Vargas, Whitaker Box to U.S. Amateur Titles

Two area boxers won title bouts in the U.S. Amateur Boxing championships Saturday in Colorado Springs.

Fernando Vargas of Oxnard won the 132-pound title by outpointing Terrence Cauthen of Philadelphia, 34-14.

Lance Whitaker of Northridge was the winner in the over 201-pound division by outpointing Robert Geer of San Jose, 20-15.

Vargas, 16, making his first appearance at the championships, was the youngest fighter in the final round. “To win an open tournament in your first try, I feel so great,” said Vargas, who backed up Cauthen with rights to the head and knocked him down in the second round. “I could have stayed in the juniors, but I wanted to be with the big boys so I can try to get to the 1996 Olympics.”