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THE MEXICUTIONER By Eddie Alinea PhilBoxing.com Sat, 17 Sep 2016  Don't blame World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Jessie Vargas for seemingly hating Filipino boxing hero, now Senator, Manny Pacquiao. Vargas is facing Pacquiao on November 5 in Las Vegas putting his 147-pound belt on line and since the 12-round title fight was announced by Top Rank CEO Bob Arum last month, the Mexican-American champ has come out swingin' and smokin' betraying his dislike for the only man in boxing history to own 10 world championships in eight weight divisions. Vargas, actually, has something to thank Pacquiao for, for giving him a chance to gain respect he's been seeking since barging into the limelight six months ago when he took a piece of the welterweight crown with a TKO victory in March over previously undefeated ex-Olympian Sadam Ali. Equally important though to the 27 -year-old Los Angeles-born is the opportunity to avenge the defeats Pacquiao dealt several of his countrymen, particularly his idols, future Hall of Famers Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera. For Vargas, who was 6 years old when Pacquiao began his pro career, besides proving the non-believers wrong, one additional motivation for him to turn the table on Pacquiao and cut short the once pound-for-pound king's reputation as the "MexiCutioner." Vargas has never forgotten how Pacquiao destroyed his Mexican ring heroes, especially Morales, who, at one time or another, even trained him in the early years of his pro career. Morales and Barrera are among the great Mexican ring warriors, who, Pacquiao, a former Sarangani Congressman, turned to shred in many classic battles. Barrera fought the Filipino twice, bowing as many times, first via TKO in the 11th round for the Ring Magazine featherweight plum in 2003. He lost in a 12-round decision in a rematch four years later. Morales, won the first of his trilogy with the Pacman, but wasn't lucky in the second and third encounters, dropping a 10th and third round stoppage, respectively. ?I was hurt when I saw how Pacquiao beat them, particularly in how the third fight with Morales went down,? Vargas reminisced during the fight's press conference last week. ?I told myself I would sometime get in the ring and beat Pacquiao. It burns inside of me to win this fight. I will beat Pacquiao to avenge those fights he had with Erik and Marco.? Pacquiao, the soon-to-be 38 year old southpaw has faced and beaten many an excellent array of boxers worldwide since turning pro in 1995, the likes of Ricky Hatton of England, Joshua Clottey of Ghana, and Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico. The father of five with wife, former Sarangani Vice Gov. Jinkee, has been impressive, too, against Mexican rivals and those of Mexican descent, including Olympic gold medalist Oscar De La Hoya, Juan Manuel Marquez, Jorge Solis and Oscar Larios. The Pacman has won four world titles at the expense of Mexicans/Mexican-Americans, including Hector Velazquez, David Diaz, and Marquez. He also defended various championship belts against fighters from south of the US border, including Emmanuel Lucero and Gabriel Mira. The sure to be Hall of Fame inductee owns an envious 14-2-2 win-loss-draw record against Mexican dancing partners highlighted by 9 KOs. His second defeat was inflicted by Marquez, whom he fought four times, emerging victor twice. The Kibawe, Bukidnon-born Pacquiao, never fought in Mexico though in the entirety of his 21-year pro career that started in 1995 when as a junior flyweight campaigner he had to put weights in his pocket to make the weight limit. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.  |
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