WORLD Boxing Organization welterweight champion Jessie Vargas is very confident in his ability to knock out Philippine Senator and eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao when they clash in a title fight at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Nov. 5 (Nov. 6) in Manila.
Vargas’ confidence stems from his ninth-round knockout of previously unbeaten Olympian Sadam Ali to capture the vacant world title last March in a dominating performance.
The 27-year-old Vargas said he wants to avenge the defeats suffered by his Mexican idols Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales at the hands of the “Fighter of the Decade.”
“A month before the biggest fight of my career so far, I feel good, really. I feel sure of myself, I feel very strong. We are working hard and that’s been the difference. I feel quite sure what I’ll do in this fight,” Boxing Scene quoted Vargas. “I want to keep climbing, this is the fight I was expecting since I was a child. I will fight with a well-respected and well-known figure, one of the best in the world, and this is my chance. Once I beat Pacquiao, I will be given a lot of respect and receive recognition to my career. There is a very small list of fighters who have become legends by beating Pacquiao. Morales beat Manny in their first fight and Marquez in their fourth.
Vargas added: “From what I saw in his last fight with Bradley, I think he was still at his best. I’m glad Manny is in good time in his career, because then no one will have any excuse. I want to beat the best Manny Pacquiao. I like challenges and I want to prove to people what I’m made of and that’s why I’m happy with this fight.”
Vargas believes that he’s capable of getting a knockout victory.
He hurt Tim Bradley very badly last year, but lost a 12-round decision. Vargas then showed off his growing power by knocking out Ali.
“If given the opportunity, if I see an open window, I’ll go for [the knockout] – that’s the plan. I feel very good with the experience I have now, but I will not come in there with the mentality that I can only win by knockout. I’m coming in there with the mentality of winning every second, every minute of every round. But I will not miss. I have the strength to knock him out, so there shouldn’t be any surprise [when it happens],” said Vargas.
The Pacquiao-Vargas and the Nonito Donaire-Jessie Magdaleno title fights will be telecast by Solar Sports over GMA 7.