Sunday, November 25, 2007 Quijano: A ferocious finish By Jingo Quijano Last Round
FOLLOWING his unanimous decision loss to Nicaraguan mauler Ricardo Mayorga, Fernando Vargas reportedly confirmed his plan to retire.
Based on various internet reports, Vargas gave it his all, but lost a close fight with plenty of two-way action. Two knockdowns--one in the first and the other in the eleventh round--weighed heavily against him on the cards.
When it comes to retirement issues, boxers probably rival politicians for breaking their promises. Sugar Ray Leonard un-retired several times and it had to take a humiliating beat-down from Puerto Rican loudmouth Hector “Macho” Camacho to make it stick.
In the heavyweight division, only three men retired as champions and stayed that way: Gene Tunney, Rocky Marciano and Lennox Lewis. The rest just couldn’t stay away and were forced into real retirement by embarrassing losses, which only sullied and tarnished their sterling records. Larry Holmes.
Mike Tyson. Muhammad Ali. The list is endless.
Just recently, Bernard Hopkins turned back on his promise to his mother not to continue fighting past the age of 40. Not that I’m complaining. But I bet Antonio Tarver and Winky Wright wish “The Executioner” was more forthright and sincere.
If indeed “El Feroz” retires, how will he be remembered?
STRENGTHS. Vargas was a decent boxer with power in both hands. He won his first 17 bouts via the short route and loved to intimidate his opponents with a potent mix of aggression and fierce determination.
WEAKNESSES. His suspect chin limited his success. He lost all his greatest battles via knockout. His hand speed and reflexes were just average and his defense was inconsistent.
He also battled a lot of injuries. Back problems, an underactive thyroid, and just before the Mayorga fight, an iron deficiency caused by sores in his stomach. He also went through a bevy of trainers--Eduardo Garcia, Buddy Mcgirt and Danny Smith.
QUALITY OF OPPOSITION. He gets high marks for the sheer quality of opposition. But unfortunately, he lost to all of the A-list fighters he fought. Felix Trinidad, Oscar dela Hoya, Shane Mosely.
The best names on his victim list are Winky Wright (controversially), Ike Quartey and Javier Castillejo.
TITLES HELD. He beat Yory Boy Campas to win the IBF junior middleweight title and successfully defended it 5 times. He also captured the vacant WBA junior middleweight title but lost it to dela Hoya in his next fight.
INTANGIBLES. If for anything this is probably how Vargas will be best remembered. He was always exciting and fun to watch. He was an intense fighter and fancied himself as the “Aztec Warrior”. He was wildly popular to his fans and he left nothing in the ring.
My guess is that Vargas is done with fighting. Even while he was an active fighter, he was also into so many other things. A clothing line named Nawshis. A Ferocious Records label. He also dabbled in acting and recently appeared in the 2006 release “Alpha Dog” with Justin Timberlake.
Vargas is a young man with his health and wealth intact. He can proudly walk away from the fight game knowing he gave us some of the most enjoyable fights we have seen in recent years.
THANKS. I received a ton of e-mails from readers who liked my piece “It’s the boxer, not the belt”. Thanks to Norman Mina, (minano@lha1.navy.mil), a regular in many Las Vegas fight; Gabriel Lazaro Jr (gabrielllazarojr@yahoo.com) who thinks that Manny might be the one who will save boxing from its ills; and also to Kim Medrano, (biagnosis@yahoo.com.ph) who was gracious enough to share his expert views on the on the matter.
LAST ROUND. And hopefully several more on Sun.Star who turns 25 today and on my Latagaw brod Atty. Fillmore Gomos who celebrates his birthday this week. Cheers!
