Vargas Heads East for Thumb Surgery

Boxer Fernando Vargas of Oxnard, whose scheduled professional debut next month in his hometown has been postponed because of a hand injury, will undergo surgery Monday in New York City to repair torn ligaments in his left thumb.

Vargas, 18, will be unable to punch for approximately eight weeks, said spokesman Dennis Dueltgen of Main Events Productions. Main Events in August signed the 1996 U.S. Olympian to a lucrative four-year promotional contract.

Vargas’ Nov. 20 fight at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center against an opponent to be determined likely will be rescheduled for February, Dueltgen said. The injury also forced the cancellation of Vargas’ scheduled bout Dec. 14 on the undercard of the Riddick Bowe-Andrew Golota rematch in Atlantic City.

Vargas, who initially said he broke his left thumb during training this week, on Friday was examined in New York by Dr. Charles Melone, a renowned hand specialist who determined there had been no fracture. Melone is scheduled to perform the surgery.

Vargas’ hand is expected to be in a cast for five weeks.