Mayorga Outpoints Vargas
By Bill Calogero, TheDailySports. com: Ricardo Mayorga won a majority decision over Fernando Vargas to capture the WBC Continental Americas Super Middleweight Title on Friday night from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The bout was promoted by Don King and Main Events and was broadcast live on PPV.
“The Brawl” as it was billed, was yet another good fight for this very resurgent year in Professional Boxing. Both fighters showed a real dislike for each other for the very long promotional period. One of the reasons for the delay was that the fight was at a “catch-weight” of 166lbs. Ricardo Mayorga had to gain over twenty pounds. Fernando Vargas had to lose almost one hundred..
In a fight that promised a brawl, and one that most experts would agree to have expected a brawl, it turned out to be an exciting and action-packed contest. There were times it was a brawl and there were times when it was championship caliber Pro Boxing, even though having the bout for the vacant WBC Continental Americas Super Middleweight Title (what title?) was a stretch, it all in all was a entertaining fight to watch.
The first round began exactly how it was billed and what most expected; Mayorga came out like the Tasmanian Devil, throwing bunches of punches from all over the place in an all out wild manner. Vargas didn’t do much for that first minute except cover up. When there was a lull in the action, Ricardo landed an uppercut to the body that sent Vargas down. He was up quickly and held on. Fernando looked very slow to me.
Vargas came out continuing to look slow and despite looking like he was in good shape, was acting like he was not as the time ticked away during the second round. He was able to land several jabs and a few harder punches, but Ricardo Mayorga continued to work Vargas’ body, keeping Fernando retreating. Mayorga followed his body attack with several over-hand rights that kept Vargas from doing much. I scored the round for Mayorga.
Mayorga came out like a wild man to start the third. During one of his assaults to the body and head of Vargas, a solid punch opened up a cut over Fernando’s left eye. As the round was nearing its end, it was Fernando who came on, landing several right-left-right combinations. Although it was a close round, on my scorecard, I gave the edge to Ricardo Mayorga.
The fourth, fifth and sixth rounds, on my scorecard, all belonged to Fernando Vargas. During these three rounds both fighters landed punches. Both fighters were stunned by the other’s right hand and both fighters landed well to the body. Vargas was boxing better. He was on his toes a little more and seemed to be much more relaxed than he was for the first three rounds. All three of these rounds were action-packed and for the most part were toe-to-toe in the center of the ring for good lengths of time during each. Fernando’s superior boxing skill was beginning to come through giving him the edge on each of these rounds, in my opinion.
However, also happening at the same time during the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds, was something I was not used to seeing. A controlled Ricardo Mayorga. A Ricardo Mayorga that seemed to actually be thinking and following a game plan. Although I gave the edge to Vargas during these three rounds, it was Ricardo Mayorga that was beginning to take control of this fight.
During the seventh round, Ricardo Mayorga was able to consistently land his over-hand right, which was landing flush on the head of Fernando Vargas. These shots clearly stunned him several times during the round. Ricardo Mayorga was able to mix in devastating body shots and his powerful right hand to control this round in a very big way.
The eighth round picked up where the seventh left off. Mayorga controlled the fight and seemed to still have plenty of fuel left in his tank, while Vargas seemed to be looking for a gas station. It was clearly Maryorga’s round but when nearing the closing bell, Vargas came back to land a crushing right that sent Mayorga backwards for the first time during the fight. He was clearly stunned as the bell sounded to end the round.
Vargas came back strong in the ninth round. He threw several flurries of punches, all with power to slow down Mayorga’s attack. This round in my opinion was a combination of a very aggressive Fernando Vargas and a resting Ricardo Mayorga. This round on my scorecard went to Vargas.
The tenth round was the first round that both fighters clenched each other. They also both landed punches, both jabs and solid punches, to the head and body of each other. It was a close round, but one thing was clear; both fighters needed a rest. On my card, I gave the edge to Vargas.
