A FEROCIOUS Return.
By Steve Kim Boxing News

It was about 10 months ago that Fernando Vargas was stopped in his grudge match against Oscar De La Hoya and was then subsequently suspended for a positive test for steroids. But it seems much longer than that to Vargas who makes his return to a sold-out Grand Olympic Auditorium this Saturday night against Fitz Vanderpool.

Since that time, Vargas has made some noticeable changes within his camp. Gone are Mazzan Ali and John Philbin, his two physical conditioners that clashed prior to the De La Hoya fight, and joining Eduardo Garcia in his corner is the highly respected Buddy McGirt.

"It was great because of the fact I got to clean the slate and work with people that are looking out for my best interest," Vargas says of his layoff. "And me and Rolando Arellano (co-manager), we really went through a big thing on reviewing people and interviewing people for the position as my physical trainer and also dietitian -- which Pro Camp has."

Vargas would begin his new regimen back in January, driving more than an hour each way from his home near Oxnard to the Santa Monica Gold's Gym to begin rebuilding his body and psyche in the aftermath of his loss to De La Hoya.

"I'm feeling great," he says. "I'm ready to go. We did the training that I had to do these nine months. That was very intense, very hard work but I think it's all going to pay off at the end because I feel great. I feel in great shape and I look forward to putting on a great show July 26th."

On the walls of the Pro Camp offices are pictures of their various clients ranging from those in the NFL, NBA and the NHL. Their philosophy is to reestablish the inside foundation of the body so that the core is stronger. They work the body from the inside-out.

"Before, I had physical trainers that thought about weights," Vargas explained. "Some types of weights, yes, is good for the building and getting stronger but there's a phase in training where you're supposed to do that. Not while I'm getting ready to fight. Right now it's all basically just maintaining the structure that I have now. So I'm not lifting any weights. I feel quicker on my legs and on my feet and also my hand speed is great. So I really feel that these people really fixed the structure of my body because it was pretty messed up from all the years of me abusing it, like in a sense with weights and everything they had me do prior to each fight."

Another change has taken place in his corner. No, his surrogate father and trainer Eduardo Garcia isn't going anywhere. But Vargas has joined a long list of world-class fighters who have called for McGirt's assistance. But for Vargas, 'the Buddy System' isn't about completely overhauling his boxing style, but much like an Arturo Gatti, reminding him that at one time he was a solid boxer and could be so once again.

"Absolutely," agreed Vargas, "because of the fact when I was young I didn't knock nobody out because I was a kid, and I got away from using what got me to be the youngest ever U.S. National Champion -- which was using my head, being intelligent, out-slicking guys, out-boxing guys. And now, that's what Buddy's got me back to.

"He didn't change my style, he just reminds you of things you're forgetting and when you start knocking people out, you say 'Well, I'm gonna try to knock this guy out of here and get out of here quick'. But that works against you when you got 12 rounds or whatever it is. You gotta think about boxing and that's how fighters last in this game -- by being boxers and being intelligent. So you're going to see a lot of that come July 26th."

But oftentimes, moving someone in new to a position of authority is a delicate situation. Just look at what happened when Ali was brought in as the nutritionist to work alongside Philbin. But the Garcia-McGirt partnership has been relatively smooth.

"I thought that it could have been (a problem) but it wasn't because of the fact that I told him that I wanted somebody else in there," he explained. "A fresh mind and when I was truly convinced was when I saw Arturo Gatti boxing Micky Ward and being intelligent and getting out the way and never in my life did I ever think of Arturo Gatti in that sense. I said 'I want Buddy, we gotta interview him, try him out'.

"And I tried other trainers out because I wanted to be sure and the chemistry and the training were absolutely there and I said to myself 'Man, I need this man here', and he's been great and very instrumental in my comeback. I feel you guys are gonna see a totally new fighter -- maybe not 'new' fighter, just a fighter that forgot to stick to the things that got him to the world championship and that's being intelligent."

It's interesting that a fighter his age uses the word 'comeback' but the bottom line is that he has gone through a lot, in and out of the ring. Many in the game feel that he was thrown in too early against Felix Trinidad -- who had about as many championship fights as Vargas had pro bouts period when they faced off -- and on the heels of his loss to De La Hoya, many wonder just how much he has left in the gas tank.

