Columnist Dean Juipe: Upstart Vargas Challenges Campas for title

Dean Juipe

Thursday, Dec. 10, 1998 | 11:27 a.m.

It just seems like Yory Boy Campas is 35 years old.

Actually, he's only 27. But with 74 professional fights under his belt, the IBF junior middleweight champ has the background -- if not the appearance -- of an older man.

And if he is aging or perhaps past his prime, is he another Genaro Hernandez? Is he another seemingly formidable champion about to be dethroned by a young slugger, much as Hernandez was on Oct. 3 in Las Vegas when he was stopped by Floyd Mayweather in eight rounds?

"This is a lot like Hernandez and Mayweather," Top Rank matchmaker Bruce Trampler said Wednesday, referring to Campas' Saturday defense in Atlantic City against the just-turned-21 Fernando Vargas. They'll fight at the Taj Mahal, with HBO televising.

It's a mandatory defense for Campas, who once appeared to be in line to face Oscar De La Hoya but who has since dropped from immediate consideration.

Campas, a native of Mexico who trains in Las Vegas, is 72-2 with 62 knockouts. Vargas, of Oxnard, Calif., is 14-0 with each win by knockout.

"This is the type of fight that could go either way," Trampler said. "It's youth versus experience, like Floyd versus Genaro was. Both Campas and Vargas are real good offensive fighters, although Yory Boy has fought the better fighters."

Campas, who won the IBF 154-pound title by handling Raul Marquez last December, has been a professional since he was 16. His only losses came in fights at 147 pounds with Felix Trinidad and Jose Luis Lopez, although he has a growing reputation as a bleeder.

If he gets past Vargas, Campas may re-enter the De La Hoya sweepstakes -- albeit he has to wait for the Golden Boy to get to 154. That could happen as early as next fall or as late as 2000.

"Oscar's plate is full either way," Trampler said. "Yory Boy, Keith Mullings, Derrel Coley, Pernell Whitaker, Frankie Randall, Oba Carr, Felix Trinidad -- they're all waiting for Oscar."

The loser of Saturday's fight, however, can count himself out of the De La Hoya derby.

"Vargas does some things real well but he hasn't looked spectacular to me," Trampler said. "He gets hit a lot and seemingly has a lack of defense, although I heard he's going to change his style a little bit and go back to boxing like he did in the Olympics.

"Yory Boy is a two-fisted puncher and his strength plays to Vargas' weakness. The question about Campas, though, is what kind of attrition rate have all these tough fights had on him?"

If it's a lot, the outcome of this fight could mirror Hernandez vs. Mayweather, when the older man quit on his stool after eight rounds of punishment.

Bettors in Las Vegas don't necessarily see it that way, however, as the common line has Campas as a minus 140 favorite. Those who like Vargas, who has never been past six rounds in his abbreviated career, are getting even money on their wager.

Quick hits

Sharing the top of the bill on that Atlantic City card Saturday is the Ivan Robinson vs. Arturo Gatti rematch. Robinson, 26-2, revived his career with a surprising split-decision victory over Gatti, 29-3, in August. Caesars Palace in Las Vegas has both men up at a minus 120. ... A Saturday card in Indio, Calif., has a pair of Las Vegans in separate bouts. Former WBA featherweight champ Freddie Norwood, 32-0-1, is in something of a "tune-up" fight with Moises Rodriguez, 20-19-1, while welterweight Ray Lovato, 22-2, has a difficult assignment with Alfred Ankamah, 18-4. ... Tickets for sale: Both the Las Vegas Hilton and Mandalay Bay have their Oscar De La Hoya vs. Ike Quartey tickets available, with prices running from $50 to $800 for the Feb. 13 bout at the Thomas & Mack Center; the MGM has tickets ranging from $200 to $1,200 for Mike Tyson vs. Frans Botha Jan. 16 at its Grand Garden Arena.