De La Hoya-Vargas Bout Is Set for Sept. 14

First it was pride. Then it was money. Then it was an injury.

The long-awaited, but never-realized match between Oscar De La Hoya and Fernando Vargas, labeled “Bad Blood” by promoters, ought to be called Bad Karma.

Hopeful now that every possible cause for delay has finally been eliminated, promoters Bob Arum and Gary Shaw have agreed on a new date--Sept. 14--for the 154-pound title match between De La Hoya and Vargas at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Events Center.

For years, Vargas, who grew up in Oxnard, challenged De La Hoya of East Los Angeles only to be rejected, De La Hoya claiming he didn’t want to give his hated rival a big payday.

The two sides appeared to have struck a deal last summer, only to have negotiations collapse at the end over money. With Arum back in De La Hoya’s camp, an agreement was finally reached on a May 4 date. But last week, De La Hoya revealed he sprained his left wrist in training camp, necessitating yet another postponement.

With genuine animosity between the fighters, which culminated in a shoving match at a Los Angeles news conference, the fight has built-in appeal.

And neither Arum nor Shaw expects the delay to cool that passion.

“Vargas doesn’t shut up,” Arum said. “And that’s good. He keeps the pot boiling.”

Said Shaw, “Nothing needs to be restarted. The passion will be sustained. What you have between these two guys is a permanent scar. A scar remains a scar.”

Arum gets passionate when asked about those--Vargas included--who question whether De La Hoya’s injury is genuine.

“We’re not crazy,” Arum said. “If he could have fought, he would have fought. Oscar was in great shape. We have a new date, but would I have rather fought May 4? You’re damn right I would, but what can I do?”

Those who purchased tickets for the May 4 date can either use them for the same seats on Sept. 14 or can get a full refund.