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

Byline: Michael Rosenthal Staff Writer

LAS VEGAS - 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 much better - which he hopes will make people think.

Vargas calmly and coolly, and with great courage, took considerable 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. Vargas, who trained like never before, threw a remarkable 909 punches, landing 389 of them. Quartey was 272 of 645.

``I beat one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world convincingly,'' said Vargas (19-0, with 17 knockouts). ``No one has been able to do that. No one.

``Now, I hope, people will start giving me credit as one of the best fighters in the world.''

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. He stalked what he had said before the fight 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, very patient, enjoyed many more such moments, consistently beating Quartey to the punch and landing dozens of quick, effective combinations to which Quartey ultimately had no answer.

He never staggered Quartey but the power-punch numbers were telling: He landed 257, to Quartey's 150.

A look at their faces after the fight said even more: Quartey's was a swollen mess - his right eye closed - while Vargas' was merely bruised in places.

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

``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.''

Oxnard's Vargas was particularly gratified that he was able to beat Quartey much more convincingly than did Oscar De La Hoya, his bitter rival who had to rally in the 12th round to pull out a decision in February.

``I think it means a lot,'' he said. ``De La Hoya was supposed to be one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world and I beat (Quartey) much easier.

``What does that say about me?''

Quartey, who feels he was the victim of a bad decision against De La Hoya, 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 a light sentence - his next big-name opponent could be against WBA junior middleweight titleholder Felix Trinidad in October.

If it happens, Vargas doesn't plan to run as De La Hoya 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 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