Jessie Vargas unveils new team, power for welterweight title shot against Sadam Ali
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Jessie Vargas came within 10 seconds of possibly winning the welterweight title in his first shot at it against champion Timothy Bradley last June.
But for an honest, yet possibly game-changing, mistake by veteran referee Pat Russell, it could have been two-division champion Jessie Vargas fighting challenger Sadam Ali Saturday night at the D.C. Armory in Washington. Russell mistook the 10-second warning for the final bell and stopped the fight early after Vargas had rocked Bradley with a hard right hand and had him on the ropes and out on his feet.
Bradley ended up winning by unanimous decision.
As it is, Vargas and Ali will fight for that WBO strap anyway, after Bradley vacated the title, choosing a third, much more lucrative pay-per-view fight with Manny Pacquiao instead of taking the mandatory against Ali.
PACQUIAO-BRADLEY: HBO distances itself from Pacquiao's remarks on gays
For Vargas, 26, the Las Vegas product who had previously been a 140-pound titleholder, the loss by mistake was a tough pill to swallow, especially considering it was the first L of his career.
"It's hard to deal with it because when it's not corrected, you can't accept it no matter what. All you can do is look forward," Vargas said. "But I'm happy my company (Top Rank) and the WBO gave me the opportunity again to fight for the world title. I'm very thankful for it."
Since that fight nearly nine months ago, Vargas (26-1, 9 KOs) has undergone drastic changes with his team. He has replaced his trainer, legendary Mexican champion Erik Morales, with Dewey Cooper, a former cruiserweight. Morales lasted one fight after replacing another ring legend, Roy Jones Jr. Cooper is the sixth trainer of Vargas' eight-year career.
The New Vargas, says the fighter, will be unveiled on Saturday night.
"They're bringing out the best in me," Vargas said of his team Thursday before the final press conference for Saturday's fight card, headlined by the heavyweight fight between Cuban Luis Ortiz and D.C. native Tony Thompson (HBO, 10 p.m.). "I'm very comfortable saying that you will see a big difference Saturday night. More important, I feel very comfortable with all the corrections that have been made and I'm looking forward to performing at the highest level."
WELTERWEIGHTS: Latest division rankings
After his rousing finish against Bradley, in which he knocked the champ silly in the 12 th round, Vargas is confident in his new-found power.
"Definitely and I will be even more powerful," he said. "You will notice it Saturday.
"I'm sure (Ali) is intimidated because he knows what I can do to an iron chin. No matter what happened, I do respect Bradley and I know he's a warrior who takes punches well. And for me to have him knocked out, that opened everyone's eyes in the boxing world that I do have that punching power."
Ali scoffed at the notion that he is intimidated by Vargas.
"I think Jessie Vargas is just trying to get in my head. Some of the things he says are really stupid," Ali said. "I don't know if he plans on getting in my head, or trying to scare me, but none of that is really working. To be honest, it's only making it worse. But say what you gotta say. Come Saturday night, we'll see who's the better man."
Cooper said the secret to the new and improved Vargas is science.
"We apply things out weekly, there's no set thing, just the methods that we use to optimize Jessie's strength, his speed, explosiveness and power," Cooper said, "and keep him healthy. You're going to see a more dynamic and more athletic Jessie Vargas Saturday night."
Cooper summed up the gameplan in three words: "Dictate the pace. It's as simple as that."
Ali (22-0, 13 KOs) says he will be ready for whatever the "new" Vargas brings. The Brooklyn fighter, a former U.S. Olympian, is coming off impressive victories against Francisco Santana in April 2015 (unanimous decision), and a ninth-round TKO against Luis Carlos Abregu in November.
"What gives me confidence is not only my last two fights but what I've done in my career period, as a professional and amateur," the 27-year-old Ali said. "Having the experience in the ring. Being able to adapt to any style. Maybe not doing good in the first or second round, but then figuring it out and doing better. Figuring out what works. I think that's very important in a fight."
Photo of Ali, left, and Vargas, with Bernard Hopkins in the middle, by Louis tinsley, Hoganphotos)