There is little doubt Pacquiao will bag the WBO welterweight belt of Jessie Vargas when they clash next Saturday at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada if he stays focused on the fight and not on his other job as senator.
This observation was shared by Pacquiao’s compatriot Nonito Donaire in a recent interview by Robert Brown on OTR Boxing Radio. Donaire, who heads the undercard of the Pacquiao-Vargas fight with mandatory challenger Jessie Magdaleno, believes Pacquiao will be victorious only if he remains focused on the fight. “Jessie Vargas is a formidable fighter that people are looking past. It depends how focused Manny is, but Vargas is going to have a big chance if Pacquiao lacks the focus. Whoever shows up in there will definitely win the fight,” Donaire said. Asked if Pacquiao is focused on the fight or there is a tendency or danger that he may be focusing too much on politics, Donaire said he believes Pacquiao is leaning on the latter.
Nonito Donaire Leo Reyes “I think the latter is what is going on, that?s where his focus is and that?s where he?s consuming his time. He hadn?t gone to LA to isolate himself, he?s been in politics and the senate, but you can?t underestimate him, he?s been training hard as well. It seems that the focus is towards the politics but we will see in the fight,” he added. On the possibility of the upset by Vargas with Pacquiao being the huge favorite to win, Donaire said he could not say for sure but if Pacquiao stays focused, he is a formidable opponent. “Well, Jessie Vargas has the height, he?s focused because this is his biggest fight. You don?t really know how Manny is training but from what it seems, he?s been kind of underestimating Jessie, but I can?t really say what goes on in his camp but if he goes out there and is fully focused, he?s going to be a formidable Manny Pacquiao,” Donaire said. While Donaire has found time to analyze the Pacquiao-Vargas fight, he is likewise trying to focus on his own fight and make sure that he retains his WBO super bantamweight title against another formidable opponent. Magdaleno is young and unbeaten in his pro career and is confident he will win on Saturday night. “I think Nonito is no longer in his prime. He’s a little old at nearly 34-years-old. He’s been in a lot of wars,” Magdaleno said to ESPN Deportes “Nonito is a fighter who still has the punching power, but he will face a young fighter who will be ready – with quick reflexes, speed, punching power. I don’t think it’s going to be his night, it’s going to be mine – because I feel for this fight I’m coming in there at my best, it’s the perfect time,” he added. Magdaleno believes Donaire will fade after five rounds and then he will take over from there but Donaire for his part said he has prepared aequately for this fight with a set of new trainers and is confident he will emerge victorious against Magdaleno.
