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Warriors and Bicycles
With September 14th closing upon us, the Vargas - De La Hoya fight will either be the Fight of the Year or Las Vegas's version of the Tour De France.
It's the classic brawler vs. boxer match where Vargas will try to dominate De La Hoya with power punches much the same way Mike Tyson used to dominate his early opponents while De La Hoya will try to utilize his jab to counter and set up his own combos ala Sugar Ray Leonard. The one thing that can be said with 100% certainty is that these two guys hate each other.
Vargas has said that De La Hoya is not a true Mexican (because he feels De La Hoya got on his bicycle in some of his previous fights) and of course, De La Hoya takes exception to that. What does "on his bicycle mean?" It simply means he runs instead of fights. Vargas feels that this tactic is a slap in the face to all of the Great Mexican Champions of the past. Bottom line, Vargas feels De La Hoya is a chicken. The Question for the match will be is De La Hoya going to join the Tour De France and jump on his bicycle and run circles around Vargas until the end of the 12th round?
The answer to that depends on whether De La Hoya gets tagged early or not. I believe he will.
First, lets look at the tale of the tape:
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Oscar De La
Hoya is 29 years of age
His record is 34 - 2 with 27 knockouts He stands 5 feet 10 inches He has a reach of 73 inches He's from East L.A., CA Nickname: Golden Boy WBC Super welterweight Champion |
Fernando
Vargas is 24 years old
His record is 22 - 1 with 20 knockouts He stands 5 feet 10 inches He has a reach of 74 inches He's from Oxnard, CA Nicknames: Ferocious and Aztec Warrior WBA Super welterweight Champion |
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Common Opponents: Felix Trinidad - De La Hoya lost a 12 round decision Vargas was TKO'd in the 12th
Wilfredo Rivera - De La Hoya won in 8 rounds by TKO Vargas won in 6 rounds by TKO
Ike Quartey - De La Hoya won a 12 round decision Vargas won a 12 round decision
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As you can see, these guys are extremely alike in just about every category. But if you've ever seen them fight, you know they have totally different styles. Vargas likes to trade punches (even when he's hurt) while De La Hoya likes to box (and runs if he's hurt). Here is my look as to how the fight will shape up round by round.
Round 1 Both men come to the center of the ring, De La Hoya quickly tries to establish his jab. Vargas just wants to brawl and takes some chances to get into De La Hoya's defenses. Vargas has been waiting along time for this. Vargas throws some jabs, not landing any, but then rushes in and bangs to the body. De La Hoya pushes him off and at the end of the round is able to tag Vargas with a couple of punches to win the round. 10 -9 De La Hoya
Round 2 Vargas rushes in and throws some jabs to set-up an over hand right only to get caught with a few of De La Hoya's jabs. Vargas gets a little frustrated because De La Hoya is showing a lot of lateral movement and won't trade punches with Vargas. Vargas pushes the fight but De La Hoya is able to keep him off with his jab. Vargas wants to punish De La Hoya which is costing him the fight. 10 - 9 De La Hoya
Round 3 Vargas starts to settle down and begins to box De La Hoya the way is boxed Quartey. Vargas starts to cut off the ring and lands some punches that sting De La Hoya. The jab begins to fail De La Hoya. 10 - 9 Vargas
Round 4 Vargas starts to figure out De La Hoya and is able to keep him from circling the ring. He lands some over hand rights and some good body shots. De La Hoya tries to punch back and begins to brawl falling into Vargas's game. 10 - 9 Vargas
Round 5 Vargas thinks he got De La Hoya in the position he wanted him in but he's wrong. De La Hoya hop's on his bicycle the way he did with Shane Mosley. Vargas starts to get frustrated because he can't cut off the ring because De La Hoya is running. Not much action. 10 - 9 Vargas
Round 6 - 10 Much of the same with De La Hoya on his bicycle. He lands some outside jabs and flurries at the end of each round to win three. Vargas can't find his reach put is still persistent. Three rounds De La Hoya 10 -9 Two rounds Vargas 10 - 9
Round 11 Vargas goes for it. He throws everything in his arsenal at De La Hoya. He catches De La Hoya with an uppercut that puts him down. De La Hoya beats the count and tries to survive the round. Vargas flurries but De La Hoya hangs on. 10 - 8 Vargas
Round 12 De La Hoya recuperates and gets on his bicycle for the final round. Vargas, smelling blood, gets careless the way he did with Trinidad and gets caught with a stiff jab that sets up a straight right. He goes down only to get right back up and trade punches. De La Hoya tries to close out the fight but he too gets tagged with a wild left. De La Hoya hop's on his bicycle again until the round ends. 10 - 9 De La Hoya
Final: Vargas 114 - De La Hoya 113 - Fernando Vargas wins a Unanimous decision to become the new WBC Champion and gets bragging rights to Los Angeles.
This will not be the fight of the year but it will have its moments. I'd like to see De La Hoya get knocked out but the truth is he got a great defense in the bicycle technique. And to his credit, he is also a good boxer if he decides not to run (for all you De La Hoya fans). My mind says a 12 round decision but my guts wants a KO. I hope Vargas doesn't get careless because he might find himself on the canvas ala the Trinidad fight and I'll end up getting what I want...only the wrong outcome.
Can't wait to see. SN
(8/30/02) |
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