Mexican-American Jessie Vargas is facing the biggest fight of his career when he trade punches with Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao on November 5 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
The reigning 27-year-old World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion will put his title on the line against the 37-year-old Pacquiao who is coming back after a brief retirement.
A victory for Pacquiao is seen by boxing analysts as a stepping stone towards a possible megabuck rematch with Floyd Mayweather next year. However, a loss, should serve as a speed bump for Pacquiao, who has been trying his best to balance being a senator and a fighter.
Truth is, some think that Pacquiao, who dominated his third encounter with Timothy Bradley before announcing a brief retirement ahead of his senatorial campaign victory here in the Philippines last May, has already seen better days.
In fact, the record would show that the eight-division champion has not won a fight by knockout since 2009 when he stopped Miguel Cotto.
His longtime Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach, however, disagrees, saying that even at 37, his ward still has what it takes to compete at the top level.
And against Vargas (27-1, 10 knockouts), Pacquiao will have a chance to show again his awesome power, speed, experience and skill, and could finally end his knockout drought.
The multi-titled cornerman says his prized pupil is not near washed up and has not lost a step yet; that he’s still the same Manny Pacquiao we have always known as a great fighter.
Standing proudly on the horizon is Vargas who is eager to become the man to finally put Pacquiao into permanent retirement.
Vargas is a Las Vegas native and he feels that everything is working on his favor even though oddsmakers have installed him as a huge underdog against the the Filipino ring icon.
Time, Vargas points out, is on his side, being 10 years younger than Pacquiao. At 5-foot-11, Vargas possesses a significant height advantage over the 5-foot-5 Pacquiao which the underdog believes will also spell the difference.
Vargas has fought long and hard for respect since turning pro in 2008, winning the World Boxing Association (WBA) junior welterweight title in 2014.
Vargas is coming off a technical knockout win over previously unbeaten New Yorker Sadam Ali last March to win the 147-pound WBO welterweight belt, which, interestingly, was also held by Pacquiao and Vargas’ lone conqueror Bradley.
Obviously, Pacquiao may have already anticipated what Vargas will bring to the table on fight night and as everyone knows he would love the idea of confronting Vargas on a toe-to-toe situation.
Vargas has dismissed claims that Pacquiao is past his prime, stating that the Filipino boxing icon is in very good shape for a 37-year-old. He added, however, that his respect for Pacquiao’s past accomplishments will go out the door once the bell rings as he is looking to knock him out and make a statement in beating him.
So when Vargas steps in the ring with the legendary Pacquiao, nagging questions will be like this: Will he go toe-to-toe with Pacquiao who is still ridiculously fast, strong and skillful even on a bad day? Will Vargas be a ball of nerves? Or will he overcome that obstacle and rise to the occasion? In the end, can he pull off an upset win?
Pacquiao is not just another opponent for Vargas and definitely his comeback bout won’t be just another fight.