Earlier this year when former champions 'Sugar Shane Mosley and Fernando 'El Feroz' Vargas met in the ring, it was supposed to be a battle of two worn down ex-champions who were said to have changed their styles. Vargas, the brawler, was supposed to be more elusive under new trainer Danny Smith. Shane Mosley was just trying to get back to his old ways under yet another trainer, John David Jackson. Many saw the fight as intriguing due to their marquee names, but few saw the bout as a major fight in the picture of the boxing world. Comments abounded  that neither fighter had been in an entertaining fight in years, and that both looked like shells of their former selves. However, all this changed when they climbed in the ring  and we were treated to a good scrap.

    The fight was good enough that it allowed both fighters to be able to sell a rematch, and get another pay per view. Oscar de la Hoya himself commented that the loser of the first fight would be fighting on ESPN for  a while. Instead here they are once again, in Las Vegas, about to get it on -and on PPV- again.

     The last fight actually showed flashes of each fighter's former self. In the early rounds, Mosley showed his quickness by out boxing Vargas. In the later rounds, Vargas bullied his way into Mosley using his size. The result was a grotesque cut on Vargas' eye that forced a stoppage and gave Mosley a victory. With the fight at the time of the stoppage still very close, and with the controversy of the stoppage, the fight set up beautifully for a rematch. The only difference will be that on July 15th, expectations will be soaring for a great fight and a solid win by whoever can reclaim his form.

    Both fighters had a lot to say after the last fight that sets up this fight so well. Mosley felt great about his performance, his first win over a big name since he beat  Oscar. Mosley looked as good as he had in a long time, and did do a number on the face of Vargas. (I think that most had no problem with the stoppage). Mosley wants to finish the job, and prove that he's back.

    As for Vargas, he wants to prove the stoppage robbed him of a come from behind win. He was surging late in the fight, despite not being able to see out of one eye. He knows that a loss here will set him back, and that if not for the stoppage it is likely he would have won the first match.

    This fight, unlike the last one, could mean a lot on the boxing landscape, with the winner certainly setting himself up for a big fight. I'm sure either fighter would like to fight Oscar de la Hoya again, and if Oscar doesn't fight Floyd or retire, it could happen. But, even if that doesn't happen, 154 lbs. seems to be the most popular weight class, and with the big draw of both fighters (especially Vargas), the winner of the rubber match  would be very attractive to anybody. So, one thing's for sure,  on Saturday night there will be a lot more on the line than the first time; when Sugar and Ferocious step in the ring they will be fighting to get back in the big picture, and the expectations will be a lot higher.