Stomach Virus Knocks Vargas Out of Tourney

Fernando Vargas, the youngest boxer to win an amateur national title, has withdrawn from this week’s U.S. Amateur Championships in Colorado Springs. After returning last week from the Pan American Games in Argentina, Vargas contracted a stomach virus and withdrew from this week’s tournament for medical reasons.

Vargas, 17, is ineligible to compete on the U.S. team that will fight in the World Championships in May in Berlin. Vargas, a light-welterweight, won’t compete again until the U.S. Olympic Festival in July.

“I was exhausted,” he said this week. “I was feeling all trained out. I was worried about my performance. When I fight, I want to show 100%.”

Vargas burst onto the national scene last year at the U.S. Amateur Championships, beating a group of older and more experienced fighters to win the 132-pound title as a 16-year-old. Missing this year’s event and the World Championships hurts his development, according to an official with USA Boxing.

“It’s a major event that he will miss and the World Championships would have been a good experience for him to have, so it’s disappointing,” said David Lubs of USA Boxing. “But he’s established himself so I don’t think it’s that critical. It’s fair to say that he will be selected for the U.S. Olympic Festival.”

Even though he is missing two important tournaments, Vargas seems relieved by the break. Since the start of the year, he has followed a rigorous training and fight schedule, spending most of his time away from home.

He also was frustrated at the Pan Am Games, settling for a bronze medal. He questioned the judges’ decision after losing in the semifinals.

Vargas said last week that he wanted to skip the World Championships. He needed a break, he said, and also worried about his school work.

After leaving school in January and adopting an independent study program, he re-enrolled at Channel Islands High this week and will train in Oxnard until the Olympic Festival.

“In a sense, I’m glad to take a break,” he said. “It feels nice to be back in school and to see all my friends. It feels real good.”