Philippines, 08 Mar 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


ARUM PREDICTS PACQUIAO-VARGAS WILL END IN A KNOCKOUT BUT HE DOESN?T KNOW WHO WILL FALL


PhilBoxing.com




Top Rank promoter Bob Arum predicts the WBO welterweight title showdown between defending champion Jessie Vargas and former welterweight king, eight division world champion and Philippine senator Manny Pacquiao will end in a knockout, but he doesn?t know who will fall.

Vargas who is ten years younger, four inches taller and enjoys a three inch reach advantage, has promised to go for a knockout the moment he sees an opening but former two division world champion Gerry Penalosa told us Vargas? dreams ?will turn into a nightmare? and there is no way he can beat Pacquiao.

Penalosa has followed Manny?s training camp in Manila intently and believes that the hand-speed of the ?Fighter of the Decade? and his footwork will prove too much for Vargas to overcome.

Arum feels that since Manny has been juggling his training camp with his senatorial duties, the ?Fighter of the Decade? will come out hunting for a knockout win.

He conceded in a conversation with Fox Sports 1, "Vargas is a kid who is coming on. He's becoming a knockout artist. He used to be a defensive fighter. Now he's really punching hard and he knows that he's not going to fool around with Manny defensively. He's going to go and try to get a knockout. And Manny, who is smart, realizes that his training hasn't really been ideal, so he's going to go out and try to knock Jessie out. I don't know who is going to win the fight - and that's the truth - but I know for sure it's going to end with a knockout - I guarantee it's going to be a knockout."

ABS-CBN reporter Dyan Castillejo told the Manila Standard that Pacquiao worked out on the University of Las Vegas Track yesterday morning and then did a few rounds on the punch-mitts.

She said Pacquiao?s footwork was amazing and it may well be the deciding factor in his clash with Vargas and noted that Jessie was ?comparatively slow and lumbering and didn?t move with the same zip.

WBO Asia Pacific head Leon Panoncillo told the Manila Standard that the officials for Pacquiao-Vargas fight are referee Kenneth Bayless and judges Glenn Feldman, Glenn Trowbridge and Dave Moretti while the official supervisor will be WBO president Francisco ?Paco? Valcarcel while the officials for the title defense of Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire vs Jessie Magdaleno will be referee Tony Weeks and judges Steven Weisfeld, Burt Clements and Adelaide Byrd while the Supervisor will be Richard De Cuir.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Opetaia vs Glanton: Dana White Crowns First Boxing Champion. Is Fight Worthy?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sun, 08 Mar 2026
  • In Thrilling Showdown, Pagara Falls Short Against Polkinghorn by Points.
    , Sun, 08 Mar 2026
  • Unofficial Unification Tournament Brewing For Welterweights
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • Fight Results from Montreal: Steven Butler Obliterates Ramadan Hiseni; Wins by Lenar Perez, Jhon Orobio and Steve Claggett
    By Eric Armit, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • Former Champ Junior Makabu visits WBC offices in Mexico City
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • WEIGHTS FROM SYDNEY, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA
    , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • Weights from Atlantic City
    , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • PFL Releases Francis Ngannou
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • Polkinghorn, Pagara at the Scales in Perth, Australia
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • Young Briton Rising Star: Callum Dan's Quest for Boxing Glory
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • Chua rules Pattaya Open; pockets $22,500
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • All Star Boxing live on ESPN DEPORTES Weights from Nicaragua
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • Ryan Rozicki’s Return: Presser Quotes from Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • Undefeated Heavyweight Gustavo “The Cuban Assassin” Trujillo Returns to Headline “Havoc at the Hilton 3” March 7 in Florida
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • AQ Prime Chess bet Marius Zabanal Constante of Pasig City rules Elementary Division of NCR Palarong Pambansa Standard chess elims
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • World-Ranked Light Heavyweight Najee Lopez Battles Mexican Strongman Manuel Gallegos
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Travels to Thailand for 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • Eddie Hearn Signs UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall for New Matchroom Talent Agency
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • Wise Owl Boxing Signs Undefeated Super Welterweight Prospect  Ebenezer “The Stuntman” Griffith
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • International Boxing Association Strengthens Strategic Presence in Cape Verde Following High-Level Official Visit
    , Thu, 05 Mar 2026
  • Asia's First GM Eugene Torre 2nd in Russia chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 05 Mar 2026
  • Unified WBA, WBO and Ring Magazine Minimumweight World Champion Oscar "El Pupilo" Collazo Hosts Media Workout Ahead of March 14 Fight
    , Thu, 05 Mar 2026
  • 2026 USA Boxing Men's Youth High Performance Team Announced
    , Thu, 05 Mar 2026
  • 2026 USA Boxing Women’s Youth High Performance Team Announced
    , Thu, 05 Mar 2026
  • Michael Linde rules Pangasinan chessfest
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 05 Mar 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.