Bad Left Hook: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Around SBN: Has Kentucky Improved Since the Non-Conference Season?

Fernando Vargas officially challenges Hector Camacho Jr.

Fernando Vargas challenged Hector Camacho Jr. to a fight on Friday. Camacho beat Yori Boy Campas via split decision that same night. (Photo via fightnews.com)

Fernando Vargas challenged Hector Camacho Jr. to a fight on Friday. Camacho beat Yori Boy Campas via split decision that same night. (Photo via fightnews.com)

You may have heard that Hector Camacho Jr. continued running up his empty record with a win over double-shot veteran Yori Boy Campas on Friday night, offered on glorious pay-per-view for $24.99 and likely bought by about 178 people across the nation.

And you may have also heard that Fernando Vargas entered the ring after and officially laid down a challenge to Camacho.

Camacho won a 10-round split decision against Campas, who drew Camacho's 47-year old father in another disgraceful stab at money earlier this year. When Camacho Jr. fought this summer in Cleveland, he and Vargas exchanged words, and word came out shortly after that Vargas was training again.

I don't mean this to be disrespectful, but Vargas has gotten fat since his last fight, in November 2007. We're talking about a guy who fought at 154 pounds. Look at him in that photo. If he's really been training, it's not paying off much yet. Vargas' "retirement" fight against Ricardo Mayorga took place at a 164-pound catchweight, and both fighters looked bloated there. The rumor is that Vargas wants to fight Camacho at light heavyweight, a 175-pound limit. Camacho has fought as high as 160, including weighing in just under 160 pounds this week for the supposed 154-pound fight with Campas.

All in all, it's not that I have anything against Vargas or even Camacho. I think Camacho's a third-rate pro boxer on his best days, but that's just my opinion as an observer. And while I was never a big Vargas fan, he put on some great fights and really wasn't afraid of anyone, ever.

But Vargas-Camacho stinks, just like most of Camacho's fights have. Prime-versus-prime, I'd have picked Vargas to tear Camacho's head off. And even with the layoff and the fact that he's simply not going to be in anything close to prime shape, I think he'd probably still beat Camacho if he even has 50% of his best stuff anymore. But I just can't get behind this fight any more than I got behind Camacho-Campas (either of them). They can keep telling us that Fernando doesn't need the money, and by all accounts he really doesn't, but he apparently needs something, and this doesn't exactly smack of a "good" return to the ring.

You know, if it ever actually happens.

0 recs  |  Comment 7 comments |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Around SB Nation

Comments

Display:

Fernando Vargas officially challenges Hector Camacho Jr. (to hot dog eating contest)

Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
MMA Editor - SBNation.com

by Brent Brookhouse on Nov 1, 2009 1:30 AM EDT reply actions   1 recs

Rec

Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."

by xFenixKnightx on Nov 1, 2009 4:10 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Vargas is a fatty…. I mean he prolly weighs more than Sam Peter…

"Boxing is dirty," said Casamayor. " The day I’m not ready to be a dirty fighter is the day I don’t fight anymore because it will mean that I have no heart for it anymore."

by Zocalo on Nov 1, 2009 1:52 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Or James Toney…

"Boxing is dirty," said Casamayor. " The day I’m not ready to be a dirty fighter is the day I don’t fight anymore because it will mean that I have no heart for it anymore."

by Zocalo on Nov 1, 2009 1:52 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

The fight doesn't make sense to us...

But it may matter in Puerto Rico, so…

by Fj-3 on Nov 2, 2009 12:18 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

this fight doesn’t matter anywhere, most Puerto Ricans had enough of Camacho Jr. and his father’s antics a long time ago, they’re both embarassments

by JohnUtah on Nov 2, 2009 3:11 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

That’s pretty much what I’ve gathered over the years, too. Camacho Jr. is not JCC Jr. and this fight isn’t worthwhile anywhere.

Bad Left Hook
"Well Howie, I think I'm going to stay outside and outjab him." -- Tex Cobb telling Howard Cosell how he would approach Larry Holmes

by SC on Nov 2, 2009 4:14 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Welcome to SB Nation's Bad Left Hook, covering boxing 365 days a year.
Start posting on Bad Left Hook »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.


Managers

9018_185776360922_747385922_4256197_5272137_n_small SC

Editors

Simpson_small Brickhaus

Boxing_icon_small Matt Miller