[0] VARGAS: TAKE A HIKE, IKE IBF CHAMPION LOOKS SHARP DEFENDING TITLE AGAINST QUARTEY.

Byline: Michael Rosenthal Staff Writer

LAS VEGAS - No one said this was going to be easy.

Ike Quartey, 14-month layoff and all, was ready to fight when he stepped into the ring to face IBF junior middleweight champion Fernando Vargas before a crowd of about 7,000 here on Saturday. He was as strong, quick and sharp as he ever was.

And Vargas, after only 18 fights, was up to the challenge.

Vargas calmly and cooly - and with great courage - took plenty of punishment but simply outworked the challenger to win a unanimous decision, retain his title and remove any doubt as to whether he's among the world's elite fighters.

The judges scored it 116-111, 114-113 and 116-111. The Daily News had it 116-111.

And CompuBox stats, though certainly not conclusive, supported the judging. Oxnard's Vargas, who trained like never before, threw a remarkable 909 punches, landing 389 of them. Quartey was 272 of 645.

``I like it when people say I can't do something,'' said Vargas (19-0,with 17 knockouts). ``I like to prove them wrong.

``This kid is a little smarter (than Quartey believed he'd be). I showed a lot tonight.''

Quartey, who had fought only once in the past 2 1/2 years, looked as if he was hungry to make up for lost time.

The former welterweight champ from Ghana, fighting at 154 pounds for the first time, was the aggressor for the bulk of the fight. He stalked what he had said would be easy prey throughout.

And that was OK with Vargas, a counterpuncher who wants his opponent to walk into his punches.

Oh, Quartey (34-2-1, 29 KOs) did damage. His left jab was somewhat effective - although Vargas equaled him jab for jab - and landed enough power punches to test Vargas' chin and will.

Quartey's best round was the ninth, when he connected on several of his best punches and Vargas' nose bled profusely.

However, Vargas enjoyed many more such moments. He never staggered Quartey but consistently landed power punches that would've badly hurt a lesser opponent.

A look at their faces after the fight told the overall story: Quartey's was a swollen mess - his right eye grotesquely closed- while Vargas' was relatively unmarked.

That's what happens when one fighter outpunches - and outlands - another fighter 3-2.

Vargas didn't take any chances in the end. Quartey didn't fade in the final rounds quite as badly as he has in past fights but was no match for the fresher, more-active champion in 10-12.

Vargas won all three rounds on two cards, only one on the third, although he didn't need the points.

``I showed I can go 12 tough rounds with a slick southpaw (Winky Wright, in his last fight),'' Vargas said. ``I showed what type of fighter I was then. And I showed it again.''

Quartey, who feels he was victimized when he lost a close fight to Oscar De La Hoya in his last bout, had similar feelings Saturday.

When the decision was read, he simply shook his head. Afterward, obviously distraught, he had little to say.

``I don't know what to tell you,'' he said. ``. . . What fight were you watching? 116-111? I feel it should have been a close fight.''

Vargas has an interesting immediate future.

On Monday, he goes on trial in Santa Barbara on assault charges after he and friends allegedly assaulted a man last year. He faces possible jail time if convicted.

Assuming he can win that fight too - or least walk away with light punishment - his next big fight could be against WBA junior middleweight titleholder Felix Trinidad late this year.

If it happens, Vargas doesn't plan to run as De La Hoya, his bitter L.A. rival, did in a controversial loss.

``Tito (Trinidad), you're a great fighter,'' Vargas said. ``I know you want to unify the titles.

``I want to show you how a real Mexican fights.''

In preliminary bouts, Antonio Diaz (31-2, 22 KOs) knocked out Ivan Robinson (29-4, 11 KOs) at 1:45 of the 11th round of a scheduled 12-round junior welterweight bout.

Diaz, a title contender from Coachella, gave an outstanding performance against a tough, tested veteran.

He gradually wore down Robinson with consistent punches to the head and body, finally prompting referee Mitch Halpern to stop it when Robinson was unable to return punches.

Diaz has won 23 consecutive fights.

And Jose ``Shibata'' Flores (39-8, 20 KOs) defeated Paul Vaden (29-3, 11 KOs) by a unanimous decision in a 12-round junior middleweight bout.

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2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) IBF junior middleweight champ Fernando Vargas revels in his victory by unanimous decision over Ike Quartey in Las Vegas.

(2) Fernando Vargas, right, lands a right hook to Ike Quartey in the second round of their title fight.

Laura Rauch/Associated Press