Fernando Vargas v Javier Castillejio – Preview Analysis

Let’s look back to the year 2000.

Ferocious Fernando Vargas was arguably the number 1 man in the 154 pound Division. His main rival was fellow Olympian David Reid. Both men seemed to be on a collision course. Reid was unbeaten as a professional and was WBA Champion, Vargas was unbeaten as a professional

and had been IBF champion for just over a year and had negotiated successful title defences against the likes of Raul Marquez, Ronald Wright and Ike Quartey. Then for both men things suddenly changed In that year they both ran into one man Felix “Tito” Trinidad.

In March 2000 Reid lost his unbeaten record to Trinidad and all but vanished from the boxing picture. Vargas who at the close of 2000 was unbeaten in twenty professional bouts then attempted to step up to the next level and unify against Trinidad. In a contender for that years fight of the year Vargas showing tremendous courage bounced back from two first round knockdowns before eventually succumbing to the future hall of famer in the 12th.

Many thought this was the end for Vargas but he returned later the next year to win the WBA version of the title. After another devastating defeat against Oscar De La Hoya in another attempt to unify the 154 pound crown he has rebuilt his career with 3 successive wins.

Castillijo has campaigned for most of his career in his home country of Spain.
In his one bout in the United States he was widely outpointed by Oscar De La Hoya. The other names of note on his record are Laurent Boudouani and Roman Karmazin who he has lost to and beaten respectively.

So the outcome on the 20th?
For me this a real chance for Vargas to put his name right back into the mix in the 154 pound division. People may think Vargas could be damaged goods after devastating defeats to Trinidad and De La Hoya but I beg to differ. In his 3 bouts since he has looked quite impressive and I believe there’s still enough there to be a player in the light middleweight division.

Castillijo on the other hand at 37 years of age certainly must be at the stage where the well will eventually run dry. He appears to be one of them guys who will stick in there even though he the fight is going against him. He certainly did against De La Hoya even though he was floored in the 12th.

I personally favour Vargas in this one. I think he will show his full repertoire of skills and the carrot ahead of him is a potential title bout against Ricardo Mayorga in a bout that will surely sell itself.

I don’t think Vargas will stop Castillejo but I think he will win a wide Unanimous Decision to set up the mouth watering Mayorga clash for the WBC title.

Lee Bellfield