The eleventh round had Mayorga continuing to exhibit control and was able to have his way with Fernando Vargas. He landed body shots and his over-hand right kept landing very flush on the head of Vargas. Vargas continued to fight back, landing hard rights and throwing punches in three and four punch combinations. As the round drew to a close, Mayorga landed a right hand on the chin of Vargas, sending him down to the canvas for the second time during the fight. He was up quickly, but was very wobbly as the bell sounded to end the round.
The twelfth round belonged to Vargas. He was the aggressor, following Mayorga around, while Ricardo stayed cool and fought like he did not want to make any mistakes. Vargas was clearly the busier fighter, thus giving him the round on my card.
One judge scored the fight even at 113-113, while the second had it 114-112 and the third saw it at 115-111, all in favor of Ricardo Mayorga. TheDailySports.com scored the fight 114-112 also in favor of Ricardo Mayorga.
It was a good fight. It showcased two fighters that wanted to have a memorable performance. This fight actually meant something to both fighters and it showed. One wanted to go out on top, while the other wants to make a run at a world title one more time. It was a very entertaining fight. It was much better than just a brawl.
Ricardo Mayorga improves to 28-6-1-1 NC (22 KOs). He proved to me, and I hope everyone else who saw this fight, that if he can continue to operate in this more controlled version of Ricardo Mayorga, he very well may be able to make another run.
Fernando Vargas, despite being the younger fighter, looked like the older one. Don’t get me wrong, he did very well and performed like the Warrior he always is. He has been one of my favorite fighters for a long time, but I for one, am glad and confident that we saw the last of Fernando Vargas in the ring. He drops to 26-5 (22 KOs) and has nothing to hang his head about. He had a great career and went out fighting to the final bell. He now, at a very young age, has the opportunity to spend quality time with his family.
Both fighters gave it their all and the end result was another above average fight. I personally didn’t think it should have been a PPV, but it was a good one. I think I would have liked to see it on a premium network, rather than as a PPV.
The co-feature was also a very entertaining fight. Kermit Cintron retained his IBF Welterweight Title with a 10th round TKO over the game Jesse Feliciano in the scheduled twelve round title fight.
This fight saw non-stop action from the opening bell until the fight was halted at 1:53 of the tenth round by referee Jon Schorle.
Cintron had the power, but it did not seem to affect Feliciano for much of the contest. Jesse Feliciano was actually dominating the fight with his non-stop assault of punches, right in the face of the Champion. No matter what Cintron did to try and box and utilize his much longer arm reach, Jesse was right there in his chest throwing and landing punches.
A stunning left-right combination, landing flush on the chin of Feliciano in the tenth, sent the challenger back towards the ropes, with his hands low. Kermit Cintron came on strong, throwing punches from every angle, landing most with no return fire from Jesse, resulting in the stoppage.
Kermit Cintron improves to 29-1 (27 KOs), but appeared to seriously injure his right hand during his barrage of punches that led to the stoppage. This injury may prolong the road to the unification of the Welterweight Titles.
There aren’t enough words to describe the “bottom” as Pierce Eagan would have put it, that Jesse Feliciano exhibited during this fight. He is one tough character and I am sure his value went up, despite coming out with the L in this fight. He drops to 15-6-3 (9 KOs) but will surely be back. He has certainly become a fan favorite.
In other under card action, Roman Karmazin used a devastating four-punch combination (a left hook to the body, right to the head, left hook to the body and right cross to the head) to drop Alejandro Garcia down and out at 1:24 of the third round to win the vacant WBA Intercontinental Super Welterweight Title.
The fight was scheduled for twelve rounds and was a comeback fight for both fighters. Karmazin looked like he was much bigger and stronger and the outcome proved it to be true. Karmazin improves to 36-2-1-1 ND (23 KOs) while Garcia drops to 25-3 (24 KOs).
Another good night of action for Professional Boxing in this resurgent 2007.
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PHOTO CREDIT: NAOKI FUKUDA
Mayorga Weighs His Options And Will Move Down
Matthew Hurley: In the aftermath of his exciting, close decision victory over Fernando Vargas, Ricardo Mayorga did what he always does – he became a proverbial good guy. The fighter best known for his outlandish behavior and crass remarks in pre-fight press conferences as well as his free-swinging ring style, reveals himself to be nothing more than a marketing master when his check is safely in the bank and the fighting is over..
