Vargas tailor-fit for Manny
Boxing trainer Freddie Roach’s chief assistant Marvin Somodio said the other day WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas is tailor-fit for challenger Manny Pacquiao in their 12-round title bout in Las Vegas on Nov. 5 and he wouldn’t be surprised if the Filipino icon scores a knockout.
Somodio arrived in Manila from Los Angeles with wife Melissa and their one- year- old daughter Sophie last week. Somodio came to make final arrangements for a Catholic wedding at the Sanctuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park set in December and went to Baguio to attend to personal matters over the weekend. He flew back to Los Angeles last Monday while his wife and daughter will stay in town.
“Vargas is 5-10 and aggressive,” said Somodio. “Manny likes taller fighters who come forward because he won’t need to chase them around the ring. Vargas isn’t a runner, he’s a fighter. He’s like a typical Mexican warrior and Manny will be waiting. Because of Vargas’ style, I think Manny can knock him out. Manny won’t miss with his combinations.”
But Somodio warned that Vargas seems to be improving with every fight. Against Timothy Bradley last year, Vargas nearly scored a knockout. With 15 seconds left in the 12th and final round, Vargas landed an overhand right that wobbled Bradley. Vargas was all over Bradley when referee Pat Russell ended the bout, thinking the bell had sounded although there were still seven seconds left on the clock. Bradley escaped by the skin of his teeth and held on to win on points.
Last May, Vargas was impressive in halting Sadam Ali for the vacant WBO welterweight crown in Washington, D. C. It was his best performance ever as Vargas floored the previously unbeaten Ali twice before referee Kenny Chevalier waved it off at 2:09 of the ninth round. “Vargas is at his peak and he’s getting stronger,” said Somodio. “Every fight, he’s getting better. But Manny’s still the best welterweight out there. He’s intelligent and strong. Manny’s still good. He’s one in a million. I don’t think we’ll see another Filipino world champion like him in the next 100 years.”
Somodio said the next Pacquiao still hasn’t surfaced. While Somodio said WBO bantamweight champion Marlon Tapales and IBF superflyweight titlist Jerwin Ancajas pack a lot of power in their fists, neither appears capable of collecting as many world championships in different divisions as Pacquiao. “I don’t think they’ll become multidivision champions,” he said. The Philippines’ two other world champions John Riel Casimero and Nonito Donaire, Jr. have held belts in multiple divisions but aren’t expected to ever match Pacquiao’s record of eight world titles in different classes.
Somodio said in the Pacquiao-Vargas undercard, he predicts a knockout within eight rounds in the WBO superbantamweight title bout between defending champion Donaire and undefeated challenger Jessie Magdaleno. “It’s not going the distance because both are hard hitters,” he said. “I think Donaire will dominate the early rounds. If Donaire gets tired, Magdaleno could take control in the late rounds. I’ve seen Magdaleno spar at the Wild Card Gym and he’s a strong puncher.”
Somodio said Pacquiao’s popularity as a fighter hasn’t waned. “The LA Boys are now in Manila and the excitement is building up,” he said. “If Manny’s pay-perview buys are on the decline, it’s not his fault.” Fans won’t mind to pay good money for a competitive fight but Pacquiao alone can’t bring in the numbers. It takes two to make a fight and if fans don’t respect the credentials of Pacquiao’s opponents, they’ll stay away.
As for Floyd Mayweather, Somodio said Pacquiao should win if a rematch is arranged. “Manny wasn’t 100 percent when they fought last year,” he said. “He hurt his shoulder in training and had to take a rest in the middle of preparations. Despite the injury, Manny almost won in a close fight. If Manny’s 100 percent, there’s no way Mayweather will win.”