Boxer Jessie Vargas of the US, looks on during a news conference at The Wynn Las Vegas on November 2, 2016.
Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines will challenge Vargas for the WBO Welterweight Championship November 5, 2016, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. / AFP PHOTO / John GURZINSKI
LAS VEGAS—Jessie Vargas certainly knows whom to compare himself with—Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Juan Manuel Marquez to start with.
Vargas claimed to be a stronger puncher than Mayweather and likened himself to a younger version of Juan Manuel Marquez during the final press conference Wednesday.
If Vargas is really on the same level with Manny Pacquiao’s last two tormentors, then the Fighting Senator should be in for a tough night in their battle for the World Boxing Organization welterweight crown on Nov. 5.
According to Vargas he’d knocked down sparring partners whom Mayweather had failed to stop during training camp.
“I am a young Marquez,” said Vargas, who is staking his crown at Thomas & Mack Center here. “Taller, longer in reach, faster, more athletic, more agile.”
At 5-foot-10, Vargas is indeed taller than Marquez by three inches, who in turn is an inch above Pacquiao. The Vegan resident also outreaches both by four inches.
Marquez, of course, is remembered for smacking a lunging Pacquiao with a counter right that left the Filipino icon sprawled on the canvas in the sixth round in 2012.
While Mayweather, who decisioned Pacquiao in a monster blockbuster last year, is no power puncher (49-0, 26 KOs), his stoppage rate is better than that of Vargas (27-1, 10 KOs).
Vargas knows that, but he sincerely believes this training camp “bring the best in me.”
According to Vargas, he’ stronger, faster now, easily surpassing the form that stopped Sadam Ali last March 5.
“I respect his (Pacquiao) talent, what he’s done in the sport.” But it’s my time,” said Vargas, who cited a strong hook and a strong right as his main weapons.
“To be the best we need to fight the best,” said Vargas.
His trainer, Dewey Cooper, agreed.
“This will be the passing of the torch,” said Cooper, stressing that they’ve put up a great game plan that should cover whatever Pacquiao will do in the ring.
Even Pacquiao’s unconventional fighting style that entails a lot of footwork, feints and timing.
“We will defend that belt. We will be victorious,” said Cooper.