Manny Pacquiao, the eight-division world titleholder and future Hall of Famer, returns to the ring seven months after bidding farewell to boxing, following his unanimous decision victory over Timothy Bradley Jr. in April.
Pacquiao (58-6-2, 38 KOs) is set to take on welterweight titlist Jessie Vargas at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Saturday (Top Rank PPV, 9 p.m. ET.)
Vargas (27-1, 10 KOs), from California, is 10 years younger than Pacquiao, but he lacks experience in title bouts.
The fight is expected to go the distance — Pacquiao hasn’t scored a KO since November 2010, when he stopped Miguel Cotto in the 12th round, and Vargas has only 10 KOs in 28 fights. Both fighters are aggressive, highly mobile and throw high volumes of punches, but they lack the necessary punching power to stop their opponent inside the distance. In speed, explosiveness we trust
This is not the time to make changes or tweak something that has worked so well throughout his career. To beat Vargas, Pacquiao must continue to rely on speed and explosiveness. A victory by KO seems unlikely against an opponent who can take punches well. This means Pacquiao will have to rely on his punches from all angles and surprise his opponent with explosive combinations, things that usually score well with the judges. Punches in bunches
If anything has set Pacquiao apart throughout his career it’s the volume of punches he throws per fight. When he finds the distance, the sheer weight of his combinations is enough to overpower and break down his opponent’s strategy. Vargas has a longer reach and will use it throughout the fight. That is why, as soon as Pacquiao gets inside Vargas’ jab, he should look to throw short combinations and the left hook to Vargas’ chin. It will be hard to knock out Vargas, but from that inside position it might just be possible. Look both ways
If Pacquiao fails to find the distance and struggles to implement his offensive plan, one alternative will be to surprise Vargas from the sides. It is well known that Pacquiao’s elusiveness helps him to turn to the sides and throw shots over the top or underneath in weird angles. Those punches will be crucial in this fight. Beware of Vargas’ counter
Vargas seems to pack less of a punch than Juan Manuel M?rquez, who stopped Pacquiao in the fourth fight of their heated rivalry in 2012, but Vargas says he is coming into this fight stronger and faster than ever. That means he is ready and willing to do anything to win the fight, including his dangerous counterpunching technique. When Pacquiao begins his frenzied attacks with the long left, he needs to be careful not to miss. Vargas will be waiting to catch him wrong-footed and unbalanced. Pacquiao’s opponents will always be looking for a shot similar to the one landed by Marquez. There is no doubt that Vargas will be too. Listen to your trainer
Having Freddie Roach in the corner is already an advantage and even more so due to their long-standing relationship. Pacquiao will have a plan, which may change or progress depending on the rhythm of the fight. Roach has this under control, but if the plan fails, Manny will need to draw on his experience to restore his dominance in the fight. A 21-year career is an advantage that is hard to match. He must make the most of it.
