23-2-0 (21 KOs)


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 lbs., 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 Olympic Games thanks to the much-maligned and often-ridiculed Olympic scoring system. Disappointed, but undaunted, Vargas set his sights on achieving greatness in the professional ranks.

Vargas was scheduled to turn pro on November 22, 1996, however, while training for the 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.

In his professional debut on March 25, 1997, Vargas crushed Jorge Morales -- a veteran of 33 bouts -- in just 56 seconds. Immediately, a star was born.

Fernando blasted his next five opponents within two rounds, eliminating four of his five challengers in one round.

After six professional bouts, Vargas had fought a total of only eight rounds.

On October 4, 1997, in his first performance on a pay-per-view broadcast, Vargas dismantled bruising veteran Alex Quiroga (TKO 6). Vargas bounced devastating overhand rights off Quiroga's granite jaw, and mauled him with bone-crunching left hooks to the ribcage, forcing referee Eddie Cotton to stop the bout in round six.

After starching his next six opponents-all within five rounds-Vargas received his first opportunity to headline an HBO fight card.

On August 22, 1998, Vargas battled rugged New Jersey native Darren Maciunski in the co-feature bout to the Arturo Gatti-Ivan Robinson 10 round war. Both bouts were broadcast live on HBO's "Boxing After Dark" program. Fernando hammered Maciunski from the opening bell, twice dropping the relentless Maciunski on his way to earning a sixth round stoppage (TKO 6).

Vargas followed his victory over Maciunski by defeating "Yory Boy" Campas on December 12, 1998, to capture the IBF Junior Middleweight Championship.

On March 13, 1999, on the undercard of the Lennox Lewis-Evander Holyfield world heavyweight championship unification bout, Vargas successfully defended his newly-earned crown, flooring Howard Clarke four times in round four to force a stoppage (TKO 4).

Four months later on July 17, 1999, Vargas battered former IBF Jr. Middleweight Champion Raul Marquez for 11 rounds to retain his IBF crown for the second time (TKO 11). Marquez, who displayed a granite chin and a champion's heart, was unable to nullify Vargas' superior hand and foot speed. Vargas stung Marquez with 2-3 punch combinations while performing a boxing clinic that stunned ringside observers with its precision and effectiveness. The knockout victory, Vargas' 17th, tied the record set by undisputed light heavyweight champion Roy Jones, Jr. for the "Most Consecutive Knockout Wins to Begin a Champion's Career."

On October 16, the World Boxing Hall of Fame named Vargas their 1999 "Fighter of the Year."

On December 4, 1999, Vargas successfully defended his crown for the third time, capturing a majority decision over the IBF's #1 mandatory challenger Ronald "Winky" Wright (W 12). In a give-and-take brawl from the opening bell, the two fighters traded bombs for the majority of the bout, until Vargas stormed ahead in the championship rounds (rounds 10-12) winning two of the last three rounds on two judges' scorecards and all three final rounds on the third judge's scorecard.

In February 2000, Washington Redskins Strength & Conditioning Consultant John Philbin joined Team Vargas. Philbin has worked with the Redskins for seven seasons and has worked with numerous world-class athletes, such as, Herschel Walker, Edwin Moses, Willie Gault, Renaldo Nehemiah and Darrell Green.

On April 15, 2000, Vargas launched himself into boxing stardom by dominating former WBA welterweight champion Ike Quartey to capture a unanimous decision by the scores of 116-111, 116-111 and 114-113 (W 12). Vargas outjabbed, outpunched and outgutted Quartey, closing the right eye of the Accra, Ghana native with a blistering two-fisted attack to successfully defend his crown for the fourth time. Las Vegas Review Journal boxing writer Kevin Iole summarized the view of ringside observers as they exited the arena that evening: "Fernando Vargas underwent a metamorphosis Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. He entered the ring as a young champion and exited as a great champion."

On August 26, 2000, Vargas pummeled IBF #1 contender Ross Thompson to successfully defend his crown for the fifth time (TKO 4). Vargas punished Thompson, flooring the Buffalo, NY native three times with devastating overhand rights. Thompson entered the bout weighing 173 lbs-10 pounds more than Vargas entered the ring weighing. The victory set up a December 2000 unification showdown between Vargas and WBA Jr. Middleweight Champion Felix "Tito" Trinidad.

On December 2, 2000, Vargas surrendered his IBF crown to WBA Jr. Middleweight Champion Felix "Tito" Trinidad (TKOby 12). Despite being floored five times, Vargas fought back relentlessly, displaying his champion's heart time-and-time again throughout the bout. The former champion even dropped Trinidad in round four with a stinging left hook, however, by round 12, Vargas was exhausted and was unable to repel Trinidad's blistering attacks.

Vargas returned to the ring on May 5, 2001, stopping Wilfredo Rivera in six rounds (TKO 6). Vargas shook off a second round knockdown and stormed back in rounds five and six with vicious body punches and stinging left hooks to force Rivera's manager to intervene and demand a stoppage.

On September 22, 2001, Vargas captured the vacant WBA jr. middleweight crown, dismantling WBA #1 ranked contender Jose "Shibata" Flores in seven rounds (KO 7). A torrent of crippling body punches and a series of combinations to the head dropped Flores to the canvas at the 2:55 mark of round seven. Unable to climb to his feet, the tough, durable Navajoa, Mexican was counted out by referee Joe Cortez. Vargas' punishing victory over his friend and former sparring partner also earned him the vacant IBA jr. middleweight title.

On September 14, 2002, Vargas surrendered his WBA and IBA titles to Oscar De La Hoya in an historical Jr. Middleweight championship unification showdown that filled the Mandalay Bay Events Center to capacity and sold approximately one million pay-per-view buys. In the early rounds Vargas used his natural strength to bully de la Hoya against the ropes and land right hands to the head and body; however, in the middle and late rounds Vargas tired and de la Hoya's hand speed took over. After hurting Vargas at the end of round 10, De La Hoya dropped the gritty Oxnard, CA native in round 11 with a left hook to the head, and stopped him moments later with a flurry at the 1:48 mark of the round (LTKO 11).