Thompson, Vargas Provide Sneak Preview

Ross Thompson, a 30-1 underdog to Fernando Vargas, lasted one punch before going down from a vicious left hook.

And that was at Thursday’s news conference.

Imagine what awaits Thompson Saturday when the two square off in Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Events Center with Vargas’ International Boxing Federation junior middleweight title at stake.

Thursday’s Mandalay Bay news conference erupted into violence as Thompson climbed up on the dais to take his seat while spewing trash talk at Vargas.

As Vargas got up to confront Thompson, the IBF’s No. 1 contender threw a sneak right hand that bloodied Vargas’ mouth.

Vargas responded with a left hook that knocked Thompson off the dais.

As Thompson tried to get back at Vargas, the Oxnard fighter’s promoter, Gary Shaw, stepped in the way, only to find himself on the receiving end of another Thompson punch, this one bloodying Shaw’s mouth.

Order was restored and the news conference continued. But when it came time for Thompson to speak, he resumed his tirade until his microphone was shut off.

Still angry, Thompson stormed out of the room.

“You don’t have to worry about him,” Shaw told Vargas. “He couldn’t even drop me.”