Vargas Doesn’t Want to Take More Swings at De La Hoya

Pay no mind, Fernando Vargas says, to the recent cover story of a boxing publication titled “Why Do Oscar and Fernando Hate Each Other?”

Vargas, the IBF junior-middleweight champion from Oxnard, still isn’t crazy about Oscar De La Hoya, former WBC welterweight champion from East Los Angeles. For much of the last four years, Vargas has goaded De La Hoya in an unsuccessful effort to entice him into the ring.

These days, Vargas has plenty of things on his mind. But for once, De La Hoya isn’t one of them.

“I don’t even think about Oscar De La Hoya,” Vargas said. “He’s never going to be on my Christmas list, I’ll tell you that. But I’m more interested in Felix Trinidad.”

The long-standing feud between the two popular Southern California fighters has simmered, partly because of a shift in the sport’s landscape in the last year.

De La Hoya’s stature has diminished considerably since losses against Shane Mosely last month and Trinidad in September.

Vargas is scheduled to defend his title Aug. 26 at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, probably against No. 1-ranked contender Ross Thompson. Vargas likely will face Trinidad in the fall.

However, the threat of a prison sentence hangs over his head.

Vargas, 22, is scheduled to appear in Santa Barbara Superior Court on Sept. 6 for a hearing related to an incident last summer in which he allegedly took part in the beating of a 23-year-old man in the home of a woman Vargas was visiting. Vargas is charged with felonious assault and conspiracy to commit a crime, and could face as many as eight years in prison.

Vargas has vehemently professed his innocence and claims he will be exonerated. He declined to discuss the matter because of legal concerns.

As for De La Hoya, Vargas says he doesn’t foresee the two ever fighting.

“With the two losses, there isn’t much point in fighting him,” said Vargas, 19-0 with 17 knockouts. “I think people would rather see Fernando Vargas and Felix Trinidad.”

Vargas criticized De La Hoya for taking Mosely and Trinidad too lightly.

“Oscar went in [against Mosely] thinking he was going to manhandle him,” Vargas said. “He never respected his power. And Mosely beat Oscar at everything.”

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Vargas and Robert Garcia returned to their Oxnard roots Thursday, La Colonia Youth Boxing Club, and were greeted by more than 200 fans.

Vargas and Garcia, a former IBF junior-lightweight champion, signed autographs for 2 1/2 hours at the gym where they began boxing as boys. Each fighter donated $1,000 to the gym for equipment and renovations.

Vargas seized the opportunity to criticize city officials for neglecting to maintain the gym.

“They probably didn’t like what I had to say, but if I don’t say it, who’s going to say it?” Vargas said. “I hope I brought a little attention to the city.

“I would understand if this gym didn’t produce anybody, but this gym produces champions. This is the gym I come from. I’ve been here since I was 10 years old. When I’m not [training] in Big Bear, I’m here.”

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Four months into his professional career, Ulises Pena of Northridge has had more weigh-ins than fights.

Pena, a native of Mexico, improved to 3-0 as a super-featherweight with a five-round unanimous decision over Marcos Arauz of Palmdale on Tuesday night at Sagebrush Cantina in Calabasas. Pena impressed ringside observers with his raw ability.

Four times, Pena has weighed in for a bout, only to have his opponent pull out at the 11th hour. Pena was scheduled to fight June 24 at the Valencia Hyatt Hotel, but the fight was scratched.

“I’m right there at the weigh-in and then they come up with, ‘Oh, I messed up my hand’ or ‘I’m overweight,’ ” Pena said.

One opponent weighed in seven pounds over the limit.

“I told him, ‘Just lose two pounds and we’ll fight,’ ” Pena said. “He wouldn’t.”

Arauz presented a formidable challenge while taunting Pena during the fight.

“He was talking too much,” Pena said. “He was saying, ‘Get closer. I want to knock you out.’ ”

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The card at Sagebrush Cantina, the third presented by Oxnard promoter Robert Valdez, turned out better than expected, considering the inexperience of the fighters. The crowd was respectable, about 700.

Nobuto Honmo of Japan won an eight-round unanimous decision over Memo Moreno of Beaumont in an entertaining super-featherweight main event.

The fight was the third in the United States for Honmo, who improved to 15-4-1.

Valdez’s next promotion is tentatively scheduled for late August.