No wonder Don King loves him and keeps putting him in the ring and on pay per view events. He sells tickets and as far as King is concerned, that’s really all that matters.
Although Mayorga showed greater patience and a skill set he hasn’t previously exhibited in his fight with Vargas he was still fighting way above his natural weight and against a very depleted fighter. But his win will mean that not only will his career go on but King will rely on him to once again turn into his alter ego, that of the raving mad man, when he finds an opponent that will intrigue the public. It will, however, have to be at either welterweight or junior middleweight. Mayorga himself intimated that not only was 166 pounds, the catch weight for the Vargas fight, way too much for him but that Vargas hit much harder than he’d like to experience again.
“The weight was too much,” he said at the post fight press conference. “This gentleman hits way too hard.” It was a bit odd to hear Mayorga refer to Vargas as a “gentleman” considering all the names he called him leading up to the opening bell but it was nothing compared to when he walked across the dais and kissed Fernando on the cheek. But then this is the same guy who begged Oscar De La Hoya’s forgiveness and to get him some more money after having a dispute with Don King over his contract for his bout with the “Golden Boy”. De La Hoya was taken aback considering that Mayorga had the temerity to disrespect his wife as he would to Vargas’s, but again that’s all part of the Mayorga shtick.
Vargas, to his credit, accepted Mayorga’s kind words but it was perhaps more to do with a sense of relief that his career was finally over and he wouldn’t have to suffer through another weight draining training camp.
“He was the better man tonight,” he said quietly.
He then went on to reiterate that his fighting days were over and that he was proud of what he accomplished and thankful to the undying loyalty his fans have shown him through the ups and downs of his career. “I promised my wife and my mother that this fight would be the end and it is. I have my businesses to attend to and I want to be a good father to my kids. I also want to help boxers on the way up and make sure they get the money they deserve because I know how fighters can get cheated. I want to thank all my fans for all they’ve done for me, from the bottom of my heart.”
Although Mayorga said that upon his return to the lower weight classes he would like to fight Floyd Mayweather or Miguel Cotto, it is doubtful that either fighter will entertain a fight with Ricardo any time in the near future. Despite getting the win, and it was a good win for him, his viability as an opponent for either of those two elite fighters is limited, particularly against Cotto who is promoted by Bob Arum while Mayorga is promoted by Don King, Arum’s longstanding nemesis. He is a name brand fighter though and King will undoubtedly get him a title shot, probably in the junior middleweight division by the middle of 2008. A rematch with Cory Spinks is a possibility as is a showdown with Roman Karmazin, who won in spectacular fashion on the undercard. Meanwhile he can content himself with the millions of dollars he is expected to receive from the Vargas showdown after the pay per view buys are tallied up.
Mayorga Decisions Vargas; Cintron Survives Rugged Challenge
Matthew Hurley: In an exciting brawl at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, Ricardo Mayorga, 29-6-1 with 22 KOs scored a majority decision over Fernando Vargas, 26-5 with 22 KOs.
Mayorga started strong in the first round with a wild barrage of punches that kept Vargas on his back foot. As the round progressed Vargas’s legs looked a little shaky and a combination ending with a left hook to the body put Fernando on the canvas. Vargas rose, clear eyed, but his legs still looked wobbly and his punches seemed slow.
In the second round Mayorga again attacked Vargas with winging punches, wobbling him a second time, but Vargas began to measure his opponent. Fernando achieved greater success in the third round, concentrating on overhand rights and raised his hands overhead at the bell, as did Mayorga. But he also suffered a cut over the left eye. Vargas continued to get back in the fight in the fourth round with body shots and that stiff overhand right.
In the fifth round Mayorga concentrated on Vargas’s body, but Vargas was again able to counter with overhand rights. However Mayorga’s greater punch output won him the round.
