Mosley stops Vargas: Swollen eye shuts down 'Ferocious' Fernando

By JE Grant

LAS VEGAS --- “Sugar” Shane Mosley, 42-4 (36 KOs), La Verne, Calif., 152, scored a tenth round stoppage of fellow former 154 pound titlist Fernando Vargas, 26-3 (22 KOs), Oxnard, Calif., 153 ½, based on a grossly swollen left eye as determined by referee Joe Cortez.

The contest between two of the sport’s stars lived up to the hype of the pay-per-view event – a rarity in the sport today.

As predicted, Mosley started quickly landing sharp right hands in round one. Early in the opening round, in fact, it appeared that a Mosley right caused a small mouse to appear over Vargas’ left eye.

The snapping rights, preceded by peppering left jabs gained the busier and more accurate Mosley the first three stanzas. Although Mosley’s shots did not appear to shake his younger opponent, he had enough zip to keep the bigger man from mounting a sustained attack.

“Ferocious” Fernando’s heavy hands began to land with authority in round four and he was able to push and punch his way to captured the fourth and fifth.

Mosley’s speed began dictating the fight in the sixth. Realizing Vargas was the stronger of the two, Sugar Shane kept distance with jabs mixed with right hands that Vargas could not stop.

In rounds six through nine, Mosley was in charge, though a hustling Vargas may have had the edge in round seven.

Beginning in round seven, the swelling over Vargas’ left eye increased significantly.

Between the ninth and tenth rounds, referee Joe Cortez conferred with the ringside physician and members of the Nevada Athletic Commission.

The content of their discussion became clear when, at 1:22 of the tenth, Cortez stepped between the combatants after Mosley landed near the eye. At the time of the stoppage the eye was essentially closed and had swollen to grapefruit proportions.

Mosley was ahead on two of the three scorecards at the time of the stoppage. JEBoxing scored the bout 87-84 for Mosely through nine rounds.

Both fighters will likely continue their fistic careers with Mosley moving to welterweight.

Clearly Vargas lost much more than a single bout. He is now out of contention for meeting De La Hoya or the alphabet titleholders.