28.05.05 – By Jim Amato : On the August 20th card in Chicago featuring Rocky Juarez challenging Injin Chi for the W.B.C. featherweight title, the co feature has been set. “Ferocious” Fernando Vargas will take on Spain’s Javier Castillejo in what may or may not be for the W.B.C. junior middleweight title. The title was vacated when champion Winky Wright moved up to middleweight to fight Felix Trinidad..
Castillejo was named the “interim” champion. The W.B.C.has now mandated that Castillejo meet their top contender Ricardo Mayorga. In bypassing Mayorga to meet Vargas, Castillejo is in serious danger of being stripped of his title.
The Castillejo and Vargas camps are hoping that the W.B.C. will sanction their match as a title fight but if not, they still plan to proceed with the bout.
Depending on how much Fernando has left, this has the makings of a very interesting battle. Since losing a twelve round decision to Oscar De La Hoya in June of 2001, Castillejo has won seven straight. Six of those wins were by knockout. Overall Javier sports a 58-5 ledger with 39 total KO’s. He is a smart and durable fighter.
Vargas has to turn back the clock if he is to win this fight. This is not an easy road to regaining his one time championship status. Fernando’s aggression and power should pose some problems for Castillejo but Javier has the tools and the style to make matters very difficult for Vargas.
Regardless of the outcome, I just think Vargas is a much better opponent for Castillejo then Mayorga. Now if Fernando does win, a match between Vargas and Mayorga could be a real thriller.
Author’s Retraction ; In a prior article that I had published earlier previewing the John Ruiz-James Toney fight, I had stated that the respected writer Frank Lotierzo had picked Ruiz to win. That was not the case. Frank had picked Toney from the beginning to win that fight. Sorry for the confusion.