In the seventh round Mayorga again busted open the cut over Vargas’s left eye. His attack however became more measured, less reckless. As the later rounds continued Ricardo began bouncing on his toes and he took the eighth round. He also landed a right cross after the bell that led to a rather unexpected show of respect at the start of the ninth round when both fighters nodded at each other and touched gloves. That ninth round also turned into one of the most exciting of the fight as Vargas would come on and then Mayorga would come back. Both men raised their hands at the bell and the fight was still very much up for grabs.
Then in the final seconds of the eleventh round Mayorga dropped Vargas with a right hand out of the blue. It was a round that Vargas was winning but in the final analysis of his career it may also come to be yet another measuring stick of both his stature in boxing and of his bravery. Dropped for a second time he did what he always did, he got up, but victory seemed just out of reach. The twelfth round was fought evenly and could have gone either way but by that time those two knockdowns would prove to be the deciding factor.
In a majority decision, the judges voted 113-113, 114-112 and 115-111 for Ricardo Mayorga.
“I fought for my family,” said Mayorga, after the decision was announced. “I worked on the gym, my discipline and control and I was able to do it in this fight.”
“I take nothing against Ricardo,” a quiet, but appreciative Vargas said. “He was a tough guy. I thought he would be wilder. Unfortunately that wasn’t the case. I take nothing away from him. He had a better night. It’s my last fight. Thank you very much.”
Fighting on the undercard IBF welterweight champion Kermit Cintron, 29-1 with 27 KOs had his hands full with a very game Jesse Feliciano, 15-6-3 with 9 KOs. After a good opening round for Cintron in which he landed several good straight right hands behind a stiff left jab, Feliciano began to crowd Cintron on the inside, pushing his punches but keeping busy and taking everything the champion could dish out. Cintron found several openings for a crisp left hook but Feliciano walked through them and engaged the power punching Cintron for all three minutes of every round.
As the fight approached the mid-point Cintron’s energy level seemed to be dropping a bit and his game plan of slinging power shots at his opponent’s head were paying little dividends – Feliciano just kept coming and began connecting with his own right uppercuts.
Going into the seventh round Cintron’s trainer Emanuel Steward told his fighter that, “You may be behind on points. You may be losing the championship. You’ve got to start boxing.” It was motivational speak because Cintron was winning the fight with his crisper punches but it seemed neither fighter nor trainer anticipated such a spirited battle.
Cintron tried to start boxing in the ninth round, landing a few crisp jabs and several wicked power punches but Feliciano kept coming forward and Kermit kept falling into Feliciano’s inside game. Feliciano’s punches were not of the devastating variety but they were scoring points, taxing Cintron physically and gaining the respect of both the crowd and Cintron’s worried trainer.
At the end of the ninth round Feliciano pulled out his mouthpiece and followed Cintron back to his corner.
“I was just messing with him,” he told referee Jon Schorle after a warning before the tenth round.
At the bell Cintron, apparently angry with Feliciano, opened up and finally stopped the game challenger at 1:53 of the tenth round with a multi-punch combination. Ironically, Cintron then dropped to the canvas in celebration and suddenly began rolling around in agony, complaining about an injured right hand.
“Jesse fought a helluva fight,” a reserved Cintron said afterward. “When I threw a one-two in the first round I heard the right hand crack. He fought great. I didn’t. I tried to fight him on the inside but I didn’t fight a good fight. He was just a real tough kid. I just have to go back to the drawing board, watch this fight, I went ten tough rounds, and go on.”
Cintron is scheduled to partially unify the welterweight title against Paul Williams on February 2nd, 2008.
Also fighting on the undercard Roman Karmazin, 36-2-1-1 ND with 23 KOs, knocked out Alejandro Garcia, 25-3 with 24 KOs at 1:24 of the third round with a beautiful three-punch combination. Karmazin hurt Garcia to the body with a left hook early in the first round, dropping him to one knee. After a better second round for Garcia, Karmazin went back to the body crippling him with another left hook and then sending him to the canvas with an overhand right.
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