On Saturday, September 14th, 2002 Oscar De La Hoya and Fernando Vargas faced one another at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. The event, promoted by Top Rank and aired on HBO Pay-per-view, featured three World Super-welterweight Titles at stake: WBC, WBA, and IBA. Both fighters entered the ring weighing 154 lbs, with referee Joe Cortez overseeing the action. By the end of the match, De La Hoya defeated Vargas with a TKO at 1:48 in the 11th round.
The fight was a grueling and intense affair, with both boxers displaying their grit and determination. De La Hoya's nose began bleeding by the end of the fifth round, while Vargas suffered a cut under his right eye by the seventh. The bout remained closely contested until the final rounds, where De La Hoya started to gain the upper hand.
In the 10th round, De La Hoya stunned Vargas with a powerful left hook, following a combination to the body. Momentum had clearly shifted in De La Hoya's favor. Vargas was knocked down early in the 11th round, again by a devastating left hook from De La Hoya. The end came when referee Joe Cortez stopped the fight after Vargas offered little resistance to a flurry of punches from De La Hoya.
In addition to the WBC, WBA, and IBA titles, De La Hoya also won the vacant Ring Magazine Jr. Middleweight Championship of the World. The fight generated significant revenue, boasting the second-largest grossing live gate in history for a non-heavyweight bout. De La Hoya received a $15 million purse for his victory, while Vargas earned $6 million plus a share of the pay-per-view revenue.
Unfortunately, the aftermath of the fight was marred by controversy. Vargas tested positive for steroids and faced a nine-month suspension and a $100,000 fine.
