GOLD RUSH DE LA HOYA KOS VARGAS IN THE 11TH.

Byline: Michael Rosenthal Assistant Sports Editor 

LAS VEGAS - After all the nasty words they exchanged, all the hype, all that stood between Oscar De La Hoya and Fernando Vargas were their fists and skills. And that's where Vargas fell short.

De La Hoya finally claimed the defining victory that had eluded him in his 10-year career, knocking out Vargas 1:48 into the 11th round Saturday and sending him to the hospital in front of 11,425 at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino.

And the fact his victim was his hated rival - Vargas has spent much of his life bad-mouthing De La Hoya - made this as gratifying as any day in De La Hoya's career.

``It feels great,'' said De La Hoya (35-2, with 28 knockouts). ``All the talk; I just got fed up. He got under my skin. I told everyone my fists would do the talking.''

De La Hoya, who unified the WBC and WBA junior middleweight titles, had to work hard.

As expected, Vargas (22-2, 20 KO's) was the stronger of the two. De La Hoya had difficulty keeping him at bay and found himself trapped and taking punches, against the ropes at times.

That's how Vargas made it a close fight: De La Hoya led on two cards (96-94, 96-94) and Vargas led on one (97-94) going into the 11th.

However, in the end, the fight played out as many expected: De La Hoya's speed and boxing ability was the difference.

He used his left jab to score points and keep Vargas off balance and followed with more and more power punches as the fight went on. At the same time, he used his quickness to avoid most of Vargas' power punches.

The fight began to turn in the middle rounds, with a cut under Vargas' right eye bleeding profusely and his strength apparently wearing thin. The beginning of the end was the 10th, when De La Hoya landed a left hook that sent Vargas reeling seconds before the end of the round.

In the 11th, De La Hoya, well aware Vargas was hurt, stalked his prey until another big left hook snapped Vargas' head back and knocked him to his pants. He got up but was hurt badly. De La Hoya seized the moment, wailing away on a helpless Vargas in the corner until referee Joe Cortez had seen enough.

De La Hoya was lifted to the shoulders of one of his cornermen, a wide, satisfying grin on his face, moments later. Meanwhile, Vargas, his face and pride battered, immediately left the ring and was helped to his dressing room by two members of his camp.

He said nothing to De La Hoya after the fight, perpetuating the ill will that existed between the two for years.

``I thought he was going to shake my hand or something,'' De La Hoya said. ``He didn't. That's OK.''

The one thing that might've surprised many observers was De La Hoya's punching power. So many had said he left his best punches in the lower weight divisions.

That he proved his doubters wrong also was gratifying and might serve as a warning to prospective future opponents at 154 pounds. He has rematches with Shane Mosley and Felix Trinidad, the only two fighters to beat him.

``I have a punch,'' he said. ``A lot of people are surprised by my speed and my power. I do pack a punch.''

Vargas, taken to a local hospital immediately after the fight, was not around to dispute that contention.

In preliminary fights, Miguel Cotto, the 2000 Olympian from Puerto Rico, continued his rapid ascent toward a junior welterweight-championship fight by easily outpointing former title contender John Brown over 10 rounds.

Cotto (12-0, nine KOs) knocked Brown (23-10, 11 KOs) down in the second and dominated thereafter.

Cotto's handlers are negotiating a fight with tough veteran Angel Manfredy.

And Nate Campbell, a rising junior lightweight prospect from Jacksonville, Fla., stopped capable Daniel Alicea of Puerto Rico at :43 of the third round in a scheduled 12-round bout.

Campbell (22-0, 20 KOs) put Alicea (27-5-2, 20 KOs) down in the second and put him out in the third, a big right knocking him flat on his back. Referee Robert Byrd ended the fight without counting.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Oscar De La Hoya, right, hammers Fernando Vargas against the ropes in the final seconds of their junior middleweight title fight Saturday in Las Vegas.

Kevork Djansezian/Associated Press

(2) Oscar De La Hoya celebrates his victory that unified the WBC and WBA junior middleweight titles.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News