SaddoBoxing Writers Predict: Fernando Vargas vs. Raymond Joval.

What did we lose when Fernando Vargas underwent an enforced hiatus from boxing over a year ago? A young phenomenon in need of a wake-up call to stir his true potential, or just a very good fighter that fell short in the most esteemed company? As intriguing a question as that is, it pales in

comparison to that of exactly what kind of fighter is Vargas after the dissipation of the cloud of injuries surrounding his career? Despite his high-profile losses to Felix Trinidad and Oscar de la Hoya, Vargas maintains a certain aura. Whether he is destined to fail at the highest level is unknown, but his tenacity and entertainment value make his fights compulsive spectacles nonetheless. This Saturday, Dutchman Raymond Joval presents the first obstacle in Vargas’s rehabilitation. Joval knows the resistance of solid middleweight opposition, but he has never faced a fighter as formidable as Vargas. While no fight is a formality, one cannot help but wonder where this new path Vargas treads will lead. Bernard Hopkins, Felix Trinidad, Ronald Wright, Jermain Taylor, Howard Eastman and Felix Sturm are the principal players in the middleweight ranks; Saturday night may tell us how close Vargas is to resuming his place amongst such reputable names. Until then, allow the SaddoBoxing.com writers to illuminate you with their viewpoints regarding Saturday night’s big fight.

Lee Bellfield: Contrary to popular belief, I don’t think that Vargas is a spent force and has still a lot to offer. Vargas by mid rounds KO.

Greig Johnston: I’ll be very interested to see how Vargas comes back. Can he once again scale the lofty heights of the late nineties? My guess is no, but he’ll be too much for Raymond Joval, even fighting at 160-pounds. Joval is solid but unspectacular, and I see him doing everything to survive as Vargas pounds out a big decision win.

Jim Cawkwell: The intrigue here for me is not about how great a test Joval provides for Vargas, but how Vargas responds after being out for so long. The scene is changing in the middleweight division and it is not as glamorous as some may like to believe. Bernard Hopkins will soon retire, Howard Eastman’s limitations are exposed, Felix Sturm seems satisfied to campaign in Germany, I feel that Felix Trinidad may retire if he loses to Ronald Wright, and Wright himself may opt to return to light middleweight if the heat at 160-pounds proves too great for him. Hope lies in the younger generation in the form of Jermain Taylor’s challenge to Hopkins and in Vargas, who despite having contested major fights is still a young fighter. I am hoping to see a reinvigorated Vargas stopping Joval shortly after the halfway point of the fight. Hopefully, his performance will help us gauge how he might fare against sterner opposition.

James MacDonald: Vargas by KO in the middle rounds. I don’t imagine they’d put Vargas in with anyone dangerous for his comeback.

Saddo: Well….will this be the second coming of Vargas? I think yes, and this match-up is designed to make him look good. Funny that there isn’t much talk about this fight on the forum but never underestimate this young guy who holds a controversial win over “Winky” Wright. Vargas via late KO then let the bandwagon wheels roll.

Edwin Gonzalez: I think Fernando Vargas has had his day in the sun. His best days are behind him. He clearly has not been the same fighter since the Trinidad fight. He was knocked down by Wilfredo Rivera, struggled with Shibata Flores, lost a tough-tough fight to a man he wanted to beat real bad in Oscar de la Hoya and then looked real sloppy against Fitz Vanderpool. He did fight one more timeafterthat on Telefutura, a show that usually show-cases young up and coming fighters. The times we have seen veteran fighters on this programs, it usually meant that they are on the downside. Now up against Raymond Joval this Saturday, I feel that Joval has the experience to carry him through to win this fight. Plus, Vargas is vulnerable to massive head shots. I really like Fernando Vargas; I would hate to see him get hurt. I would like to see Vargas step away from the game with his health intact. He gave us many thrills. So, in this fight I take Raymond Joval via split decision. If it was against the old Fernando Vargas, Joval wouldn’t have had a chance. Thank you, enjoy the fight.

Katrina Walters: Personally, I like Vargas to win this fight. He has been gone a minute, and I believe he is going out to prove that he is still a force in the boxing world. I predict Vargas for an early stoppage.

Richard Eberline: Fernando Vargas hasn’t fought for about a year and a half and is now coming back as a middleweight against Raymond Joval. I’ve got to wonder about Vargas’ confidence level ever since he was beaten in that absolute slugfest with Felix Trinidad. I still think “El Feroz” was on his way to knocking Tito out before the Puerto Rican great nailed him below the belt a few times to stave that off. Anyways, Joval is the perfect opponent to come back against. He can fight, sure, but even a rusty Vargas should be good enough to get past the Dutchman, who does have a credible record and looks good on paper. It will be interesting to see how Fernando does as a middleweight and if he can maintain his superb KO ratio at that higher weight class. Joval has never been stopped in his career and I think Vargas will focus on getting much-needed rounds under his belt rather than pressing for an early finish. Vargas by twelve-round unanimous decision in a good fight that should tell us a lot about his future prospects.

If you would like to be a part of the SaddoBoxing.com team, contact Jim Cawkwell at jimcawkwell@yahoo.co.uk