Flores and Vargas: Friends and foes

By Paul Upham: In a strange twist, two former friends and training partners will battle it out for a world title in Las Vegas on September 22.

WBA No.1 Jose “Shibata” Flores, 42-8 (24) from Navajoa, Mexico, faces No.2 contender “Ferocious” Fernando Vargas, 21-1 (19), for the vacant WBA junior middleweight title at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

A win will help re-establish Vargas’ career or lift Flores into contention for a big payday with WBC champion Oscar De La Hoya. There is a lot at stake for both men.

“I have been sparring with him for over two years and I feel very confident that this is going to be a very interesting and exciting fight to watch. We have had a lot of practices together and we know how exactly we are going to come out together,” said the 29-year-old Flores.

“I know Fernando is very young and he is very strong. I feel confident that he is going to be a very tough contender, but I feel that I can be victorious.”

After two consecutive losses to Raul Marquez ( l pts 10) in September 1998 and Kirino Garcia (l rsf 6) in December 1998, Flores has climbed to the No.1 ranking with six consecutive victories.

He won the NABA and USBA junior middleweight titles with wins over Pedro Ortega and Paul Vaden. His last win was a fifth round stoppage of Rene Herrera on May 5.

There is no suggestion that former IBF champion Fernando Vargas is a better and more experienced boxer after his loss to Felix Trinidad last year in Las Vegas, says Flores.

“The Trinidad fight was very tough for Fernando, but he experienced a lot and he comes into this fight with a lot of desire and I think he wants to really pull off a victory, but I feel confident that I can,” said Flores.

“I’m in good shape and I am ready for the fight right now.”

Main Events, who promote both fighters, are confident that the fans will see a very exciting fight where a loss means serious trouble for both boxers’ careers.

“All who have seen ‘Shibata’ know that he is a man and comes to fight. He has never run from anyone and he has said that he will not run from Fernando and that, after the fight, they will again be friends,” said Gary Shaw from promoters Main Events.

“We at Main Events have a lot of respect for ‘Shibata’. We believe that he is more than legitimate, he is the No.1 and they are fighting for the vacant WBA title and I think you are all going to see more than a fight.”


Paul Upham
Contributing Editor