Start Spreading the News, Vargas Wins

Fernando Vargas figured his debut at Madison Square Garden would be a smashing success. It was, but almost no one noticed.

Vargas defended his IBF junior middleweight crown for the first time on Saturday night, flooring Howard Clarke of England four times before referee Wayne Kelly stopped the fight at 2:29 of the fourth round.

Only a few British fans arriving early for the Evander Holyfield-Lennox Lewis heavyweight unification fight paid much attention to the bout, which took place 3 1/2 hours before the main event.

They cheered Clarke, then applauded for Vargas after he gestured to them in the upper balcony following his victory.

“I couldn’t get into it because there was no one here,” Vargas said. “It was like fighting in a gym.”

Vargas (16-0), who won the 154-pound title by stopping Yory Boy Campas on Dec. 12--five days after his 21st birthday--fought patiently and won the first three rounds. Early in the fourth round, he unleashed a combination to put Clarke (26-11-2) on one knee in the center of the ring.

Seconds later, a left hook put Clarke on his seat. He got up again and a three-punch combination promptly sent him down for a third time.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Kelli Kobayashi, a freshman guard at Cal State Los Angeles from Alemany High, has earned an All-California Collegiate Athletic Assn. honorable mention.

Kobayashi led the Golden Eagles with 12.1 points per game and 76 assists, and set a school single-season record with 57 three-point baskets.

FYI

The Valley Youth Conference will hold a charity golf tournament on May 17 at Porter Valley Country Club. Coach Jeff Fisher of the Tennessee Titans is tournament host. Cost is $180.

Information: (818) 999-5197.

The Mid-Valley Athletic Club in Reseda is holding an open squash tournament March 19-21.

Information: Stephen Cox, (818) 377-4530 or Bruce Radford (818) 705-6500, Ext. 228.

The Moorpark High football booster club’s monthly meeting is scheduled for Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the teachers’ lounge at the school.

Information: (805) 523-3335.