“El Feroz” gets first chance to avenge a loss courtesy of “Sugar” Shane Mosley

LAS VEGAS — Fernando Vargas’ 9-year professional boxing career is relatively short and he is only 29 years old. In boxing years and given his numerous high profile bouts, he is a seasoned veteran who has absorbed severe punishment. The general consensus is that he may be a shot fighter after brutal losses to Felix “Tito” Trinidad and Oscar de la Hoya.



One thing is certain. After defeats to those two superstars, “El Feroz” (26-3, 22 KOs) is not the same fighter. He demonstrated some of his old luster against Shane Mosley (42-2, 36 KOs) in their bout back in February --which Mosley won by TKO when the fight was stopped in the 10th round because of a huge swelling around Vargas’ left eye. As customary, Vargas started slowly, losing the early rounds and getting his left eye inflated like a balloon. “El Feroz” fared better in the latter rounds and was gaining momentum backing off Mosley and putting him on the defensive until referee Joe Cortez ended the bout.

The rematch clash will take place on July 15 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas (9 p.m., HBO PPV, $49.95).

This will be the first rematch of Vargas' career. A two-time world champion, he never got the chance to avenge previous TKO losses to De La Hoya in 2002 and Trinidad in 2000.

At only 29 years of age, Vargas has more at stake and appears to be the hungrier fighter. Losing twice to the talented but soft-punching Mosley would almost guarantee the end of his career and would certainly reinforce the notion that is a shot boxer.

A win on the other hand, would spring up opportunities such as a blockbuster fight with Jermain Taylor or Bernard Hopkins as he moves from the 154 to the 160 pounds division.

Vargas is confident and is convinced that he was on his way to winning their first bout until the fight was stopped. “I understand if he was punishing me on the rope, then I would say, OK, he was the better man,” Vargas said. “It was his fight and respect to him. I was putting pressure and he thought that I was going to tire and fade out, but he was the one that was fading out.”

Mosley’s father, Jack, returns as his trainer for this fight.



Fernando Vargas is a box office hit. His fans helped generate over 400,000 PPV buys for the first bout against Mosley. Latino fans are among the broad array of boxing aficionados that love Vargas' fearless, toe-to-toe boxing style.

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