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Monday, August 22, 2005
Sayson: Heaven can wait for El Feroz
By Homer Sayson
Second Overtime
CHICAGO – Fernando Vargas is here in my neck of the woods, trying to recapture the glory of his once-illustrious boxing career. And in this Windy City, which is thick as Los Angeles when it comes to Latino population, the former 154-pound king was welcomed like royalty.
In the days leading to his fight against Javier Castillejo, Fernando was everywhere. He threw a ceremonial pitch at Wrigley Field, rang the opening bell at the Chicago Stock Exchange, and he held a public workout at the almost exclusively-Hispanic neighborhood of Pilsen.
And in a stroke of marketing genius, Fernando was officially weighed-in at the very chic North Ave. Beach, Chicago’s must-go wet enclave where blondes and bombshells, often clad in the skimpiest clothing known to man, flock to either cool off from the brutal summer heat, or tan their bodies to bronzed perfection.
But all that hoopla was finally set aside last night when Fernando Vargas attended to his business in the ring. His ten-round, non-title bout against Castillejo was held at the All-State Arena in Rosemont, a Chicago suburb where O[Hare International International, the world’s busiest airport rests.
Without the monstrous traffic that usually suffocates the lanes of Chicago’s freeways, All-State Arena is just a quick 20-minute drive from my modest dwelling via interstate-90. Although I didn’t seek credentials for the fight, I considered going as a fan and rally behind Fernando, who’s been through a lot of hell since losing to Felix Trinidad and Oscar Dela Hoya in cruel succession.
Well, I didn’t go. Instead, I got to watch the fight free on HBO while downing a few shots of my favorite concoction – rum and Coke with a wedge of lime.
Vargas, a 4-1 favorite, won easily and unanimously. Judges Steve Corbo and Ted Ginza scored it 97-92 while the other juror, Mauro DiFranco, had it 96-91.
Sadly though, Vargas barely moved the excitement meter in my living room, and as I watched his cake walk against a fast-declining 37-year-old target, I struggled to win the war against boredom, lapsing in and out of consciousness.
Don’t get me wrong, Vargas still got the goods. In fact, this 27-year-old version of the Oxnard, California slugger is tamer and infinitely more mature than the 24-year-old reckless youth that dela Hoya murderously TKO’d on September 2002.
Now fighting under new trainer Dennis Smith, Vargas is more defense-oriented now. There is a noticeable economy in his punches, and he no longer goes for the wild, quick knocokut anymore. Instead, Vargas has become a patient craftsman, jabbing wisely and working on the body before finally trying to shut down foe with head shots.
The style transformation is healthy and good for Vargas’ career advancement. But it certainly isn’t appealing to his fans, who troop to his bouts and pay a small fortune expecting gore, violence and bloodshed from a man called El Feroz.
Although Vargas managed to deck Castillejo with a brief and decisive onslaught in the third round, his triumph was generally a bore. It lacked the bestial rage that we have seen over and over in previous Vargas conquests. This time around, Fernando was more sound, less fury.
And while he upped his record to 26-2 with 22 KOs, Vargas wasn’t pleased with his return to action. “I gave myself an F.”
I don’t know if the F was for being hit 119 times by Castillejo’s total of 552 punches, or if the F was for him failing to knock out an aging opponent who was by caught 192 of 479 blows. But it’s gotta be both.
Vargas’ trainer shared his pug’s disappointment. He allowed Castillejo to “touch him with too many punches.”
In June 2001, Castillejo fractured dela Hoya’s hands with his face. Indeed, the hard-charging Spaniard from Madrid (58-6, 40 KOs) wasn’t supposed to put up a gallant stand. He was supposed to be in Chicago just for the $1 million payday.
But to the former two-time world champion’ credit, he fought to earn his money, blitzing a tiring Vargas in the middle rounds, and ultimately, earning our respect.
With Castillejo safely in his rearview mirror, Vargas is rumored to be penciled for a rematch against Oscar dela Hoya on May of 2006. Money-wise, this is a fight Vargas must take, but he can’t expect to beat the Golden Boy on his second try.
Suspended for nine months for steroid use, Vargas is well and good, ready to re-conquer the junior middleweight world. El Feroz is back from hell, but judging from his Castillejo episode, Vargas is still a long way from boxing heaven.
(homsay@hotmail.com)
(August 22, 2005 issue)
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