Vargas back with a bang

Former IBF and WBA light-middleweight champion ‘Ferocious’ Fernando Vargas returned to action with a sixth-round stoppage of Canada’s Fitz Vanderpool in Los Angeles last night.

Vargas was fighting for the first time since last September’s 11th-round loss to WBC title holder Oscar de la Hoya in a unification match-up.

The 25-year-old American was suspended for nine months and fined $100,000 (€86,000) for testing positive for steroids following that grudge fight.

His only other loss in a 25-fight career came when he put his IBF belt on the line against then WBA champion Felix Trinidad in December 2000.

Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines retained his IBF super-bantamweight title with a third-round stoppage of Mexico’s Emmanuel Lucero.