Fernando Vargas

As an amateur Fernando Vargas won a bronze medal at the 1995 Pan American Games and fought at the 1994 World Championships, before losing in the second round at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Vargas won the US title at the 1994 US Olympic Festival, making him, at 16-years-old, the youngest ever US amateur boxing champion.

Vargas turned professional after the Olympics, his career start delayed by a broken hand he sustained while training. In March 1997 he had a short start to that career when he knocked out Jorge Morale in 56 seconds. Vargas was a vicious puncher, winning his first 17 bouts by knockout. After 14 victories, Vargas annexed the IBF world title in December 1998, making him the youngest ever world light-middleweight champion.

Vargas suffered his first loss in December 2000 when he lost the IBF title against Félix Trinidad, in a fight also for the WBA crown. However, Vargas came back in September 2001 to knock-out José Flores and claim the vacant IBA and WBA light-middleweight belts.

Vargas had some legal issues while fighting. In 1999 he was charged with assault and eventually served a 90-day house arrest. After the De La Hoya bout, Vargas had a positive drug test for stanozolol and served a nine-month drug suspension. In retirement Vargas began an acting career, appearing in several reality television series, and as a guest star on other shows.