‘Young lion’ will slay ‘Tasmanian Devil’

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – SEPTEMBER 08: Manny Pacquiao and Jessie Vargas face off during a press conference at the Beverly Hills Hotel on September 8, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images/AFP

LAS VEGAS—What happens when a young lion tangles with a Tasmanian Devil?

According to Jessie Vargas and his trainer, Dewey Cooper, the king of the jungle should prevail over the fierce, carnivorous Australian marsupial.

Vargas, the World Boxing Organization welterweight champion and Cooper, took the posture of the young lion in the interview following Tuesday’s Grand Arrival at Wynn here.

Cooper, a former boxer and kickboxer, referred to Pacquiao as a Tasmanian Devil-type of fighter that could be slain by fighting from a distance and moving with timing and precision.

Vargas agreed.

“He’s had a great career, but I’m here to beat him,” Vargas said. “I hope the best Pacquiao shows up. No excuses.”

“Him and Floyd are the best (of this generation),” Vargas added. ” But there is always that younger lion who wants it more.”

At 27, Vargas is 10 years younger than Pacquiao, who’s returning from brief retirement to try to reclaim the 147-pound title for the third time.

Vargas, who took the crown by stopping Sadam Ali in the ninth round, swears by the effectivity of Cooper’s training methods.

“He (Cooper) can tell me so many things to do. He knows what he is doing. I admire his work.

“This is the reason why I have power, something that’s important. My conditioning is good, excellent.  My power has improved much more that’s why we got a big KO over somebody (Ali) who’s never been knocked out.”

That’s why, Vargas entrusts his fate completely to Cooper on Nov. 5 (Nov. 6 in Manila) when he battles Pacquiao, who’s the heavy favorite, for 12 rounds at Thomas & Mack Center.

“Julio’s the one who started me to start dreaming. This Saturday night will be a memorable night for me and I’m going to live that dream,” said Vargas. “Once inside that ring, you don’t hear anything else but your trainer.”

The admiration is mutual.

“There was nothing to change about him (Vargas),” said Cooper. “He is willing to do unconventional things. Jessie has a versatile mind. He’s just not one-way, he is intelligent, bilingual, nice and he’s a warrior. He’s very athletic.”

Cooper was also generous in his praises for Vargas.

“He can make adjustments, real time real speed. He has a high IQ. He can do when and not to do things. He sees information fast and that’s what he can do.”

Cooper added that Pacquiao’s southpaw stance poses no problem.

“Me being a southpaw, I know certain weaknesses of both,  techniques conducive to a right hander. Will they work on Manny? A lot of those will. We’ve seen things that work on Manny. Manny is not undefeated, (he’s) not 49-0 (Mayweather). He’s (Pacquiao) not unbeatable, he’s beatable.’

Cooper, who fought as a cruiserweight and heavyweight,  regards Pacquiao as an uncoventional boxer.

“He’s got fast feet but his feet go out of control. All these things make him very awkward. 

“He’s a Tasmanian Devil-type of fighter You got to have sharp eyes and ready to go. You beat these with distance and timing. At some point, that will cost him the fight.”

Though he’d yielded the floor to Vargas at the tailend of the interview, Cooper found a way to drive home their rallying point

“Never underestimate the hunger of a young lion champion,” Cooper, already standing, hollered repeatedly.