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MANILA, Philippines – A fighter must be prepared for whatever his opponent brings to the ring. In Jessie Vargas’ second pro fight, he learned that can include kisses from his opponent.
Trenton Titsworth threw the rookie a curveball on October 4, 2008 when he used a lull in a clinch to plant a wet one on the future junior welterweight and current WBO welterweight titleholder’s ear. Vargas, then just 21 years old, wasn’t too happy about it and let his opponent know with a right hand to the face.
“He kissed me so loud that he made me turn away. I was so angry that I came back with a punch,” (28-1, 10 knockouts) remembers of that night.
The referee took away two points from Titsworth for unsportsmanlike conduct while Vargas lost one point for “hitting back.” The HBO commentators were in the unusual position of having to call the action with Jim Lampley remarking that the kiss “prompted Vargas to knock the living shit out him. A lot of guys will do that when you kiss them.”
Max Kellerman took the bait on Trenton’s giggle-inducing surname. “With a name like Titsworth, he’s lucky he didn’t feel him up. I wonder how many points come off for that move.”
Vargas likely won’t have to contend with anything other than punches when he faces Manny Pacquiao at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on November 5 (November 6 in Manila). Vargas, who is coming off a dominant ninth round knockout of previously unbeaten 2008 Olympian Sadam Ali, will try to score a win over his biggest name opponent to date and catapult himself into the sport’s elite.
Eight years later, Vargas can see the humor in it all, even when he gets tagged in the video on Facebook.
“Nah it’s funny, it’s all about having a nice laugh. Things happen in this sport. People get a quick laugh out of it. If it makes your day then that’s cool,” said Vargas. – Rappler.com
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