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| | Sunday, 3 December, 2000, 05:38 GMT Trinidad stops Vargas in Vegas  Trinidad's right hand condemned Vargas to defeat Felix Trinidad stopped Fernando Vargas in the final round of a devastasting bout in Las Vegas to add the International Boxing Federation junior middleweight title to his World Boxing Association crown. Trinidad, who put his WBA title on the line, claimed Vargas' IBF belt with three knockdowns in a thrilling last round. He had also sent the Mexican-American to the canvas twice in the opening round, and though on the floor himself in the fourth, characteristically came through to dominate the latter stages.
The win was his 32nd inside the distance and stretched his unbeaten record to 39 fights. The Puerto Rican was penalised two points for low blows, and Vargas docked one, but both landed a tremendous ratio of legal blows, 32 each in the ninth round. However, the dramatic confrontation reached an epic climax as the two fighters touched gloves for the final three minutes.
Trinidad, who led on all the judges' cards after 11 brutal rounds, surprised Vargas with a savage left hook to the face that sent El Feroz (The Ferocious One) to the canvas. Another left hook had Vargas on all fours again shortly after, though he got to his feet for referee Jay Nady's count of eight. However, a right to the head from Trinidad put Vargas down for the final time and condemned him to his first defeat in 21 professional fights. Joppy next up? After the fight, Trinidad acknowledged he had been severely tested. "Without a doubt he punches hard and that was my toughest fight," he admitted. "He hit me with a good left hook and he hurt me a little, but I was in great condition and came back. I'm a great champion." The next fight for Trinidad could be a shot against American Williams Joppy, who successfully defended his WBA middleweight title on the undercard. Joppy stopped Jonathan Reid in the fourth round, improving his record to 33 wins (24 inside the distance), one draw and one defeat, while Reid suffered his first loss in 28 fights. | |
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