By Vivek Wallace: In a very rare Friday night Showtime pay-per-view telecast, fight fans will get a chance to see a true ‘head-bangers brawl’ when Nicaraguan wildman Ricardo Mayorga (28-6-1, 23KO’s) squares off against Mexican Fernando Vargas (26-4, 22KO’s). Although neither man stands close to the mythical pound for pound ledger, this is a fight that remains at a high interest level among fight fans because it pairs two of the most animated figures to ever lace a pair up..
Adding to the intrigue would be the many questions that have loomed around the bout, particularly within the last few months after the fight was rescheduled, only to later see Mayorga force fed a weight change of plans, due to what was termed as a “blood deficiency” related health issue in the Vargas camp.
What can fight fans expect when the bell finally sounds? The only certainty in this affair is that neither man will make a habit of backing up. And if they do, it’ll symbolize the end for that man, because the one across from him surely won’t. This fight borders somewhere between pure evil, and pure hatred, with both men vowing early KO’s, and actually having the rambunctious capacity necessary to go in and attempt to make it happen at all cost.
How long this fight will go is a question that only time can answer, but if recent fights are any indication, Ricardo Mayorga may very well be the last man standing. Skeptics continue to raise valid questions relative to Vargas’ late fight stamina, and his recent ring appearances haven’t exactly closed the chapter on such arguments. There’s no better example of a ‘shop-worn’ fighter than a man exiting the sport prior to age 30, but to Vargas’ credit his only losses have come to future hall-of-famers; (Shane Mosley twice, Oscar Dela Hoya, and Felix ‘Tito’ Trinidad). Considering that this is the fight he designated as his farewell bout, one would expect that Vargas will come out to ‘pull-the- curtains’ in a dramatic fashion, but that may be a tough task to ask against a stubborn, and very loose cannon like Ricardo Mayorga.
Although many question Mayorga’s talent, take away two losses early in his career, and his only other losses were to elite figures in the sport as well. Don’t expect to see any ‘A’ level boxing in this one. The only jabs thrown will be the ones of verbal nature back in forth in the media. I expect to see Mayorga give Vargas all he can handle, and although I won’t go out on a limb and make a prediction, I will say that to me this fight is a classic toss up. Look for both men to have their moments, but the goosebumps that culminate into thoughts of totality may be enough to give “El Feroz” that final punctuation on a paragraph over looking what has been a very storied career. Highly possible, but I’m not so sure I’d put money on it. The only winner that can accurately be predicted in this one is the fan. This has been a helluva year for the sport and next year is shaping up to match, if not exceed what we’ve seen thus far. Even without any high skill level involved, simply for the two combatants at hand, this could have fight of the year implications. So get your popcorn ready, and don’t stray too far from your seat. You may find yourself returning to witness Jimmy Lennon Jr. announce the victor.
As a prelude to this affair I can only muster three words…..Run for cover….The bombs will definitely drop in this one.
(Got Feedback?: Write Vivek Wallace at vivexemail@yahoo.com or show some love at www.myspace.com/anonymouslyinvolved).