axed with the Golden Boy smashing his album. Blaming his two defeats on the distraction of his music. His comeback trail started with a brutal display over boxing's "Thunder", Arturo Gatti. Gatti was over powered and down in round one. With De La Hoya testing Mayweather's training out, the brave Gatti was pulled out in the fifth.

Oscar then moved to 154 lbs the Light Middleweight division. He beat Javier Castillejo of Spain for the WBC World Championship with a unanimous decision. De La Hoya's power seemed to have been left behind at that weight, hitting Castillejo with everything but the corner stool. Finally De La Hoya floored him in the 12th before the Spaniard reached the bell. After the fight Oscar said that there was something missing. Also hinting a move back to 147 lbs, Welterweight. That was on June 23rd 2001.

But Oscar remained. On September 14th "The Rivals, The Hard Feelings, The Bad Blood" will meet. De La Hoya Vs Fernando Vargas is on. After a delay from May 4th after Oscar hurt his left hand in training then receiving physical therapy for over 6 weeks, the fight is on. Oscar is as hungry as ever, as is Vargas. De La Hoya who has a guaranteed place in the Hall of Fame, wants to add to his achievements and seek his revenge matches. Fernando Vargas wants to put the lights out on the Golden Boy and reshine his own career. If he can beat De La Hoya, at 24 years old he has time left to earn his place in history also. In this fight there is everything to fight for. The Blood will boil.

Predictions for De La Hoya Vs Vargas and Questions to chris_esboxing@hotmail.com - Fight predictions will be posted during the build up for "Bad Blood" on September 14th.

Personal Prediction

I believe that Oscar De La Hoya with his greater big fight experience and superior boxing skills is enough to carry him through. Fernando Vargas will be the stronger of the two, being a natural at that weight. He showed great heart in his fight with Trinidad and good punch power throughout his career. Oscar has had time to fill into the weight class with weight training and has added focus for this fight. I believe De La Hoya will be stronger than when he fought Javier Castillejo and will surprise many with his punch at 154 lbs. Both will have a little ring rust so that is too nobody's advantage.

We should be in for a classic encounter with maybe De La Hoya getting shook. I believe with Oscar's skills he will out punch and out move Vargas winning with a late stoppage or unanimous points win.

0 comments
 


Bookmark and Share

 

If you detect any issues with the legality of this site, problems are always unintentional and will be corrected with notification.
The views and opinions of all writers expressed on eastsideboxing.com do not necessarily state or reflect those of the Management.
Copyright © 2001- 2015 East Side Boxing.com - Privacy Policy