"I'm 25 and I've taken chances, I'm not a fighter that regrets anything that's happened in my career because it's what's made me," Vargas insisted. "So other than that I'm looking forward to the second part of my career with Buddy McGirt in my corner."

When you talk to Vargas he still possesses the same swagger, personality and confidence. It's his trademark that's made him one of the most beloved and hated fighters in recent years. You simply can not have lukewarm feelings for him. You either love or loathe him. But in the aftermath of his devastating loss to De La Hoya, he has changed as a person.

"It changed me as a person, I'm no longer a trusting individual," explained Vargas. "But I'm young, y'know what I'm saying? One makes mistakes but I blame nobody but myself and I learn from that so now I got great people, not egos. I don't got people that are wanting to be on TV or want to make sure their name is mentioned. I got people that are looking out for me, trying to make me win a fight and that's the bottom line, that's what the goal here is. So there's no egos now and everything is great. My camp is great, I'm just happy the way it did happen because if I didn't test positive for steroids I would not have cleaned house."

Perhaps if Vargas and his team would have taken the same due diligence in reviewing the credentials of Ali -- who's proven to have a shady background -- he would have never gotten into the predicament he did. For the sport of boxing, a Vargas win against De La Hoya and a positive test for steroids would have been catastrophic. Would the repercussions have been worse for him if he would have won the fight and become 'the Ben Johnson of Boxing'?

"I think it would have been worse either way," he answered. "It was a bad situation all together and I'm just happy that we picked ourselves up from it and we move on and turn the page."

But despite the loss, his loyal and rabid fan base has remained steadfast in their support.

"It's been amazing," he said, "and I thank my fans for being with me through thick and thin. You gotta understand, even my boy, he sees anywhere I go -- we might go to a club or whatever -- and it's amazing just the love. The Mexican people come after me and they show me nothing but love and my boy goes like this 'Hey, you lost your last fight'. So it's funny because he hits me up like that and tells me that and we're laughing because we have to have security all around us."

And to Vargas, the intrusions on his life are just a small inconvenience that he enjoys.

"I said this to my mother one time, we were eating at a restaurant and the cooks from the kitchen wanted to come out and take some pictures with me. And my mom goes in Spanish 'Can you let him eat?' And I go 'Mom, you know what? I belong to the public now. I don't belong to myself no more'. I belong to the public and whenever they want me, I have not ever declined an autograph or a picture and that is my word as a man, as an individual. Because y'know what? Those are the people that make me and that's why I'm so thankful I'm giving back to them."

Vargas has given back to them by making the ticket prices at the Olympic affordable to the general public. And more than a week before the fight, Main Events announced that all 6,700 seats have been sold. And this won't be your usual casino-comp crowd that comes in dressed to the hilt, arriving 10 minutes before the main event, not really caring who wins.

"Exactly!!!" he agreed.

In fact, this could be boxing's version of 'the Raider Nation'.

"Absolutely, these are my fans, blue-collar, hard-working Mexicans, Mexican-Americans, whites, Asians, blacks, everything," he states. "Because I got a mixture of every fan and that to me is great and I thank them from deep down inside for everything they've done for me. Because without them, I'm nothing and I'm looking forward to bring them a great show."

And this will be just the first step in Vargas's comeback, a comeback in which he plans to stay busy. Early plans call on him to fight again in October and then mid-January.

"I want to stay busy because the busier I am, the more you don't need to get into shape," he added.

This is also an attempt to force De La Hoya into a rematch. Much was made of a supposed lunch the two had shortly after their first fight at a Mexican restaurant to talk, among other things a future rematch. But Vargas is quick and adamant to point out that this was no lunch, just a very, very quick meeting. Not only did they not get a combination plate of enchiladas, beans and rice -- they didn't even get to the chips and salsa.

"He said to my face he would give me a rematch," Vargas said of the meeting. "But I heard on 'Republica Deportiva' he said he wouldn't give me a rematch."

So now what?

"We find ourselves in a position to go like this: Y'know what? I'm not going to take your word for it, you already said that you wouldn't on TV. You said to my face that you would. So I'll just fight the number one contender -- just in case -- in Fitz Vanderpool and then we'll move on from there to fight Javier Castillejo down the line."

Which at that point would make him the mandatory challenger for De La Hoya, who holds the WBC belt along with the WBA belt in the jr. middleweight division. He wants another crack at 'the Golden Boy'.

See, things haven't changed THAT much.

Picture © Gary Randall