LAS VEGAS — Fernando Vargas fought far beyond his years in the biggest fight of his young career.
Vargas, looking like a ring veteran at the age of 22, defended his IBF junior middleweight title Saturday night by pounding out a hard fought but unanimous 12-round decision over Ike Quartey.
Vargas was the stronger and bigger punching fighter in the late rounds as he followed Oscar De La Hoya's lead to hand Quartey only his second defeat in a 12-year pro career.
There were no knockdowns in the fight, which was fought at a furious pace as Vargas tried to get inside Quartey's jab and turn the bout into a brawl. He succeeded at times, particularly late in each round when the fighters often went toe-to-toe as the bell sounded.
Judges Dave Moretti and Jerry Roth had Vargas winning 116-111, and Glen Hamada had him ahead 114-113. The Associated Press had Vargas winning 115-112.
It was the second straight decision loss for Quartey, the former welterweight champion who dropped a split decision to De La Hoya when the two met 14 months ago.
Vargas, who has fought in De La Hoya's shadow, said the win in only his 19th pro fight proved that he was better than De La Hoya.
"My fight wasn't close with Quartey and De La Hoya's was," Vargas said. "I think I proved something."
Vargas (19-0, 17 knockouts) landed more punches than Quartey — 389 to 272 according to CompuBox ring statistics — but Quartey scored well with his left jab through much of the fight.
"His jab got to me a bit but I came right back at him," Vargas said.