Gold Mettle

True to his word, Fernando Vargas hasn’t looked back. Nor has he forgotten.

One year ago today, the U.S. Olympic welterweight from Oxnard was seething over a controversial second-round loss to Marian Simion of Romania at the Atlanta Games.

This week, between workouts in training camp at West Palm Beach, Fla., Vargas, 19, undefeated in five professional fights, reflected calmly on the biggest disappointment of his life.

“You know, in a sense, it’s always going to be in the back of my mind: ‘If I had only won that gold medal,’ ” Vargas said. “Having that gold medal is instant notoriety.

“But it really hasn’t mattered. I just said, ‘That’s boxing--there is always going to be controversy,’ and swept it to the side.”

Though the five judges combined credited him with more scoring blows than his opponent, Vargas lost an 8-7 decision before a stunned, sellout crowd at Alexander Memorial Coliseum.

Observers who believed Vargas was victorious echoed his scathing criticism of the competition’s computer scoring system.

“Everybody knows I was robbed,” Vargas fumed afterward.

For Vargas, whose impressive amateur career made him USA Boxing’s brightest hope for a gold medal in Atlanta, the loss was crushing.

But he soon simmered and accepted defeat. As a parting jab, he vowed to “dominate the pros.”

Ultimately, however, Olympic gold--or lack thereof--has made little difference.

Soon after the Olympics, Vargas signed a lucrative promotional contract with Main Events Productions, which likes his swagger almost as much as his punching.

Vargas has knocked out all his opponents in a combined seven rounds, five of them incomplete. His next fight is scheduled for Aug. 19 in Austin, Texas, and he likely will have 10 fights--including his first 10-round bout--under his belt by the time he turns 20 in December.

“We have him mapped out pretty much for the rest of the year,” Main Events spokesman Mike Boorman said.

Even Vargas, cocksure and maniacal about training, is eager to pick up the pace and test his mettle against more formidable foes.

“This ain’t cutting it,” Vargas said. “Don’t get me wrong, I love knocking them out. But people need to see me as a complete fighter and see what I’m capable of doing.”

Vargas’ focus on the future may have helped soothe the disappointment of Atlanta. But it has forced him to spend extended periods of time away from the community in which he has lived all his life.

Vargas doesn’t wish to forget Oxnard, either.

In March, Vargas made good on a pledge to stage his first pro fight in his hometown. He knocked out veteran Jorge Morales in 56 seconds before a packed crowd at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center.

“It’s one of the things we discussed as a team,” said Rolando Arrellano, Vargas’ personal advisor and co-manager. “You can’t just say you’re going to do it. Actions speak louder than words. He doesn’t want to present the image that he left his people.”

Vargas’ new career, however, has kept him moving. He has fought in Sacramento, Lake Tahoe and twice in Atlantic City.

He will remain in Florida until his next fight, working with trainers Lou Duva and Roger Bloodworth.

“They take him away every month,” said Alicia Romo, Vargas’ mother. “He always says he never wants to leave Oxnard and that he’s always going to live here. He’s not going to Malibu or Beverly Hills.”

Vargas is eager to put his stamp on his community, something he is keenly aware people expect him to do. Vargas has openly criticized Oscar De La Hoya regarding the world champion’s efforts to fund an East L.A. community youth center.

He refuses to discuss De La Hoya, but says his views have not changed.

While at home, Vargas still trains at tiny La Colonia Youth Boxing Club under Eduardo Garcia, who guided him to a 100-5 amateur record and three junior Olympic championships. Vargas vows to make a financial impact but says there is more a fighter can do.

“We come from a community where a lot of kids don’t have money for clothes to train with,” Vargas said. “They need boxing shoes, hand wraps. . . .

“But just throwing money at them isn’t enough. I want to be more hands on and involved with these kids. Work out with them, talk to them. See where they come from, where they’ve been.

“That’s what they look up to.”