Fernando Vargas (born December 7, 1977) is a former Mexican American boxer and two-time world champion, who won a bronze medal as an amateur at the 1995 Pan American Games in Mar del Plata. His nicknames include "Ferocious", "The Aztec Warrior" and "El Feroz".
Some of Fernando's notable wins include victories over former world champions Raul Marquez, Ike Quartey and Winky Wright. His losses to Felix Trinidad, Oscar de la Hoya, Shane Mosley and Ricardo Mayorga remain his only career defeats and he is a favorite of American cable TV giant HBO.
Fernando is very good friends with Julio César Chávez; Chavez has been part of Vargas' ring entourage in at least two fights (the fight with Trinidad and the fight with de la Hoya).
Amateur career
Vargas, a Mexican American, was born in Oxnard, California. In his youth, Vargas trained at the popular La Colonia Youth Boxing Club in the La Colonia Barrio neighborhood of Oxnard, California. Fernando Vargas compiled an extraordinary 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. Disappointed, but undaunted, Vargas set his sights on achieving greatness in the professional ranks.
Vargas 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.
Professional career
In his professional debut on March 25, 1997, Vargas crushed Jorge Morales in just 56 seconds. Immediately, a star was born. Fernando blasted his next five opponents all within two rounds, eliminating four of his five challengers in one round each. After six professional bouts, Vargas had fought a total of only eight rounds. Vargas racked up an impressive record of 14 victories with 14 KOs against no defeats by the time he fought for his first world championship.
Vargas won his first world title in 1998, knocking out Yori Boy Campas in seven rounds for the IBF light middleweight championship, becoming the youngest champion in the light middleweight division's history [21 years and 5 months]. Vargas successfully defended the title throughout 1999, with victories over Howard Clarke (TKO 4), Raul Marquez (TKO 11), Winky Wright (MD 12), and Ike Quartey (UD 12).
