Philippines, 26 May 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:

  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 25 MAY 2026: Usyk Defeats Verhoeven in Controversial Stoppage; Catterall UD Giyasov; Hiruta Beats Soliman; Sanchez KOs Torrez; Jones Stops Gualtieri
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 26 May 2026
  • WBC #14 Bryan Flores Takes on Jonathan Navarro in 10-round Super Lightweight Main Event on ProBoxTV, Sat., July 18, at NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, Calif.
    , Tue, 26 May 2026
  • Villarosa retains PH Youth super fly crown
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 26 May 2026
  • USA Boxing Elite High Performance Squad Earns Six More Wins on Day Eight at 2026 Copa America
    , Tue, 26 May 2026
  • It’s time for blue-chip prospect Marco Romero to sign with top promoter
    , Tue, 26 May 2026
  • General Trias Team All Set for International Chess Meet
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 26 May 2026
  • Rosas wins PH superfly crown in first fight
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 25 May 2026
  • 2026 NBA Playoffs: Spurs Shackle Thunder 103-82 in Game 4 of West Finals
    By Reylan Loberternos, , Mon, 25 May 2026
  • Paciones defeats Laspoña, retains WBO Oriental flyweight title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 25 May 2026
  • Results from Panama City
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 25 May 2026
  • USA Boxing Elite High Performance Squad Improves Strong Copa America Showing with 8 win Day
    , Mon, 25 May 2026
  • Benilde Blazers wins Antipolo 2x2 chess team tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 25 May 2026
  • Floyd Mayweather Jr files $175 million lawsuit against former associates and advisors
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 24 May 2026
  • Christian Mbilli will defend his WBC super middleweight world title against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez on September 12 in Saudi Arabia!
    , Sun, 24 May 2026
  • Toro Promotions’ Trio victorious in Mexico
    , Sun, 24 May 2026
  • Team USA Continues Dominant Run with 7-0 Performance on Day Six In Colombia
    , Sun, 24 May 2026
  • The Punisher Ultramarathon in Samal on May 30-31
    , Sun, 24 May 2026
  • Paciones fights Laspoña tomorrow at Elorde gym
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 23 May 2026
  • STATEMENT MADE! AMARI “THE REAPER” JONES DEFEATS VINCENZO “IL CAPO” GUALTIERI IN IBF MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD TITLE ELIMINATOR
    , Sat, 23 May 2026
  • Castillano stops Rosales in 1st round
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 23 May 2026
  • ProBoxTV Goes Global This Saturday with Two Action-Packed International Events Broadcast Live on One Sensational Saturday
    , Sat, 23 May 2026
  • Oleksandr Usyk Returns Against Unknown Boxer on RING/DAZN PPV
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 23 May 2026
  • Ayala Lardizabal stops Mama as IBA PRO 18 delivers dramatic night in Mexico City
    , Sat, 23 May 2026
  • MF PRO Launches U.S. Boxing Debut with “Pugilist Revolution” Featuring "H2O" Sylve vs. Joseph “JoJo” Diaz in Southern California Showdown
    , Sat, 23 May 2026
  • Dela Cerna fights Lastimosa on June 21 in Muntilupa
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 23 May 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.