Ferocious Fernando Vargas Chicago Fighting Arts Magazine

By Rea Frey

It’s a good day for Chicago. Mexican boxing fans flock to JABB Boxing Gym, a relatively new enterprise in Chicago founded by 8 Count Productions front man, Dominic Pesoli. Fans and fellow boxers await the arrival of one of their most beloved fighters, “Ferocious” Fernando Vargas.

Vargas is a young fighter whose emotions have often been on display in the ring. Fans have watched him grow from a young, hotheaded kid who once tested positive for steroids to a more composed and mature fighter, as seen in his last fight with Raymond Joval. At only 27 years old, the California fighter has accomplished a great deal—he’s a two-time junior middleweight world champion now on a quest for the WBC title. Vargas’s upcoming fight is set for August 6 at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. He does not yet have a set opponent, but has many great opportunities for a potentially explosive fight.

Upon Vargas’s entrance, fans are drawn to him, and photographers vie for a clear shot of the stocky fighter. The occasional child runs up expectantly, hoping to grab a shot with the two-time world champ, or have him sign a brand-new boxing glove. After a lengthy picture session, Vargas takes his seat at the conference table, surrounded by the “Ferocious Squad,” which consists of his manager, Rolando Arellano, and a slew of other supporters. Arellano stands behind the small podium, announcing how happy he is to be in Chicago despite his original reservations to set a fight here.

Finally, Vargas is introduced. “I’m a gambling man. I like to take my risks and that’s why I’m here. I know that us hard-working, blue-collared Mexican-Americans, blacks, and Puerto Ricans appreciate the fact that we come here. Because it gets hard being a Mexican and having kids . . . I understand that getting the flights to Vegas, getting the tickets is hard . . . so I said to myself, I’m going to come over here where my fans don’t usually get a fight of this magnitude. And they’ll appreciate it. So I’m here and I’m excited,” he says.

When asked if he will return to 154 pounds for his next fight, Vargas explains that while initially he thought he could not make 154, he feels that he can with his new strength and wellness coach. He’s excited about going back to 154 and doing what is necessary for the WBC title. “There are some great fights at 154. I think Trinidad is going to get Winky Wright out of there, and I want to resurrect him, and I want to fight Winky Wright because he talks a lot. I still want him.” He mentions Mayorga as well, saying that these are the fights that Mexicans want to see.

One reporter asks Vargas what he would say to the critics who think his best years are behind him. Vargas smirks, his dark eyes hidden behind his sunglasses. “It’s like this. I won my last three fights, looking better each time. And, you know, people are going to say what they want to say. All I know is that whenever I show up to fight, my people show up. Obviously, if they thought I was finished, why do they continue to show up and show me that I’m not?”

When asked if he has an opponent in sight, Vargas says that he does not handle the matchmaking, but that he would not mind getting a rematch with Trinidad or De La Hoya. As far as the upcoming Chicago fight, however, he does not worry about the match—he will simply show up and do his job.