Mayweather expects easy title bout against Vargas

Dean Juipe

Thursday, April 1, 1999 | 10:19 a.m.

What may have been a difficult fight for Jeff Mayweather figures to be a relatively easy one for his nephew, Floyd.

Earlier in the decade Jeff Mayweather, then fighting professionally in Las Vegas as a junior lightweight, twice signed a contract to fight Goyo Vargas at the Silver Nugget casino in North Las Vegas. Matchmaker Al Rodrigues thought he could convince Vargas to take the fight and talked openly about it several times.

But the bout never came off.

Now, some six years later, World Boxing Council junior lightweight champion Floyd Mayweather of Las Vegas will take on Vargas May 22 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

To hear Floyd Mayweather tell it, Vargas doesn't stand a chance.

To hear Jeff Mayweather tell it, Vargas stiffed him.

"On two different occasions I signed a contract to fight Vargas," Jeff said. "Actually, we were supposed to fight four times, but it was only twice that I'd signed a contract.

"He pulled out after Al sent him a tape of me. Finally I told Al, 'I got to get paid for one of these' and he paid me even though Vargas and I didn't fight."

Vargas, 28 and a professional since 1988, is 39-6-1 with 28 knockouts in an up-and-down career. Around the time Rodrigues was trying to piece together a Jeff Mayweather vs. Vargas fight, Vargas was losing to the likes of Kevin Kelley and John John Molina.

He has rebounded to win 10 of his last 11 fights, including five straight as he heads into his showdown with Floyd Mayweather. The loss in that stretch was to Carlos Hernandez, while Vargas has beaten Tracy Harris Patterson and Ben Tackie his last two times out.

Floyd Mayweather, meanwhile, has a career headed in one direction: up. At 22 years old he has won all 20 of his pro fights, including 15 by knockout.

"I'm not worried about Vargas," he said this week while working out at the Nevada Partners gym. "I know he'll give his all, but I'll dig down and work hard. He's got a good left hand and a lot of experience, but I've fought a lot of guys with just as much experience as he has."

Among Floyd Mayweather's victims are Genaro Hernandez and Angel Manfredy, as well as a journeyman by the name of Tony Duran, who failed to last the first round when they met two years ago. The catch: Jeff Mayweather defeated Tony Duran by decision a year earlier.

When it comes to Duran and Vargas, the Mayweathers' careers are intertwined.

"It's just gratifying for me to be involved in Floyd's career," Jeff said, dismissing the notion he could feel a little revenge if his nephew punishes the Mexican challenger. "Back when I was supposed to fight Vargas, I was happy to sign the contracts because I knew it could do something for my career.

"Since that time (Vargas) has resurrected his career and made something of a great comeback. But he's not in Floyd's league."

Floyd Mayweather is a minus 1100 betting favorite for the bout, which is the primary undercard feature beneath the Oscar De La Hoya vs. Oba Carr main event. Those two fights will be televised by the cable network HBO.

"Vargas has a puncher's chance, but Floyd is younger, stronger, faster and is motivated to be the best in the world," his uncle said. "He works hard, no question about it.

"I can't see anyone beating him. It's an old cliche, but the only way I think Floyd will lose a fight is if he beats himself.

"And I don't see him doing that against Vargas."

Floyd Mayweather will move his training camp from Las Vegas to Big Bear, Calif., next week. Vargas, who looked a little heavy at last week's press conference that formally announced the May 22 card, is training near Mexico City.