February 25th, 2006, Fernando Vargas vs "Sugar" Shane Mosley. These are the only photos you really need to see from that fight, absolute savagery, it was stopped in the 10th due to a massive, fight-ending hematoma over Vargas's left eye. Once again, Vargas would not quit and finished on his feet. I'm not kidding you, this man fought wars in the ring. Quartey, Trinidad, De La Hoya, Mosley, Mayorga, that is a $hitstorm of opponents.
The last fight of Fernando Vargas' career was against "The Matador" Ricardo Mayorga in November 2007. Mayorga was a notoriously wild brawler and he comes out at the opening bell like a madman, throwing everything and the kitchen sink at Vargas trying to knock him out. Vargas weathers the storm and turns it into a great little war, at times it was a brawl, at times it was technical. Interesting thing about this fight, it was at a “catch-weight” of 166lbs. Ricardo Mayorga had to gain over twenty pounds. Fernando Vargas had to lose almost one hundred.
Great shot of Ricardo Mayorga throwing one of his axe punches, the punch comes at you from an insane angle, like he's chopping wood. It's a brutal punch and it's a nightmare to try to slip it and defend against it.
Fernando Vargas signing autographs for the fans, he had a lot of fans because he gave it everything he had every time he stepped in the ring and always went out on his shield. Being a hardcore boxing fan myself, I love guys like that.
A couple of photos of Fernando Vargas training for the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics in his hometown of Oxnard, California. This photo was taken at Sunrise Beach.
These photos were taken at a press conference on September 10th, 2002, before the De La Hoya fight. Notice the FDNY/NYPD hats, it was the one-year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The man seated to Vargas' left is his trainer Eduardo Garcia.
Fernando Vargas thanks his fans at a celebration honoring the local Olympic competitors in Oxnard, California. Awesome image with the Olympic rings behind him.
Fernando Vargas becomes the first boxer honored with a star on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars in 2011. Vargas joined the likes of Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra with a star on the famed Strip.
Fernando Vargas sitting in his corner during the first Mosley fight with a bag of ice being applied to his grotesquely swollen left eye. Gladiator days.
This is one of my favorite images of Fernando Vargas, walking back to his locker room through the crowd after the De La Hoya fight, surrounded by darkness with the spotlight on him, his bloody wounds visible, Oscar and his entourage celebrating in the ring in the background. The painful side of boxing. Beautiful piece of photography.
2010 Ringside Boxing Round 1 Hometown Heroes Fernando Vargas Silver parallel 1/30. This is my favorite Vargas card, the image of him with the blood dripping down his face and the Mexican colors mouth guard. I also like the hometown theme with Oxnard, California on the map in the background. And it doesn't hurt that this copy is signed, sick card. Below it is the photo that was used for the image on the card.
Final thoughts on Fernando Vargas, how can you not love the guy, there was no quit in him and win or lose he always brought it. He wasn't the greatest or most skilled, but he gave the fans their money's worth every time he stepped in the ring. His quote, "If I've got a heartbeat, I'm going to get up" is one of the greatest quotes I've ever heard and it's really defines what he was about as a fighter. His nickname "The Aztec Warrior" suits him well.
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Two of my favorite images from the fight. Bad blood.
Epic shot of Oscar De La Hoya's mouthpiece laying in the ring with Vargas visible sitting in his corner.
Savage photos of the end of the fight.
Another savage image of Vargas after the fight. The "Aztec Warrior" gave it all he had.
February 25th, 2006, Fernando Vargas vs "Sugar" Shane Mosley. These are the only photos you really need to see from that fight, absolute savagery, it was stopped in the 10th due to a massive, fight-ending hematoma over Vargas's left eye. Once again, Vargas would not quit and finished on his feet. I'm not kidding you, this man fought wars in the ring. Quartey, Trinidad, De La Hoya, Mosley, Mayorga, that is a $hitstorm of opponents.
The last fight of Fernando Vargas' career was against "The Matador" Ricardo Mayorga in November 2007. Mayorga was a notoriously wild brawler and he comes out at the opening bell like a madman, throwing everything and the kitchen sink at Vargas trying to knock him out. Vargas weathers the storm and turns it into a great little war, at times it was a brawl, at times it was technical. Interesting thing about this fight, it was at a “catch-weight” of 166lbs. Ricardo Mayorga had to gain over twenty pounds. Fernando Vargas had to lose almost one hundred.
