Ex-champion Fernando Vargas has been cleared by his orthopedist to return to the ring, according to Main Events CEO Kathy Duva. Vargas, whose career record is 25-2 with 23 KOs has only lost to Oscar De la Hoya and Felix Trinidad. He holds a victory, albeit a controversial one, over current world junior middleweight champion Winky Wright. His doctor, Dr. Steven J. Waltrip, stated that Vargas, “has been going through a rigorous rehabilitation program and presents today with no pain . . . the patient is ready to start a full boxing training program and cleared to fight by the end of the year”. Vargas is currently rated the number five junior middleweight in the world by Boxingtalk, but it is widely assumed he will return to the ring as a middleweight. “My fans have been asking me for awhile now when I’m coming back,” said Vargas. “Well they won’t have to wait much longer. I’m already back in camp and I plan to return to the ring in early 2005.”