HBO Interview
HBO: Welcome Fernando!
Fernando: I'm ready to answer your questions and thank my fans for all of your support. I look forward to having you watch me on August 26th against Ross Thompson, in Las Vegas.
Maggie-guest: Who has been the greatest influence in your life, both personally and professionally?
Fernando: That would be my trainer, Eduardo Garcia. I never had a father and he taught me not only how to fight but also how to be a respectable person and have respect for people. He taught me how to treat people, and those things in life that you cannot teach. I owe him a lot. If it wasn't for him, I know I would be in a bad situation all of the time. He taught me a lot of things in life--morals and things. I know he will always be in my corner. The day I retire, he won't be a trainer anymore. That's what he told me. There's a big bond there.
CarlosN-guest: To what extent did your disappointing, controversial Olympic experience motivate you to become a world champion at such an early age?
Fernando: Well I was depressed for a good while at not winning a gold medal because it was a dream of mine. It is instant fame and I think God did that for a reason. It made me even hungrier to be where I am today. It shows that it doesn't matter if you have a gold medal or if you don't. You can still be a good fighter. Learning from Evander Holyfield and Jones and fighters that didn't win a gold medal. I learned from them and because they stayed hungry, it made them hungrier to win a world title and to be a great champion, and that's what helped me a lot, too.
Jeffrey6-guest: Your fight against Ike Quartey was a classic! You definitely established yourself as a pound for pound star in a talented division. Where do you see yourself compared to the current welterweights, Trinidad, Mosley, and De La Hoya?
Fernando: You know, I think I am a competent fighter and I consider myself the best fighter at 154 pounds. Obviously people have different views about it. But hopefully, if God gives me the power, Trinidad and I will be fighting in December and the world can decide then.
Johnny-guest: You have been calling out Oscar De La Hoya for years, begging him to fight you. At times your comments get personal and a true disdain for him is apparent. Where does this disrespect and low opinion of Oscar come from?
Fernando: It goes way back to when I was a kid and I looked up to Oscar. I was just a kid who wanted to meet him and I had a chance to work out and train with him because my trainer had some type of managerial contract with his son, Robert Garcia, at the time. I was all excited to meet Oscar and when I got to meet him, you could say that the experience wasn't good. I got to be around this guy and I was just a kid. I worked out with him and he didn't say a word to me. There were other things that happened that I don't care to get into that were more personal. I will never like or respect him because when I was a kid, it hurt me, and he never thought that snot-nosed kid would be Fernando Vargas. But I'm him. And I'm here whether he likes it or not. I have no respect for him. I have respect for everyone I fight, but I will never respect him in the world as a person or as a fighter.
Boxing_Grrl04-guest: How does your family (wife and kids) react to your boxing career?
Fernando: Well, I am not married. I do have two kids, whom I am very proud of. Like I said before, I never had a father but I am glad I have my kids and can be a father to them. They support me to the fullest and are always in my corner and I thank them for that. They believe I can beat anybody and I believe it also. And that's how you get to win a world championship and get to stay one.
Lance-guest: Your upcoming fight against Felix Trinidad is a huge step in your young career since Trinidad is an experienced and proven champion. What's your mindset when preparing for possibly the biggest fight of your career?
Fernando: Every fight is the biggest fight of my career.
Jenjen-guest: How long have you wanted to fight Felix Trinidad? How did this upcoming fight happen?
Fernando: When I was in a fight for the world title with only 14 fights, no one and their mother gave me a chance to win that fight. I feel I can do the same thing. Trinidad doesn't scare me. He is a great fighter but I have no fear when I step into that ring. I will live and die there, and that's how I honestly feel.
Guest-bob_hough: And would you agree that Trinidad seems to have more trouble the more his opponents give him movement?
Fernando: I think Trinidad--I know a way I can beat Trinidad and I can't say what I am going to do or what I see wrong in his arsenal so I can capitalize on it. Like I did in my fight with Quartey.
Boxing_Grrl04-guest: Hello Mr. Vargas, you are the best fighter I have seencome out of Mexico in a LONG time. Can you please tell us about you new training technique?
Fernando: I'm not from Mexico. My family is from Mexico. I was born and raised in California, but very proud to be Mexican-American. I try to represent for my people--110 percent. But my training techniques, I care not to discuss. They are a secret. I have a great physical trainer. I train very hard for each fight. I go through hell for 6 or 8 weeks to be ready for my fight. I apologize but I can't answer that question.
BoxersFan-guest: Speaking of staying hungry champ, what do you have for breakfast before a big fight? What did you have for breakfast on the morning of the Quartey fight?