Great shot of Ricardo Mayorga throwing one of his axe punches, the punch comes at you from an insane angle, like he's chopping wood. It's a brutal punch and it's a nightmare to try to slip it and defend against it.
Some great shots from the fight.
Let's get some photos of Fernando Vargas. This photo is from the beginning of his career, man he was young.
A couple of Fernando Vargas cards that I do own copies of, this is the 1999 Brown's Boxing.
2001 Brown's Boxing Fernando Vargas.
Fernando Vargas signing autographs for the fans, he had a lot of fans because he gave it everything he had every time he stepped in the ring and always went out on his shield. Being a hardcore boxing fan myself, I love guys like that.
A couple of photos of Fernando Vargas training for the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics in his hometown of Oxnard, California. This photo was taken at Sunrise Beach.
Fernando Vargas writes "Fernando Vargas Gold Medalist" in the sand at Sunrise Beach in January of 1996.
Sick image of Fernando Vargas shadow boxing in Oxnard, California, while training for the Atlanta Olympics.
Overhead shot of Fernando Vargas training for the Olympics.
This is my favorite shot of Fernando Vargas training for the Olympics, under a pier on Sunrise Beach.
Fernando Vargas and Muhammad Ali.
Fernando Vargas TKO's Claude Staten in the second round of their bout in April of 1997.
Great photo of Fernando Vargas visiting sick kids at Ventura County Medical Center.
Fernando Vargas sits in his locker room before a 147lbs fight against Brandon Mitchem in Augusta, Georgia.
Fernando Vargas hits Jose Flores with a brutal left during their fight in September of 2001.
These photos were taken at a press conference on September 10th, 2002, before the De La Hoya fight. Notice the FDNY/NYPD hats, it was the one-year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The man seated to Vargas' left is his trainer Eduardo Garcia.
Fernando Vargas vs Fitz Vanderpool in 2003.
Love these images of Fernando Vargas saluting his fans after the Vanderpool fight.
Fernando Vargas thanks his fans at a celebration honoring the local Olympic competitors in Oxnard, California. Awesome image with the Olympic rings behind him.
Nice training sequence.
Fernando Vargas beats Howard Clarke by TKO at Madison Square Garden in 1999.
Fernando Vargas getting his licks in against "Sugar" Shane Mosley.
A young Fernando Vargas holding an American flag and a Mexican flag at the Pan Am games in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1995.
Vargas left hand shot.
This is a great photo of Fernando Vargas holding the American flag in his gloved hand with the belts around his neck.
Fernando Vargas becomes the first boxer honored with a star on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars in 2011. Vargas joined the likes of Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra with a star on the famed Strip.
Fernando Vargas with legendary heavyweight Wladimir Klitschko.
Fernando Vargas sitting in his corner during the first Mosley fight with a bag of ice being applied to his grotesquely swollen left eye. Gladiator days.
Fernando Vargas after his war with De La Hoya.
Nice overhead shot of the ring after the Vargas-De La Hoya fight with the Miller Lite logo.
This is one of my favorite images of Fernando Vargas, walking back to his locker room through the crowd after the De La Hoya fight, surrounded by darkness with the spotlight on him, his bloody wounds visible, Oscar and his entourage celebrating in the ring in the background. The painful side of boxing. Beautiful piece of photography.
Fernando Vargas and his family.
Good shot of Fernando Vargas and his trainer Eduardo Garcia.
In the heat of battle.
2010 Ringside Boxing Round 1 Hometown Heroes Fernando Vargas Silver parallel 1/30. This is my favorite Vargas card, the image of him with the blood dripping down his face and the Mexican colors mouth guard. I also like the hometown theme with Oxnard, California on the map in the background. And it doesn't hurt that this copy is signed, sick card. Below it is the photo that was used for the image on the card.
A could more photos of Vargas and I'll wrap it up. Another savage image, the man was a warrior and did not mind the taste of blood.
A great shot of Vargas with his trainer Eduardo Garcia in the background.
Another great shot of Vargas getting pumped up after a victory.
Vargas with the tattoo of his son on his arm.
Final thoughts on Fernando Vargas, how can you not love the guy, there was no quit in him and win or lose he always brought it. He wasn't the greatest or most skilled, but he gave the fans their money's worth every time he stepped in the ring. His quote, "If I've got a heartbeat, I'm going to get up" is one of the greatest quotes I've ever heard and it's really defines what he was about as a fighter. His nickname "The Aztec Warrior" suits him well.