A Tragedy that can be Averted: Make Your Voices Heard.

By Ron Widelec

12.03 - It was recently reported by Fightnews.com that Oba Carr is among a short list of possible opponents for a rebounding Fernando Vargas. Five years ago this would have been a great fight, and one that Oba Carr would have had a good chance to win. Today however, unless Vargas is shot after the KO loss to De La Hoya, and I suspect that he is not, Oba Carr is in for a beating; possibly a one that will leave him permanently damaged. This is a beating that no manager or promoter should be setting up (that means Carr's team and Vargas' team!), no commission should authorize, and no network should televise. And if this fight does go through, and Carr is seriously hurt, all these people will be to blame.

For those of you that have seen Oba Carr fight in the past, you know that he was a highly capable fighter, on the world class level, but never able to actually beat a top rated champion. For most fans that is what comes to mind when Carr's name is mentioned. However, those that have seen Oba Carr fight in the last year or have seen a fighter so diminished, that having him in the ring at all is a travesty, not to mention putting him in the ring with a power puncher like Vargas.

Carr is 30 years old, which is not ancient at 154 pounds, but his ring age far exceeds that number. His reflexes are shot, his speed is completely gone, and this legs were wobbly before he even took a good punch. Whoever is considering setting up this fight is obviously trying to get another name on Vargas' record, and people do know Oba Carr. It also promises to be a easy fight for Vargas, and most have not seen Carr fight recently, and do not realize how shot he is.

This is a call to the boxing world, press and fans alike, to make sure that this fight is never allowed to happen. Now, even before any final decision are made, make sure that the promoters involved take Carr off this list. The last thing the boxing needs is another former prime time fighter being misled by his own pride, managers and promoters looking for a payday, and commissions that let anything go, to get seriously hurt. For the sake of boxing, and more importantly, FOR THE SAKE OF OBA CARR, make your voices heard.