Pacquiao seeks KO, but thinks Vargas will run

Manny Pacquiao defends as chief trainer Freddie Roach presses on in their mitts session at Wild Card gym. Roy Luarca

HOLLYWOOD—Manny Pacquiao refuses to predict a knockout, but his actions say otherwise.

He wants to knock Jessie Vargas out when they tangle for the World Boxing Organization welterweight crown on Nov. 5 at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas when one looks at the way the fighting senator is training for his 27th fight in the United States since 2001.

He searched for, and according to him, rediscovered  the sting and snap of his punches.

Then, in the last week of training spent here, Pacquiao concentrated on raising his speed, developing his strength, and improving his stamina.

Proof is he’ll still tackle Griffith Park peak on Monday with three rounds of sparring and three rounds of mitts—just hours before winding up preparations at Wild Card Gym.

Pacquiao is hard-pressed to stop Vargas and regain his huge pay-per-view following.

Though he scored several knockdowns, including six over the overmatched Chris Algieri in Macau and two over Tim Bradley last April, Pacquiao has failed to follow up a 12th round stoppage of Miguel Cotto in 2009.

Possible knockout

Of course, a knockout is likely to occur only if Vargas, reputed to be fearless and aggressive, chooses to engage him toe-to-toe as promised.

Pacquiao doubts whether Vargas would dare attack.

In contrast to chief trainer Freddie Roach’s perception that Vargas would fight it out, Pacquiao feels the Las Vegas-based American will eventually run in their 12-round pay-per-view bout.

“It’s unlikely that he will bring the fight to me,” Pacquiao said in Filipino Saturday. “He’ll play a waiting game. It would be better though if he tries to penetrate. That will make it a good fight, exciting.”

Power

Assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez, who like Roach felt the impact of Pacquiao’s power punches during mitts sessions, is confident his bosom buddy will finally tally his 39th knockout and 59th win against six losses and two draws.

Roach hurt his shoulder after an intense 12-round mitts session with Pacquiao Friday last week and designated the task to Fernandez, easily a 200-pounder, the next day.

Fernandez swore he moved backward when hit, leaving his palms throbbing in pain, before going numb.

“If one of those [power punches] connect, it (fight) is over,” said Fernandez.

Don’t tell that to Pacquiao, however.

The familiar answer would be: “I’ll give it my best shot.”