Vargas failed to get an immediate rematch against Bradley despite public clamor following his controversial defeat against the Palm Springs star.
On June 27, 2015 at the StubHub Center in Carson, California, Vargas challenged Bradley for the WBO welterweight title. Bradley dominated the fight from the opening round, absorbing head and body shots which enabled Bradley to pile up points from the early to the late rounds.
But with about 20 seconds left in the last round, Vargas caught Bradley with a power shot that buckled his knees, leaving him disoriented as he struggled to regain composure. Vargas followed up two more power shots as Bradley held on to the ropes. It was possible at that point that Vargas could have knocked out Bradley with about eight seconds left in the last round.
But the referee stopped the fight prematurely with about seven more seconds left, claiming later he had mistakenly heard the final bell to signal the end of the fight. Actually it was only the 10-second warning that he heard.
After the fight, ring officials ruled it was the referee’s mistake and since it could not be reversed, they had to go to the scorecards. Bradley, who was leading on points, was declared winner by a unanimous decision.
In boxing, anyone can win the fight, even if his opponent is way ahead on points — provided he scores a knockout before the end of the final bell.
In the Bradley fight, Vargas was clearly deprived of what could have been a won fight via knockout, even with just about seven seconds left to the final bell.
Bradley is facing Pacquiao for the third time on April 9 and if Bradley wins, it’s all the more reason he should give Vargas a rematch as he would have another opportunity to win the title after Vargas defeated Sadam Ali last Saturday to win the vacant WBO welterweight title.
But win or lose against Pacquiao, Bob Arum, who promotes both fighters, should not dilly-dally to arrange for a Bradley-Vargas rematch in fairness to Vargas, who may have won via TKO in their last fight if the referee did not stop the fight prematurely.
