DE LA HOYA PULLS OUT OF VARGAS BOUT INJURY TO PREVENT MAY 4 FIGHT.Byline: Michael Rosenthal Assistant Sports Editor Noun 1. sports editor - the newspaper editor responsible for sports news newspaper editor - the editor of a newspaper The Oscar De La Hoya-Fernando Vargas fight is off. At least for now. De La Hoya pulled out of the May 4 junior middleweight title-unification bout after spraining his left hand sparring last week. The fighters' handlers are trying to reschedule re·sched·ule tr.v. re·sched·uled, re·sched·ul·ing, re·sched·ules To schedule again or anew: rescheduled the meeting for the following week; rescheduled the debts of many developing nations. , possibly for Sept. 14. Vargas, who reiterated his commitment to making the fight happen, was upset upon hearing the news - but not surprised. The Oxnard resident believes his rival is afraid to fight him and wonders whether the injury was concocted to avoid the showdown - particularly in light of De La Hoya's history of pulling out of fights. De La Hoya has postponed or canceled at least five fights in his 10-plus-year career, including his last. He was scheduled to face Roman Karmazin on Dec. 8 but pulled out after tearing cartilage in his left wrist during training. He subsequently had surgery. ``I feel honestly that his hand is connected to his heart,'' Vargas said from his training camp in Big Bear. ``... I know he's scared. I saw it in his eyes at (a) press conference. I ran into him at a sushi bar (in Big Bear) and saw it in his eyes again. ``I just feel he doesn't want to fight me. If he doesn't, just tell me.'' De La Hoya was diagnosed with a sprain sprain, stretching or wrenching of the ligaments and tendons of a joint, often with rupture of the tissues but without dislocation. Sprains occur most commonly at the ankle, knee, or wrist joints, causing pain, swelling, and difficulty in moving the involved joint. of the third metacarpal metacarpal /meta·car·pal/ (met?ah-kahr´pal) 1. pertaining to the metacarpus. 2. a bone of the metacarpus. met·a·car·pal adj. Of or relating to the metacarpus. on his left hand - near but not in the same location of the previous injury - when he punched a sparring partner on top of his head on March 28. In pain, De La Hoya saw three doctors and was told to rest the hand for a month. Bob Arum, De La Hoya's promoter, said he understands Vargas' frustration but insists the injury is legitimate. He added that De La Hoya still intends to fight Vargas. ``Gary Shaw (of Main Events, Vargas' promoter) said he wanted his own doctor to examine Oscar,'' Arum arum, common name for the Araceae, a plant family mainly composed of species of herbaceous terrestrial and epiphytic plants found in moist to wet habitats of the tropics and subtropics; some are native to temperate zones. said. ``I said, 'Gary, it just so happens that one of your doctors examined him yesterday.' He saw Dr. (Neal) Jones at UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX . I didn't know at the time, but he works with Main Events fighters. ``And (Jones) was adamant that Oscar couldn't fight. ... These things happen.'' Shaw, who was waiting Thursday to receive doctors' reports, also harbors doubts about the injury and wonders whether the fight will take place at all. He cited De La Hoya's history, which includes cancellations against Jose Vidal Concepcion in 1993 and Karmazin last year as well as postponements against Patrick Charpentier (twice) in 1998 and Ike Quartey the same year - all because of injuries. However, Shaw is operating under the assumption the injury is legitimate and that the fight will be rescheduled. Arum believes De La Hoya could be ready to fight by the end of July, but Sept. 14 is the most practical date because it's open for a pay-per-view telecast, and pay-per-view buys are typically weak in August. ``For now, we have to believe he's really hurt,'' he said, ``... and will keep his commitment to boxing fans and Fernando Vargas to meet Vargas in the ring.'' Vargas reluctantly said he'd honor his commitment to meet De La Hoya even if it happens in September but will explore the possibility of a stay-sharp fight in the interim. Vargas hasn't fought since he knocked out Shibata Flores Flores, town, Guatemala Flores (flōrəs), town (1990 est. pop. 2,200), capital of Petén department, N Guatemala. Flores was built on an island in the southern part of Lake Petén Itzá and on the site of the to win the vacant WBA WBA West Bromwich Albion (English Soccer Club) WBA World Boxing Association WBA Weekly Benefit Amount WBA Wisconsin Broadcasters Association (Madison, WI) WBA Wireless Broadband Access championship in September. De La Hoya hasn't been in the ring since he stopped Javier Castillejo to claim the WBC WBC white blood cell; see leukocyte. WBC abbr. white blood cell WBC, n stands for white blood cell. title in June. ``Maybe the third time's the charm,'' Vargas said in a sarcastic tone, referring to the fact De La Hoya had agreed to fight Vargas on Dec. 8 before negotiations broke down and Karmazin entered the picture. ``I just hope there aren't any problems this time.'' CAPTION(S): photo Photo: OSCAR DE LA HOYA Oscar de la Hoya (IPA pronunciation: [ˈɑs.kɛɹ dɛ.lɑ.ˈhɔɪ.jɑ][1]) (born February 4, 1973) — nicknamed the Golden Boy The Golden Boy has postponed or canceled at least five fights in his career. |
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