A WARRIORS PRIDE: MY JOURNEY WITH FERNANDO VARGAS PART 2 OF 2

   He then rallied in the late rounds to salvage a victory over Winky Wright although most thought Wright won, there is no denying that Fernando did dig down into his heart and will and brought out a title saving effort the last couple of rounds. Back when nobody was giving Wright a shot because of how dangerous he was, Vargas accepted the challenge. I had a getaway weekend at Kelley Air Force base with my now ex wife the weekend that Vargas fought Ike Quartey, a fight that caused a fight between us back then, because I had told her that we could either go eat before or after the fight because I wasn’t going to miss it. He then beat up Ross Thompson in a fight where Thompson angered Vargas with his antics at the pre fight conferences. After Ross had called him a bum, Vargas then paraded around the ring after the stoppage yelling out “Who’s the bum now?” That bout set up his fight with Felix Trinidad, a bout that many knew was going to be a great fight because of the styles. It may have turned into a man being physically stronger then a still developing Vargas, but the way Fernando bounced back from a near 1st round defeat and lasted until the final round had everyone I knew talking about what a big heart he has. Later Shibata Flores came a few days to Tahoe and worked out of the garage/gym that Juan Torres and I trained at. The place I called “The Pit” because in my mind sparring sessions in the small confines of a garage with the heat turned up mimicked an underground fight pit. Flores was set to fight Vargas in 2001 and was with Carlos Bojorques who had defeated Pernell Whitaker and was headlining a Friday Night Fights in Tahoe that I had my second pro fight on. I remember Flores singing and dancing in the gym, a great guy, but when he was stopped by Vargas, I remember thinking “well at least he has a career in music to fall back on?” I said that not knowing that Flores did sing in Mexico and had in fact released an album or two?

   The Flores fight was a prelude to Vargas’s next major contest, the one he and many fans dreamed of versus Oscar De La Hoya. Being Mexican, you where either a fan of Oscar for all his accomplishments and for fighting his way out of East L.A. while being a positive role model, or you where down with how real Fernando Vargas kept it with his Mexican fans and roots? Alot like the turf war battle between Johnny Tapia and Danny Romero, with De La Hoya in the Romero over privileged role, while Vargas had the Tapia underprivileged role. Prior to becoming a scribe and actually being in attendance at some of the biggest fights, my favorite spot for the big fights was at either one of the Bully’s sports bar chains in Northern Nevada. I was living in Carson City at the time so it was Carson City’s Bully’s where I witnessed the De La Hoya-Vargas battle. In a fight that was back and forth much of the way, De La Hoya prevailed and Vargas’s career dream of defeating De La Hoya did not come true. Although his courageous effort made his fan base increase. Despite a steroid controversy after the De La Hoya bout, Vargas still drew huge crowds in his subsequent bouts. Two defeats to Shane Mosley and a defeat to Ricardo Mayorga after bulging discs in his back had started to affect his movements and forced Fernando into retirement.

  Much like a Thomas Hearns, although coming up short in big bouts, it was his courageous efforts in those bouts that he will and should be known for, and one of the reasons why when he shows up in attendance to this day at a big event, his name still draws loud roars from the many fans that like this scribe have some fond memories. Another reason is clear, Fernando is proud of his roots and has never left, It is the pride of being Mexican blooded that makes the Mexican and Mexican-American fans proud to support him. For any Mexican-American in life, not just sports, you know how hard it is to please the pure Mexicans, weather they are family or fans. Fernando accomplished acceptance in both mixed and pure Mexican Cultures, and that in itself is a major accomplishment.

  Although there was talk about Vargas returning to the ring at certain times in the first few years after Fernando announced his retirement, Vargas stayed retired and now is a trainer in Las Vegas with his 3 Sons that all box! My mind is set on where Vargas stands in my history, I went many places, saw many things, and the career of Fernando Vargas traveled with me. Let’s hope the Hall of Fame calls his name someday and his name will have a permanent place, not just in the minds of the fans, but also in the heart of boxing history!