By ED SCHUYLER JR.

NEW YORK (AP) Fernando Vargas smiled when he was told that Ike Quartey thought the IBF Junior Middle Champion would be over his head when he defends the title against Quartey on April 15.

"I don't think he has the experience. He hasn't fought anybody," said Quartey (34-1-1, 28 knockouts), a 30-year native of Ghana, who held the WBA Welterweight title from 1994 until he was stripped in 1997 and whose only loss was on points to Oscar De La Hoya in a WBC 147-pound title bid February 13, 1999.

" I've heard that from the time I was 16 that I was bitting off more than I can chew," said the 22-year old Vargas (18-0, 17 knockouts), of Oxnard, California, who will be making his fourth defense of the 154-pound title. "It's ok. I'll rise to the occasion. People will find out how good Fernando Vargas is."

vargas, his manager and officials of the HBO and Main Events were relaxed at Wednesday's news conference for the fight at Mandalay Bay at las Vegas. Only minutes before it began, the fighter signed a deal with HBO.

"it was not an easy deal," said Lou DiBella, President of HBO Sports. "When you close the deal seven minutes before the Press Conference, it's not an easy deal.

The deal is for three years, with the potential for nine fights, according to Rolando Arellano, who, with Shelly Finkel, manages the IBF Junior Middleweight Champion. There were rumours that the Vargas-Quartey fight could fall through because Vargas might leave Main Events for another promoter.

"Everything is good with main events," Arellano said.

"I don't think there ever was a problem with vargas," said Pat English, an attorney for Main Events.

"It was with other people who claimed to represent Vargas."