Ex-WBC champ tests Pinoy upstart

Former World Boxing Council (WBC) featherweight champion Gregorio (Goyo) Vargas of Mexico doesn’t think much of Filipino prospect Cris Saluday. He’s fixing to celebrate his 32nd birthday the day after taking on Saluday in a scheduled 10-round fight that is the chief aperitif to the International Boxing Federation (IBF) title bout between superbantamweight titlist Manny Pacquiao and Thai challenger Fahprakob Rakkiat-Gym in Davao City this Saturday.

Vargas says he’ll dispose of Saluday in a single round as a birthday gift to himself.

But can the handsome Mexican afford to take Saluday lightly? Saluday was only eight years old when Vargas turned pro in 1988. He’s young and hungry. He’d like nothing better than to claim a proud warrior’s scalp like Vargas.’

Saluday made his pro debut two years ago and has compiled a 12-5 record, with seven knockouts. This year, he has figured in seven bouts, including six abroad. While Saluday has been busy, Vargas hasn’t. The Mexican is coming off a seventh round stoppage of Celso Delgado in Guadalajara last March but it was his first outing in two years. In contrast, Saluday has fought in 15 smokers during the same period.

Saluday is fresh from stopping Indonesian stylist Ferdinand in Jakarta last month.

Vargas flew in with his father Gregorio Sr., the other day. He says he didn’t travel 10,000 miles to lose. Vargas hopes a decisive win over Saluday will boost his chances of gaining another crack at a world crown.

Vargas’ father used to be a prizefighter and two brothers, Adan and Efrain, are pros, too. Boxing is in the Vargas family’s blood.

Gregorio Sr. began his pro career in 1968 on a high note, racking up 10 straight knockouts. But he never made it to the top. A Hawaii-based Filipino, Bert Nabalatan, knocked out the elder Vargas to put an end to his fistic hopes. He will somehow avenge the loss to Nabalatan if his son beats Saluday. In 1974, the Vargas patriarch retired after losing to Jesus Estrada on points in a Mexican featherweight title bout.

Vargas was only four when his father hung up his gloves. Two years later, at the age of six, Vargas laced his first pair of gloves. In 1985, Vargas won the Mexican paperweight title in an amateur competition. In 1986, he was voted the best new amateur fighter in Mexico City. In 1987, he demolished four straight opponents by knockout in claiming the Mexican amateur flyweight crown. Vargas wound up his amateur career with a record of 82-4, including 65 knockouts.

Legendary ex-world featherweight champion Ultiminio (Sugar) Ramos of Cuba was Vargas’ first trainer as a pro. Ramos tutored Vargas on the finer points of the sweet science early in his career and the Mexican raced to 11 consecutive wins.

In 1993, Vargas halted Paul Hodkinson in the seventh round to wrest the WBC featherweight crown in Dublin. Former world titlist Barry McGuigan, commenting on TV at ringside, called Vargas "a young Salvador Sanchez."

In 1998, Vargas outpointed Floyd Patterson’s adopted son Tracy Harris to capture the vacant International Boxing Association (IBA) superfeatherweight diadem in San Antonio. He added the WBC Continental Americas lightweight title to his collection after defeating Ben (Wonder) Tackie on a 12-round verdict in Las Vegas the next year.

Known for his durability, Vargas has been stopped only once in posting a 41-7-1 record, with 29 knockouts.

In March 2000, Vargas lost to Floyd Mayweather in a bid to snatch the WBC superfeatherweight title in Las Vegas. He bloodied Mayweather’s nose in the fifth round but couldn’t put away the quick-stepping champion.

Vargas launched a furious two-fisted attack in the 10th and a series of left hooks bounced sharply off Mayweather’s face. But the slippery Mayweather held on to coast to a win by unanimous decision. Vargas took a two-year layoff after losing to Mayweather and came back with a bang last March.

Vargas’ style is typical of Mexican gladiators. He likes to bang the body and force his opponents to mix it up at close quarters. Vargas is methodical, like Erik Morales, and devil-may-care, like Julio Cesar Chavez. The wear and tear of engaging in 49 bouts may have taken a toll on Vargas but he’s a veteran who knows how to preserve his energies in a war of attrition.

Saluday will have his hands full this Saturday. Vargas is no slouch even if he’s 10 years older. An upset over Vargas isn’t an impossibility. But it will take the fight of his life for Saluday to beat the grizzled Mexican. — Joaquin Henson