Fernando: I only like to have a nice big breakfast and then I don't eat lunch. What I have in the morning is pancakes with eggs, hashbrowns and toast--whatever I want. But I don't overdo it and try to eat everything. Nice big breakfast and I feel good and ready to fight without eating lunch. And that's it. I'm ready to go with that.
Onekrazyrican-guest: One thing I like about the possible match between you and Trinidad is the respect you show for each other. Have you had the chance to speak with Trinidad in person?
Fernando: I remember meeting Trinidad as a kid, which was great because he was already a pro fighter, a great guy and a great person. I looked up to him as a kid, and a possible fight with him is great too. But like he and I both said, we are both going to turn into animals in the ring. I won't disrespect him and he won't disrespect me. We both feel as though we are the best and we both want to show it.
Posty-guest: Fernando, if you beat Trinidad (which I'm sure you'll do) what is next? Is there a chance of you fighting Bernard Hopkins? Or are you just going to do your thing at junior middleweight?
Fernando: I got the chance to meet him and he was a great guy. He was just a great person. That's the type of fighters that I like--ones like that. I want to stay at junior middleweight and unify. God gave me the power and we take care of business with Trinidad, I definitely want to go after Acastajeos. I respect Trinidad because he is still around. In my fight with Quartey, I said that I felt he would be the only fighter that would unify with me because he is brave and I still think that because he still wants to go fight me in December. I meant Trinidad--not Quartey.
Nancy: What is your strategy against the aggressive Felix Trinidad?
Fernando: That's like asking a chef the recipe for his favorite cookies. You can't say that. That's like asking a magician how he does his tricks. That's impossible. I can't say that.
Philippe-guest: Who are the people in your training camp in Big Bear?
Fernando: I got Robbie Peden, a great fighter at 130 pounds. I got my boy who takes care of the camp from Australia. I have Roger Bearwith who is one of my trainers. I have Eduardo Garcia, my head trainer. I have Robert Garcia, a 130-pound world champion looking to make a comeback. I have my boy who is a rapper here, and my brother Roger Vargas with me. I have my physical trainer with me. We call him Woody. He is also the doc. We have my sparring partner with me. It's a big camp. My manager is with me.
Boxing_Grrl04-guest: You are the best fighter; what keeps you motivated? (I love your website, your son looks just like you!)
Fernando: Thank you. The way I keep motivated is that I want to be the best--pound for pound--the best in the world. To do so, I have to fight these top-notch guys. I feel I can beat these guys and that's why I take these fights.
Alan-guest: What is a typical day like in your training camp? Are you planning to do anything different for the Trinidad fight?
Fernando: I train hard at each camp. I can't give you my training regimen because that's a secret, too. I get up at 10 AM, have breakfast, go to the gym, do my boxing workout, come back home, eat, relax, and then I go to run. I have different runs in the afternoon, and weights 2 times a week. I live clean. That's what I do.
Saayid-guest: Besides Trinidad, who can be a formidable fighter for you?
Fernando: Once I unify the division, I'll fight anybody. Mosley is a great fighter. If he wants to move up to 154, I'll fight him. There are a lot of fights out there that people want to see but I want to stay at 154.
Boxingfanman-guest: If you had to pick one and you can't choose yourself, who do you think is the best 154 lbs fighter?
Fernando: Fernando Vargas. That's it. I can't say. I can't say anybody else, 'cuz that's who I think it is!
Jessie-guest: Does your son, Fernando Jr., have any aspirations to become a fighter? What advice will you give him?
Fernando: This kid is a wrecking ball. And anywhere I go, he will make a kid cry from fighting. I try to discipline him and tell him no, but he is angry inside. He leaves a kid crying and he hits him and he is tough. He might even scrape himself and bleed and he says it doesn't hurt. It is crazy. If my other son isn't like me, I know my first son is, and even worse--10 times worse than me. You just don't want to be on his bad side. He is only 3 years old, going on 15. His temper is no joke!
HBO: We are just about out of time are there any last thoughts you would like to leave with your fans?
Fernando: I just want to thank everybody for all of the support they have given me. It's a dream I am living and I just don't want to wake up. I am able to provide for my family with what I do best. Always I represent all my fans and all my Mexican fans and all fans in general. If you have any questions, you can go to my website at www.fernandovargas.com. You can email me from there. And YES--it is ME who answers!
HBO: Thank you for participating in HBO.COM's live chat with Fernando Vargas.
HBO: We are all looking forward to the upcoming super fight on December 2 between Vargas & Felix Trinidad. |
