Fernando Vargas
| Fernando Vargas | |||||||||||||
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Vargas in 2005
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| Real name | Fernando Javier Vargas | ||||||||||||
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| Rated at | |||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) | ||||||||||||
| Reach | 70 in (178 cm) | ||||||||||||
| Nationality | American | ||||||||||||
| Born |
December 7, 1977 Oxnard, California, U.S. |
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| Stance | Orthodox | ||||||||||||
| Boxing record | |||||||||||||
| Total fights | 31 | ||||||||||||
| Wins | 26 | ||||||||||||
| Wins by KO | 22 | ||||||||||||
| Losses | 5 | ||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Fernando Javier Vargas (born December 7, 1977) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1997 to 2007. He is a two-time light middleweight world champion, having held the IBF title from 1998 to 2000, and the WBA title from 2001 to 2002. With his IBF title win, Vargas became the youngest boxer in history to win a light middleweight world title, at age 21. As an amateur he won a bronze medal in the light welterweight division at the 1995 Pan American Games, and reached the second round of the welterweight bracket at the 1996 Olympics.
Vargas is best known for his heated rivalries against Oscar De La Hoya, Shane Mosley, and Ricardo Mayorga.
In his youth Vargas compiled a remarkable amateur record of 100-5. In 1992, he won the 132 lb. championships at the Junior Olympics Box-Offs, and came in second at the Junior Olympics. In 1993, he captured the triple crown of amateur boxing: the Junior Olympics Box-Offs, the Junior Olympics, and the Junior Olympics International tournament. The following year he solidified his position as one of the premier amateur fighters in the world by winning the 132 lb gold medal at the Olympic Festival, seizing the U.S. Junior Championships at 132 lb, and by becoming the youngest fighter ever to win the U.S. Championships. In 1995, he was selected to the 1996 U.S. Olympic Team.
Vargas lost a controversial decision in the second round of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. He was scheduled to turn pro on November 1996, however, while training for his debut bout he broke his right hand. Eager to turn pro and begin his march toward a world championship, Vargas "ferociously" followed his physical therapy program, and within five months he was ready for his professional debut.
In his professional debut on March 25, 1997, Vargas crushed Jorge Morales in just 56 seconds. He quickly beat his next five opponents, spending only eight rounds in his first six bouts. By the time of his first world championship he won all his 14 bouts by knockout. He won his first world title in 1998, knocking out Yori Boy Campas in seven rounds for the IBF light middleweight championship. Vargas successfully defended the title throughout 1999, with victories over Howard Clarke (TKO 4), Raúl Márquez (TKO 11), Winky Wright (MD 12), and Ike Quartey (UD 12).
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