 |
Fernando Vargas beat Javier Castillejo over ten rounds last night in Rosemont, Illinois but the former IBF Light Middle Champion faded down the stretch, allowing the Spaniard to survive two knockdowns and |
actually thrive in the latter part of the bout. "El Feroz" pledged to be more defensive last night and indeed displayed impressive upper body movement, at times looking Floyd Mayweather-like with shoulder rolls and peek-a-boo head placement. But Vargas was clearly running out of energy in the latter rounds and got hit much more than in the first half of the bout, something that doesn't bode well at all for his future. The new version of Vargas looked very impressive at times, repeatedly stinging Castillejo with rights hands at will, but if the man from Oxnard, California is to succeed against the leading lights of the current 154lb division, he'll have improve his stamina. One thought is that perhaps Vargas can no longer make the light middle limit and still remain active and strong for ten or twelve rounds.
Vargas showed much improved patience last night, studying Castillejo and capitalizing on his mistakes with sharp counters rather than forcing the issue and brawling. The power was still there in his punches as the 172lb man from Madrid was shaken several times in the bout and was sent crashing to the canvas twice. The problem was that Vargas became stationary in the latter rounds and was unable to produce the volume of offense he'd need to succeed in that method. Castillejo even became the aggressor, which he rarely does, stalking the reluctant Californian and winning more rounds than was expected.
All in all, Fernando Vargas showed he still has all the tools necessary to accomplish his goals of winning another world title but the 27 year old may have to realize those ambitions at 160lbs.
Contact Curtis McCormick at thomaspointrd@aol.com
Click to read more boxing articles by Curtis McCormick
Discuss in Boxing Forum
Related Boxing Articles...
Last Saturday in Corpus Christi, former two-time junior middleweight champion Fernando Vargas returned to the ring in a big way. Coming off a fifteen-month layoff, the ex-champion earned a well-fought >
Two-time world jr. middleweight champion Fernando Vargas and members of his training camp were sent scurrying onto East Monroe St. in Chicago at 9:00 am this morning following a fire >
HBO Sports will present a thirty- minute special, "Countdown To Vargas - Mosley", analyzing the upcoming HBO pay-per-view fight between Fernando Vargas and Shane Mosley, premiering this Saturday night, Feb. >
Miller Lite, Southwest Airlines, Sportsbook.com, and Rock Star Energy Drink have signed on as sponsors of Fernando Vargas’ August 20 bout against former world champion Javier Castillejo from the >
In Boxing, second chances don't come around very often. Many times a promising fighter is put in too deep too soon in his career >
Fernando Vargas's much anticipated return to the ring will happen on the 26th of March at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, USA. Vargas has been out of >
To promote his upcoming August 20 showdown against Javier Castillejo at the
Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL, Fernando Vargas will make an appearance at the Chicago Fire-Los Angeles Galaxy soccer game. >
To promote his upcoming August 20 showdown against Javier Castillejo at the llstate Arena in Rosemont, IL, Fernando Vargas will make an appearance at the Chicago Fire-Los Angeles Galaxy soccer >
The tickets for Fernando Vargas's long-awaited return to the ring are selling quickly and sales for the event have now cleared the $200,000 mark. Vargas will fight Dutchman Raymond Joval >
To promote his upcoming August 20 showdown against Javier Castillejo at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL, Fernando Vargas will throw out the first pitch at the Chicago Cubs-St. Louis >
