OUR customary three possible scenarios for every Manny Pacquiao fight has become a staple feature in this column.
Frankly, when Manny announced his retirement early this year, I never thought I would have the guilty pleasure of doing it again, although I confess, I had a deep seated suspicion about the finality of it all.
So here we are again, seven months later, and so without further ado, here’s our three possible scenarios for Manny Pacquiao vs Jessie Vargas.
FIRST. In the first round, both fighters appear cautious, each trying to feel the other out
But with less than 30 seconds left to go, Vargas lands a big right hand which appears to stun Manny, but the latter wisely dances away from harm.
In the second, Vargas tries to pick up on where he left , but a rudely awakened Pacman smashes him with several left straights and proceeds to dominate.
The pattern repeats itself till the middle rounds with Vargas landing occasionally and Manny sharpshooting with deadly, accurate combos.
By the 7th, Vargas’ face has turned into a bloody, gory mask. The ref takes a long look at it and allows him to continue.
But in the 8th, Pacquiao lands a right hook that knocks Vargas down. He gets up feebly at the count of 8, a tired, beaten and bloody fighter.
The ref has seen enough and promptly waives it off. ( Manny wins via TKO in the 8th)
SECOND. Vargas starts out fast, peppering Manny with jabs. Manny takes a more measured approach and takes his time in placing his punches.
By the fourth round, everybody is waiting for Manny to become more aggressive but he seems unable or unwilling to pull the trigger.
After the halfway mark, Freddie Roach -knowing his fighter is dangerously behind on points, urgently urges Manny to pick up the pace and he does.
He comes alive in rounds 8 and 9, tagging Vargas with right hooks and left straights.
However Vargas roars back to take round 10 while Manny seems to slow down. Perhaps age has finally caught up with the great Pacman, or maybe it was the ring rust after a 7 month layoff.
Whatever the case, Vargas is the busier fighter and while the championship rounds were close, it was Vargas who won most of the rounds and the judges award him with a close, but well deserved unanimous decision victory. (Vargas wins via UD)
THIRD. Manny meets Vargas in the center of the ring and right away unleashes combinations like he never left.
Vargas tries to keep up but is flummoxed by Manny’s activity.
This pattern repeats itself until the fourth round, where a beleaguered Vargas regroups and lands a couple of right hands.
Manny seems to take it slow in the middle rounds, but gets his second wind in the 8th. He lands a left straight that deposits Vargas on the seat of his pants just as the bell rings.
In the ninth, Vargas retreats into defensive mode while Pacquiao maintains his pace.
The crowd eggs on Pacquiao to go for the knockout but Vargas’ youth and vigor allow him to survive until the final bell on his feet. (Pacquiao wins via UD)
VERBATIM. “This is where I belong. I?ve been waiting for this moment since I was eight years old.”
-Jessie Vargas on fighting Manny Pacquiao this Sunday ( www. boxingnewsonline.net)
