Junior Middleweight Champion

HBO presents

July 22, 2000

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Lance: Your upcoming fight against Felix Trinidad is a huge step in your young career since Trinidad is an experienced and proven champion. What's your mindset when preparing for possibly the biggest fight of your career?

Fernando: Every fight is the biggest fight of my career.

Jenjen: How long have you wanted to fight Felix Trinidad? How did this upcoming fight happen?

Fernando: When I was in a fight for the world title with only 14 fights, no one and their mother gave me a chance to win that fight. I feel I can do the same thing. Trinidad doesn't scare me. He is a great fighter but I have no fear when I step into that ring. I will live and die there, and that's how I honestly feel.

Bob Hough: And would you agree that Trinidad seems to have more trouble the more his opponents give him movement?

Fernando: I think Trinidad--I know a way I can beat Trinidad and I can't say what I am going to do or what I see wrong in his arsenal so I can capitalize on it. Like I did in my fight with Quartey.

Boxing Grrl04: Hello Mr. Vargas, you are the best fighter I have seen come out of Mexico in a LONG time. Can you please tell us about you new training technique?

Fernando: I'm not from Mexico. My family is from Mexico. I was born and raised in California, but very proud to be Mexican-American. I try to represent for my people--110 percent. But my training techniques, I care not to discuss. They are a secret. I have a great physical trainer. I train very hard for each fight. I go through hell for 6 or 8 weeks to be ready for my fight. I apologize but I can't answer that question.

BoxersFan: Speaking of staying hungry champ, what do you have for breakfast before a big fight? What did you have for breakfast on the morning of the Quartey fight?

Fernando: I only like to have a nice big breakfast and then I don't eat lunch. What I have in the morning is pancakes with eggs, hashbrowns and toast--whatever I want. But I don't overdo it and try to eat everything. Nice big breakfast and I feel good and ready to fight without eating lunch. And that's it. I'm ready to go with that. I think Trinidad looked great. I am glad that he was able to take care of business and I look forward to stepping into the ring and showing the world what I can do.

Onekrazyrican: One thing I like about the possible match between you and Trinidad is the respect you show for each other. Have you had the chance to speak with Trinidad in person?

Fernando: I remember meeting Trinidad as a kid, which was great because he was already a pro fighter, a great guy and a great person. I looked up to him as a kid, and a possible fight with him is great too. But like he and I both said, we are both going to turn into animals in the ring. I won't disrespect him and he won't disrespect me. We both feel as though we are the best and we both want to show it.

Posty: Fernando, if you beat Trinidad (which I'm sure you'll do) what is next? Is there a chance of you fighting Bernard Hopkins? Or are you just going to do your thing at junior middleweight?

Fernando: I got the chance to meet him and he was a great guy. He was just a great person. That's the type of fighters that I like--ones like that. I want to stay at junior middleweight and unify. God gave me the power and we take care of business with Trinidad, I definitely want to go after Acastajeos. I respect Trinidad because he is still around. In my fight with Quartey, I said that I felt he would be the only fighter that would unify with me because he is brave and I still think that because he still wants to go fight me in December. I meant Trinidad--not Quartey.

Nancy: What is your strategy against the aggressive Felix Trinidad?

Fernando: That's like asking a chef the recipe for his favorite cookies. You can't say that. That's like asking a magician how he does his tricks. That's impossible. I can't say that.

Philippe: Who are the people in your training camp in Big Bear?

Fernando: I got Robbie Peden, a great fighter at 130 pounds. I got my boy who takes care of the camp from Australia. I have Roger Bearwith who is one of my trainers. I have Eduardo Garcia, my head trainer. I have Robert Garcia, a 130-pound world champion looking to make a comeback. I have my boy who is a rapper here, and my brother Roger Vargas with me. I have my physical trainer with me. We call him Woody. He is also the doc. We have my sparring partner with me. It's a big camp. My manager is with me.

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