Oxnard Welcomes Olympic Boxers With Parade, Keys to City

Boxers Fernando Vargas and Carlos Martinez may have failed in their quest for an Olympic medal in Atlanta, but it was evident at a parade in their honor Saturday that they had won the respect and admiration of a community.

The two young fighters waved, mugged and posed for pictures from the backseats of convertibles for a crowd of about 400 along a five-block parade and at a ceremony outside City Hall.

As much an expression of Latino pride and culture as a welcoming celebration, mariachi bands and dancers in traditional dress accompanied the two young pugilists from La Colonia Boxing Club.

“I want to give back to the people who’ve supported me from Day 1,” said Vargas, 18, who expects to sign a professional contract within two weeks and has said his first pro bout will be in Oxnard. “I take full responsibility for being a role model. People are going to be watching everything I do.”

Vargas missed out on a medal when he lost a close fight July 25 to a Romanian welterweight. Martinez, a 17-year-old student at Rio Mesa High who fought for Mexico, was defeated July 24 in a first-round fight.

“Knowing that people still support you after you lost . . . feels pretty good,” Martinez said.

But with Oxnard Mayor Manny Lopez proclaiming Saturday as Oxnard Salute to Olympians Day and presenting the pair with keys to the city, few people dwelled on the losses.

“They made Oxnard very proud, and I believe they both gave a gold medal performance,” Councilman Dean Maulhardt said.

Vargas is scheduled to make another kind of performance later in the week--his acting debut in the United Paramount Network sitcom “Moisha,” starring hip-hop star Brandy.

“He plays a role as a boxer--it’s a stretch,” said boxing club spokesman Manuel Herrera.

In a city that is seeing young Latino men die with alarming frequency during repeated outbursts of gang violence, Vargas represents hope for many that there is a way off the streets. Vargas himself has said that boxing provided him a means to channel his youthful energies into more productive pursuits.

“They have aided in educating young people that true sport comes through friendship and peace,” Lopez said of the boxers.

Eleven-year-old Juan Mendoza of Oxnard proudly sported Vargas’ autograph on a T-shirt that pictured his hero and proclaimed “Going for the Gold.” Juan said he started boxing a month ago and already harbors dreams of going to the Olympics.

Francisco Dominguez, 35, of Oxnard sported a T-shirt reading “All children can learn.” He brought his two sons, ages 6 and 3, to see Vargas.

“If they see things like this--that there’s positive outcomes . . . they can make something of themselves,” he said.

Oxnard Councilman Andres Herrera said Vargas’ influence and contributions extend far beyond Oxnard and ethnic boundaries.

“The things that he does transcend color pigmentation and political affiliations,” the councilman said. “He’s a Latino, but he belongs to the county.”