On December 12, 1998, a 21-year-old Fernando Vargas (14-0, 14 KOs) got a shot at the IBF super-welterweight title held by 27-year-old Mexican boxer Yori Boy Campas (72-2, 62 KOs).
Vargas came in to the fight on a 14-fight win streak with a 100% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 3 months and 20 days. Campas was on a 8-fight win streak with a 83% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 2 months and 24 days.
The champion refused to continue the fight in the 7th round, and Fernando Vargas is crowned the new IBF super-welterweight world champion — in his first world-title fight. Vargas improves his record to 15-0 (15 KOs), while Campas adds a loss to his record at 72-3.
On August 26, 2000, the 22-year-old IBF super-welterweight world champion, Fernando Vargas (19-0, 17 KOs), faced Ross Thompson, in a title defense fight.
Vargas came in to the fight on a 19-fight win streak with a 89% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 4 months and 11 days.
Fernando Vargas stopped Ross Thompson via TKO in the 4th round of the 12-round world-title fight, and successfully defended his IBF super-welterweight title. Vargas improves his record to 20-0 (18 KOs)
On March 13, 1999, the 21-year-old IBF super-welterweight world champion, Fernando Vargas (15-0, 15 KOs), faced Howard Clarke, in a title defense fight.
Vargas came in to the fight on a 15-fight win streak with a 100% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 3 months and 1 day.
Fernando Vargas stopped Howard Clarke via TKO in the 4th round of the 12-round world-title fight, and successfully defended his IBF super-welterweight title. Vargas improves his record to 16-0 (16 KOs)
On April 15, 2000, the 22-year-old IBF super-welterweight world champion, Fernando Vargas (18-0, 17 KOs), faced a 30-year-old Ghanaian boxer Ike Quartey (34-1-1, 29 KOs), in a title defense fight.
Vargas came in to the fight on a 18-fight win streak with a 94% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 4 months and 11 days. Quartey was on a -1-fight win streak with a 80% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 1 year, 2 months, and 2 days.
Fernando Vargas defeated Ike Quartey via unanimous decision and successfully defended his IBF super-welterweight title. Vargas improves his record to 19-0, while Quartey adds a loss to his record at 34-2-1.
On July 17, 1999, the 21-year-old IBF super-welterweight world champion, Fernando Vargas (16-0, 16 KOs), faced a 27-year-old Raúl Márquez (30-1, 20 KOs), in a title defense fight.
Vargas came in to the fight on a 16-fight win streak with a 100% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 4 months and 4 days. Márquez was on a 2-fight win streak with a 64% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 3 months and 28 days.
Fernando Vargas stopped Raúl Márquez via TKO in the 11th round of the 12-round world-title fight, and successfully defended his IBF super-welterweight title. Vargas improves his record to 17-0 (17 KOs), while Márquez adds a loss to his record at 30-2.
On December 4, 1999, the 21-year-old IBF super-welterweight world champion, Fernando Vargas (17-0, 17 KOs), faced a 28-year-old Winky Wright (39-2, 24 KOs), in a title defense fight.
Vargas came in to the fight on a 17-fight win streak with a 100% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 4 months and 17 days. Wright was on a 1-fight win streak with a 58% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 8 months and 7 days.
Fernando Vargas defeated Winky Wright via majority decision and successfully defended his IBF super-welterweight title. Vargas improves his record to 18-0, while Wright adds a loss to his record at 39-3.
On September 22, 2001, 23-year-old Fernando Vargas (21-1, 19 KOs) and Jose Flores fought for the vacant WBA super-welterweight title.
Vargas came in to the fight on a 1-fight win streak with a 86% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 4 months and 17 days.
Fernando Vargas stopped Jose Flores via KO in the 7th round of the 12-round world-title fight. Vargas improves his record to 22-1 (20 KOs)
On August 20, 2005, a 27-year-old Fernando Vargas (25-2, 22 KOs) and a 37-year-old Spanish boxer Javier Castillejo (58-5, 40 KOs) met in the ring.
Vargas came in to the fight on a 3-fight win streak with a 81% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 4 months and 25 days. Castillejo was on a 7-fight win streak with a 63% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 1 year, 2 months, and 9 days.
Fernando Vargas defeated Javier Castillejo via unanimous decision in the 10-round fight. Vargas improves his record to 26-2, while Castillejo adds a loss to his record at 58-6.
On May 5, 2001, a 23-year-old Fernando Vargas (20-1, 18 KOs) and a 32-year-old Puerto Rican boxer Wilfredo Rivera (32-4-1, 20 KOs) met in the ring.
Vargas came in to the fight on a 1-fight losing streak with a 85% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 5 months and 3 days. Rivera was on a 2-fight win streak with a 54% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 3 months and 28 days.
Fernando Vargas stopped Wilfredo Rivera via TKO in the 6th round. Vargas improves his record to 21-1 (19 KOs), while Rivera adds a loss to his record at 32-5-1.
On July 26, 2003, a 25-year-old Fernando Vargas (22-2, 20 KOs) and Fitz Vanderpool met in the ring.
Vargas came in to the fight on a 1-fight losing streak with a 83% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 10 months and 12 days.
Fernando Vargas stopped Fitz Vanderpool via TKO in the 6th round. Vargas improves his record to 23-2 (21 KOs)