Junior Middleweight Champion

HBO presents

July 22, 2000

Junior middleweight champ, Fernando Vargas discusses in an online interview, HBO's "KO Nation" and anything and everything related to boxing and fights.

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HBO: Welcome everyone to HBO.COM's live chat with Fernando Vargas. The undefeated junior middleweight champ Vargas has quickly developed into a boxing superstar amassing a perfect record of 19-0 with 17 KO's. Vargas is everything you want in a champion; determined, focused, hungry and looking to take on the very best. Rumors of a December 2 showdown between Vargas and Trinidad have surfaced, so log on and chat with Fernando regarding Trinidad and the new golden era of the welterweight division. Welcome Fernando!

Fernando: I'm ready to answer your questions and thank my fans for all of your support. I look forward to having you watch me on August 26th against Ross Thompson, in Las Vegas.

Maggie: Who has been the greatest influence in your life, both personally and professionally?

Fernando: That would be my trainer, Eduardo Garcia. I never had a father and he taught me not only how to fight but also how to be a respectable person and have respect for people. He taught me how to treat people, and those things in life that you cannot teach. I owe him a lot. If it wasn't for him, I know I would be in a bad situation all of the time. He taught me a lot of things in life--morals and things. I know he will always be in my corner. The day I retire, he won't be a trainer anymore. That's what he told me. There's a big bond there.

CarlosN: To what extent did your disappointing, controversial Olympic experience motivate you to become a world champion at such an early age?

Fernando: Well I was depressed for a good while at not winning a gold medal because it was a dream of mine. It is instant fame and I think God did that for a reason. It made me even hungrier to be where I am today. It shows that it doesn't matter if you have a gold medal or if you don't. You can still be a good fighter. Learning from Evander Holyfield and Jones and fighters that didn't win a gold medal. I learned from them and because they stayed hungry, it made them hungrier to win a world title and to be a great champion, and that's what helped me a lot, too.

Jeffrey6: Your fight against Ike Quartey was a classic! You definitely established yourself as a pound for pound star in a talented division. Where do you see yourself compared to the current welterweights, Trinidad, Mosley, and De La Hoya?

Fernando: You know, I think I am a competent fighter and I consider myself the best fighter at 154 pounds. Obviously people have different views about it. But hopefully, if God gives me the power, Trinidad and I will be fighting in December and the world can decide then.

Johnny: You have been calling out Oscar De La Hoya for years, begging him to fight you. At times your comments get personal and a true disdain for him is apparent. Where does this disrespect and low opinion of Oscar come from?

Fernando: It goes way back to when I was a kid and I looked up to Oscar. I was just a kid who wanted to meet him and I had a chance to work out and train with him because my trainer had some type of managerial contract with his son, Robert Garcia, at the time. I was all excited to meet Oscar and when I got to meet him, you could say that the experience wasn't good. I got to be around this guy and I was just a kid. I worked out with him and he didn't say a word to me. There were other things that happened that I don't care to get into that were more personal. I will never like or respect him because when I was a kid, it hurt me, and he never thought that snot-nosed kid would be Fernando Vargas. But I'm him. And I'm here whether he likes it or not. I have no respect for him. I have respect for everyone I fight, but I will never respect him in the world as a person or as a fighter.

Boxing Grrl04: How does your family (wife and kids) react to your boxing career?

Fernando: Well, I am not married. I do have two kids, whom I am very proud of. Like I said before, I never had a father but I am glad I have my kids and can be a father to them. They support me to the fullest and are always in my corner and I thank them for that. They believe I can beat anybody and I believe it also. And that's how you get to win a world championship and get to stay one.

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