LAS VEGAS via ANAGEN - “I have high respect for the legend,” says World Boxing Organization Welterweight Champion Jessie Vargas, referring to his opponent on November 5, the only eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao.
But, in the business of boxing, Vargas, the Pride of Las Vegas, has to take him down.
“If I can connect a good shot, of course, I have the power to do so. I definitely have the power punch to take him down. We’re both professionals but in the line of the sport of boxing, we have to take care of our business,” continues the 27-year-old boxer who is a seven-year pro.
Vargas is a two-division world champion, grabbing the WBA super lightweight world title in April 2014, and with two successful defenses before vacating the title to move up in weight.
The humble Vargas says his style is smart aggressive, and he is known to give the fans a great fight, just like Pacquiao.
“All I can say is we are going to win this fight, be it via a knockout or decision,” says Cooper, who beat with Vargas previously undefeated 2008 U.S. Olympian Sadam Ali by ninth-round TKO last March.
Cooper says that Vargas’ training camp for Pacquiao is ten times better than that of Ali’s.
“In this camp, we threw more punches, increased speed and power. His condition, endurance and athletism now is much better than we prepared in Sadam Ali fight,” adds Cooper.
Both Freddie Roach and Bob Arum predict a knockout, but Roach predicts that Vargas will go down on the fourth round, while Arum says both fighters will go for a KO.
The fighting Senator of the Philippines just shrugs his shoulder and says, “Tingnan na lang natin (Let’s just see).”
PHOTO CREDITS : CHRISTIAN CUNANAN
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