De La Hoya-Vargas bout rescheduled for Sept. 14

Friday, April 12, 2002 | 10:48 a.m.

Bad Blood is heading to September.

Oscar De La Hoya and Fernando Vargas will meet in a rescheduled fight at Mandalay Bay on Sept. 14.

The former world champions and bitter rivals were initially scheduled for May 4. But De La Hoya sustained a hand injury while sparring at his camp in Big Bear, Calif., forcing the postponement.

Neither fighter will take an interim fight.

Bob Arum, president of Top Rank, and Gary Shaw, chief operating officer of Main Events, made the announcement of the rescheduled fight this morning.

"Oscar is very anxious to take on Vargas," Arum said.

"Bad Blood is reheated and at last Fernando is getting De La Hoya where he wants him -- in the ring," Shaw said.

Mark Taffet, HBO senior vice president of sports operations and pay-per-view said, "This fight is as important across the United States and around the world as it is in Los Angeles and Mexico. There is no matchup in the sport today which combines the star power, passion and personal rivalry."

Tickets previously purchased for the May 4 event will be honored for the Sept. 14 date, with the same seat location. Anyone who purchased tickets for May 4 and is unable to attend may receive a full refund. They must be requested by April 30 at the point of purchase.