The phrase heard repeatedly on Tuesday from
Fernando Vargas at his Los Angeles press conference
was that he is now 'complete.' Vargas and his February
25th opponent, Shane Mosley, got together on Tuesday at
Camacho's Cantina in Universal City, California for a
press conference to promote their fight on the 25th
from the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. Vargas reiterated
over and over how he is now complete. The reason for
this Vargas epiphany was his reconciliation with his
mother. Vargas had not been on speaking terms with his mother for seven years, and appeared a new man now
that he is back on good terms with her. Fernando even
brought his mother up to the podium to celebrate his
newfound joy.
This reunion was the overlying theme to Tuesday's
press conference. There had been musings that Vargas
and his mother feuded, but it was never told why there
was feuding. This question was left unanswered,
only that everything was peaches and cream now. Vargas
took the stage after Shane Mosley, and slowly un-winded
the news and told how his news would affect him as a
fighter. Vargas stated," I'm complete, I've reconciled
with my Mom, and the most dangerous man is a family
man." He then elaborated further, "I am complete now,
and the most dangerous thing is a Mexican family man
and he (Mosley) better be ready to go to war with a Mexican
family man."
Earlier in the press conference, Shane Mosley was
his usual down to earth classy self, but his cutman
Cassius Greene had a little to say about Vargas. If
you don't know Greene, he's the guy always wearing the
Captain's sailor hat in the corners of many fighters.
Greene went on to say that Vargas is tailor made for
an athlete like Shane, and that Shane will not have to
train at all, only rehearse. This sole fairly harmless
comment from Greene brought out the ire from nearly
every member of the Vargas team, and this is not your
usual size team. Vargas along with his manager Rolando Arejano brought to the podium nearly everyone involved
in the Vargas camp, ranging from Vargas' nutritionist
to his weight training coach. Vargas even brought up
a kid who's a young fighter from Ohio, who probably
has 2 pro fights; even he came to the stage and started
bashing Mosley. The kid had the nerve to go to the
podium and say that he was better than Mosley, and
that all Shane had on him was experience. To Shane's
credit he laughed off the idiocy.
Vargas added that Greene was a
disgrace to the men in Annapolis for wearing the
sailor hat. He also got back to Mosley by saying," I
will be on Shane from round one. I won't be boxing
this fight, I'll be coming with non-stop action," So
much for the new and improved defensive slick Vargas
that we were supposed to see under new trainer Danny
Smith. Vargas also went on to say about Shane, "He
doesn't even talk, his cutman has to talk for him."
The card is being co-promoted by Golden Boy and
Main Events. The undercard is a solid one with Jhonny
Gonzalez taking on Mark "Too Sharp" Johnson. The day
and site are February 25th at the Mandalay Bay in Las
Vegas. The card can be seen on HBO pay per view.
Questions? Comments? Email
Tom Dickey
Visit the exclusive gallery from the press conference
"SHOWDOWN” PRESS CONFERENCE IN LOS ANGELES...
by Jose Hernandez