Mosley TKOs Vargas In Rematch

LAS VEGAS – Sugar Shane Mosley promised a more decisive win and certified it with a perfect left hook from the hip to score a technical knockout victory over Fernando Vargas (26-4, 22 KOs) that could spell the end of the Oxnard fighter’s career on Saturday.

Mosley (43-4, 37 KOs) looked faster and more accurate in dominating Vargas with right hands to the head and body shots in a junior middleweight fight scheduled for 12 rounds before 9,722 raucous fans at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino. It was Mosley’s first fight with his father Jack Mosley back in the corner.

The rematch proved to be one-sided as Mosley seemed faster and heavier-handed than in their first bout that took place in February. The Pomona fighter’s fluidity and marksmanship allowed him to win every round. According to Compubox, Mosley landed 136 to Vargas’ 68 after six rounds.

Vargas tried to counterpunch in the sixth after failing to pressure Mosley in the earlier rounds. A three-punch combination by the Oxnard fighter made it seem the tide might turn. Before that, Mosley rampaged through his opponent with rights and more rights.

“He was weaker in this fight,” said Mosley, 34, about Vargas. “He looked like he was breaking down.”

But Mosley timed a double jab by Vargas and slipped a left hook that caught Vargas on the chin and down he went at 2:38 in the sixth round.

“I remember Oscar De La Hoya’s fight against Vargas and he threw that perfect left hook,” said Mosley about De La Hoya’s knockout win against Vargas several years ago. “I was dancing around and saw the opening and threw that perfect left hook again.”

Vargas stumbled twice but managed to get to his feet before the count. He was allowed to continue but Mosley fired a barrage of punches and referee Kenny Bayless stopped the fight for a technical knockout.

“I thought I was doing good and he caught me with a good shot,” said Vargas, 28, who also suffered a small cut on his left eye in the fifth round. “I didn’t see it until I saw it on the replay.”

Vargas said he does not know if he’ll continue fighting.

“I need to talk to my fans and my family,” he said.

The judges scored all five rounds for Mosley before the knockout.

Mosley gave credit to his father for the win.

“He was very inspirational to everyone in the camp,” Mosley said.

He also gave his opponent some kind parting words.

“We’re all California brothers and we do it for our families,” Mosley told Vargas after the fight. “There are no hard feelings.”

Other bouts

In another rematch, WBO junior featherweight titleholder Daniel Ponce De Leon (29-1, 27 KOs) crushed Thailand’s Sod Looknongyangtoy (27-2, 10 KOs) with one punch in the first round. The contender was sprawled out face first for several tense minutes. But he recovered.

“He countered and I got caught. It happens in boxing,” said Looknongyangtoy who fought a close 12-round decision with Ponce de Leon in October that took place in Tucson. “But I am ok.”

Ponce de Leon said he looked at the tapes of their last fight and devised the antidote straight left hand lead for his southpaw opponent.

“I have been working on that punch a lot in training camp,” Ponce de Leon said. “I knew he was susceptible to it and it came through for me tonight.”

WBA lightweight titleholder Juan Diaz (30-0, 15 KOs) of Houston ravaged the much taller and stronger looking Randy Suico (24-3, 21 KOs) of the Philippines with a dizzying amount of punches that forced referee Joe Cortez to halt the fight at 2:06 of the ninth round.

From the onset of the fight Diaz set a pace that few other fighters can match and was deadly accurate.

“I wasn’t tired at all,” said Diaz who out-slugged his opponent by more than two to one in the punch output category. Suico had never been stopped. “He can take a shot and he came out punching.”

Diaz hopes to fight Diego Corrales, Julio Diaz, Acelino Freitas or Jesus Chavez.

Ghana’s Ben Tackie (28-6-1, 17 KOs) used a persistent body attack to break down Wilfredo Negron’s (25-10, 19 KOs) defense in a welterweight bout scheduled for 10 rounds. A right hand through Negron’s gloves in the third round and a straight right in the fifth round forced referee Robert Byrd to halt the fight in the fifth round.

Philadelphia’s Rock Allen (9-0) had too much strength for Glendale, California’s Henry Mitchell (6-6-1) in a four round welterweight bout. Allen’s left hook continually landed while Mitchell tried to counter with four-punch combinations. But all three judges scored it 40-36 for Allen.

Undefeated lightweight Anthony Salcido (9-0-1) of San Diego met Mexico’s veteran Enrique Colin (21-3-3) in a six round bout. Both fighters had their moments but Colin was able to switch to an effective southpaw stance that gave him the edge in the last three rounds. The fight was scored a draw with all three judges scoring it 57-57.

Puerto Rico’s Jonathan Oquendo had little trouble with Mexico’s Arturo Bracamontes in a featherweight bout scheduled for six rounds. Oquendo scored a knock out win in the fourth.