VARGAS FAILS TO SHOW ELITE FORM.

Byline: MICHAEL ROSENTHAL Boxing

EL PASO, Texas - The obvious question after Fernando Vargas' fight with Wilfredo Rivera here Saturday was: Will he ever be the same after his knockout loss to Felix Trinidad in December?

A conclusive judgment can't be made after one fight but it doesn't look good for the former IBF junior middleweight champ from Oxnard.

Vargas beat Rivera as planned, stopping him in the sixth round of a scheduled 10-rounder. However, this wasn't the Vargas who dazzled the boxing world with one-sided victories over Yory ``Boy'' Campas, Raul Marquez and Ike Quartey.

First, there was the knockdown in the second round - the sixth time he'd been down in 14 rounds.

Rivera is an accomplished, experienced boxer. However, he has never been known as a big puncher. That he hurt Vargas as badly as he did with a short right early in the second round was shocking.

Had Rivera tried to finish the job, he might've succeeded and Vargas' career as an elite fighter might've been all but over. Instead, Rivera inexplicably failed to move in for the kill and we'll never know what might've happened.

Vargas, whose courage and determination can't be questioned, deserves credit for surviving and then gaining control of the fight. His resiliency is a quality that can't be underestimated; not many fighters have it to the extent he does.

At the same time, there was nothing particularly special about his post- knockdown performance. He was determined and stronger than Rivera but he didn't move particularly well, seemed to be sluggish and his punches didn't appear to be particularly punishing.

He admitted that he didn't box quite like he said he would, deciding that a more aggressive approach would better prove that he had bounced back from the Trinidad disaster.

He did knock down Rivera and finish him. However, it seemed as if the painful cuts around Rivera's left eye and his inability to see clearly were more significant factors than Vargas' punches when Rivera signaled his corner that he'd had enough.

Vargas said afterward that he'd made the statement he'd hoped to make, that he was still an elite fighter and a legitimate title contender.

And he probably will win another championship. If Trinidad takes William Joppy's WBA middleweight title Saturday and gives up the WBA 154-pound belt, Vargas could face Shibata Flores for the vacant title and probably would win.

Then what? Perhaps a matchup with Oscar De La Hoya. Six months ago, one would've liked Vargas' chances of beating his L.A.-area rival. Now, after Saturday's performance, the much-quicker De La Hoya would have to be a significant favorite.

This isn't to dismiss Vargas. He could fool us. Again, he has the guts and he admits that he still has a lot to learn at 23, which is more obvious than ever after Saturday. That he acknowledges he has room to grow is a good sign.

However, he'll have to overcome the trauma of the Trinidad fight, any doubts he might have about his ability to take a punch or his abilities in general. Without complete confidence, a fighter is lost in the ring.

We'll just have to wait and see whether Vargas can find his way.

--More Vargas-Rivera: The WBC is pushing for an eliminator bout between Vargas and No. 1-ranked Roman Karmazin of Russia, with the winner to become the mandatory challenger for the De La Hoya-Javier Castillejo winner.

However, a Vargas-Flores fight seems to be more likely.

--Trinidad-Joppy: Trinidad is trying to take another step toward a megafight with Roy Jones Jr. Joppy is trying to pull a Hasim Rahman.

They meet in New York City in a pivotal bout for both of them and a number of other big-name fighters who will be watching anxiously.

Consider some of the ramifications:

If Trinidad takes Joppy's title, as expected, he moves on to a title-unification bout against IBF/WBC champion Bernard Hopkins on Sept. 15.

Then, if he can get by Hopkins, Jones could be next in both a fascinating and lucrative matchup that could define the careers of both fighters.

That's Trinidad's plan - to beat Joppy, Hopkins and Jones and prove beyond doubt that he's the best fighter in the world.

A victory would also mean that Trinidad would vacate his WBA 154-pound title, which could open the door for No. 1-ranked Flores to fight No. 2 Vargas for the vacant title.

Assuming Vargas wins, that could lead to a title-unification bout with De La Hoya if De La Hoya can take Castillejo's WBC junior middleweight championship next month.

Or either Vargas or De La Hoya could pursue Shane Mosley - who needs a big-name opponent - for what would also be an attractive matchup.

And if Joppy somehow wins? Doors could open for several fighters.

First, it will be Joppy who fights Hopkins in what would be a disappointing matchup for so many who hope to see Trinidad-Hopkins. The winner of that fight could also move on to Jones but the interest would pale in comparison to Trinidad-Jones.

Trinidad would then have to make a decision: Stay at 160 and hope to find compelling matchups there or move back down to 154 - and retain his title - and try his luck against some of the bigger names at that weight.

Vargas craves a rematch with Trinidad to make amends for their first fight and re-establish himself as a top-10 pound-for-pound fighter. Trinidad-Vargas would do well on pay-per-view because of the first bout and the style of the fighters.

De La Hoya, outpointed by Trinidad in 1999, also would love a rematch. Like Vargas, if he could beat Trinidad this time, he's back on top of the boxing world.

Or Trinidad, perhaps not particularly interested in rematches with either Vargas or De La Hoya, could go with Mosley.

And it all starts with a fight, Trinidad-Joppy, that is more compelling for what it means for the future than the matchup itself.

--More Trinidad-Joppy: Joppy, always confident, believes Trinidad won't have the pop in his punch at 160 that he's had at lower weights.

This is Trinidad's first fight as a middleweight.

``I don't think he's going to overwhelm guys at 160 as opposed to lower weights,'' Joppy said. ``Middleweights' bones are bigger actually. I've seen Trinidad fat, but he doesn't have the bones.''

Most observers believe Joppy had better defend his bones very carefully.

Trinidad (39-0, with 32 knockouts) has a better resume and superior skills. Joppy (32-1-1, 24 KOs) has a nice record but his biggest victory was over an aging Roberto Duran.

He hasn't seen the likes of Trinidad, a fact he's well aware of and one he believes will help him after he wins.

``This fight will put me over the hump,'' he said. ``That's what I've been lacking in my whole career - marquee competition. I need a young lion like Trinidad with a big name so I can show the boxing world that I belong on an elite status.''

Trinidad acknowledges Joppy's contention that he's the more natural middleweight. However, he's certain it won't make a difference.

``He's saying the truth,'' Trinidad said on a telephone conference call. ``He's been a middleweight. I'm going there for the first time. But he never encountered a fighter like me. ...

``He will be surprised. I'm not fat like he's saying.''

--Rahman watch: Hasim Rahman, who stunned the boxing world when he knocked out heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis last month, could announce who he will fight next - Lewis or Mike Tyson - as soon as today.

He was still weighing lucrative and comparable offers from the networks tied to the fighters, HBO (Lewis) and Showtime (Tyson).

The difference could end up being fear of litigation. Rahman agreed to give Lewis a rematch when he signed to fight him and apparently he's inclined to follow through.

The rematch could take place Aug. 18.

Who wins?

One has to give Lewis the edge, assuming he takes Rahman seriously this time. Lewis is the far superior boxer.

At the same time, one wonders what will happen the first time Rahman is able to land a good punch. No one will be surprised this time if Rahman hurts him and goes on to win.

Showtime could also win even if Rahman goes with Lewis and is able to beat him. HBO reportedly will allow him to fight Tyson on Showtime in a subsequent fight.

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Photo:

(color) Fernando Vargas lands a right to Wilfredo Rivera in the third round Saturday in El Paso, Texas.

Ruben R. Ramirez/Associated Press