The fight that broke out in the stands after "Ferocious" Fernando Vargas' unanimous decision victory over shopworn Javier Castillejo may have provided spectators with more drama and intensity than the feature bout at Rosemont's Allstate Arena, but then again, this is the new Fernando Vargas, and it's all about the 'W'.

Not that Vargas-Castillejo was boring. But after last weeks Rahman-Barrett heavyweight snoozefest at Chicago's United Center you couldn't blame the citizens of Illinois for wanting high drama. And although Vargas scored a knock down in the 3rd round, he kept the fire on ice and boxed his way to victory, with the judges scoring it 98-91 and 97-92 (twice). I had it 97-93 for "El Feroz".

After a cautious first round with little action but with Castillejo throwing more, Vargas stole the round with an agrressive combination in the last ten seconds. Castillejo had a good second round, but in the third, Vargas landed a right hand threw Castillejo's guard which left the Spaniard doubled over. Vargas floored him with two lefts for the only knockdown of the fight. It was all Vargas for rounds four and five, but in the sixth and seventh Castillejo had Vargas on the defensive and closed the gap on the scorecards. Vargas stole the eighth round at the end again with a good combination to the head, but Castillejo did a good job throughout the fight of keeping his hands up. The ninth round was even and although Vargas was on his bicycle for the tenth and final round, he won it.

After the fight, HBO's Larry Merchant asked the winner if he thought his jaw was broken. Vargas' response: "Maybe. Oh well". After typically looking glum and giving his performance an F, Vargas was asked why he was so unhappy, and pointed out that he's his own worst critic and he thought he would get Castillejo out early. To his credit, Vargas ignored the boos in the crowd from fans who yearned for the old, brawling version of "El Feroz". Instead, he listened to his trainer and played the role of boxer-puncher against a pretty tough, experienced opponent. With the loss Castillejo falls to 58-6 (40).

Vargas, 26-2 (22), still has stuff to work on in the gym. He telegraphs his left hook to the body, and his defense could be tighter still. But the new defense-oriented Vargas is needed against the upper echelon of fighters he plans on fighting.

Fernando Vargas has matured and his hot-headedness seems a distant memory, but if a May 2006 rematch with Oscar De La Hoya is more than just a rumour, Vargas may have a hard time keeping his emotions in check against a man he so openly despised in the past. And if fights against Raymond Joval and Castillejo are considered by the Vargas camp to be enough preparation for the "Golden Boy", they should be careful what they wish for.

On the undercard, Rocky Juarez's perfect record was upset by last minute substitiute Humberto Soto in a wild punchout in which Soto won a unanimous decision. Juarez, who was supposed to fight In Jin Chi for a world featherweight title, falls to 23-1 (16), while Soto improves to 37-5-2 (21).