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NEVER GIVE IN! Fernando Vargas v Oscar De la Hoya
By Ben Pierce
 13.08 - It was Harrows, a private school for boys in Great Britain. The headmaster of the school prepared the boys as they were about to hear a great orator. He told them to listen carefully, to take notes, to capture every word.
Winton Churchill strode upon the stage, stopped at the podium and surveyed the crowd. He took a deep breath and then shouted: NEVER GIVE IN! He paused for almost a full minute and then repeated... Never give in--never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.''
It was essentially a three word speech, delivered in less than three minutes. But the truth in those words could not be more fitting or appropriate, than when two boxers step into the ring. I think they will be the difference when Oscar De la Hoya and Fernando Vargas meet to decide who will be the universally accepted Junior Middleweight Champion of the world, on Sept 14th.
The boxer that gives it all, that is willing to lay it all on the line, will emerge victorious. I think that boxer will be Fernando Vargas.
Vargas has the strength of character carved through adversity to win this fight. No doubt he possesses the skills also, but I believe it will be the intangibles that decide this fight.
One need look no further than the life of Vargas and the way he has fought in the ring in his previous fights, to see the mettle of this man.
This young man who grew up the hard way, without a father to guide him. He faced adversity in life, but managed to survive and to succeed. He became a boxer, had success as an amateur and went on to represent the US in the Olympics. He turned to professional boxing and became a rising star.
But he has faced adversity in the ring also and the way he has dealt with those trials, with that adversity...is the reason I believe he will win against De la Hoya.
Lets look at those fights where he has faced the test and met adversity. He came into the fight with Winky Wright admittedly out of shape and having some problems outside the ring. He faced an inspired, aggressive Wright and quickly fell behind in the fight. But he fought through his problems, fought through his inspired opponent and managed to win the fight. When many would have folded, he instead thrived and dominated the last part of the fight, going out and taking victory from the grasp of his foe and making it his own.
When faced with adversity in the fight with Felix Trinidad, how did he react? Vargas was down twice in the first round, he got up each time and took control of the fight, even knocking Trinidad down in the fourth round and taking a lead in points, midway through the fight. He eventually lost the fight, suffering a tko in the final round, but who doubts he would have continued to fight, continued to get up, had the referee not halted the bout? Is this not what Churchill spoke of...never give in?
Still dealing with problems outside the ring and having problems making the 154 pound weight limit for his division, he chose Wilfredo Rivera as his return to the ring after his devastating loss to Trinidad. Rivera a world class opponent came to fight. He caught Vargas with a perfectly timed and placed right hand and sent him to the canvas. But once again, Vargas drew upon the heart and character that had been shaped through adversity and he got up from the canvas to beat Rivera into submission.
When we compare this with his foe, Oscar De la Hoya, I think we find the difference that will determine this fight. I do not feel De la Hoya has been tested by the fire of adversity and reacted with the same passion. He literally ran from Felix Trinidad and into the arms of defeat, after dominating the first part of that fight. He faced Shane Mosley and went toe to toe, winning the first part of the fight, only to fail to adjust, to fail to find the heart to fight through and win that fight. The difference is not in losing, the difference is in the way you lose.
Looking at the recent statements of these boxers leading up to the fight can also reveal their state of mind and tell us more. After signing for this fight De la Hoya was quoted as saying: "Why am I fighting Vargas, this fight means nothing to me." When compared to this statement repeated many times by Vargas: "I would rather die in the ring than lose to this man". I think the difference is apparent and revealing.
To see the effect that strength of character and heart can make inside the squared circle, one need look no further than the fights of the great warriors of the past, such as Joe Frazier, Evander Holyfield, Bobby Chacon, Rocky Graziano and so many others. Heart being the catalyst that propelled these fighters to victory, time and time again.
When these two warriors step in the ring on Sept 14th, they will face adversity. This will be a contested fight, this will be a fight that tests the character of both men. I have to believe Fernando Vargas will face this test and never give in. That will provide the edge that will win this fight.
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