Boxer Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines speaks during a news conference at The Wynn Las Vegas on November 2, 2016. Pacquiao will challenge Jessie Vargas of the US for the WBO Welterweight Championship on November 5 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. / AFP PHOTO / John GURZINSKI
LAS VEGAS—They’ve trained long and hard. Sweated it out beyond exhaustion. Attained optimum form.
Yet the struggle isn’t over for Manny Pacquiao and Jessie Vargas.
They still have to endure the torturous mind games.
Whatever they’ve poured into training camp still needs to be funneled into a basin, ready to be spilled out on fight night Saturday at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
They may be resting and relaxing now, but their spirits are wandering. Looking forward to Friday’s official weigh-in and the battle that would chart their boxing destiny next year, or even permanently.
Pacquiao, the challenger, has been in this situation 66 times (58 wins, 6 losses, 2 draws, 38 knockouts) before.
Vargas, the champion, only 28 (27-1, 10 KOs).
Presumably, it’s the main reason why the aging Pacquiao, turning 38 next month, was installed a heavy 7-1 favorite over Vargas, only 27, in their battle for the World Boxing Organization welterweight title.
Don’t tell that to Pacquiao, however.
The first incumbent senator to aspire for a world title in any sport will retort that numbers hardly matter.
He feels as if he’s just as old as Vargas, who, in turn, claims that he’s prepared to thwart Pacquiao’s attempt to regain the 147-pound crown for the third time.
Pacquiao’s trainer, boxing Hall of Famer Freddie Roach, on Wednesday made his prized ward, the only eight-division world champion, choose between running and working out at the gym Thursday.
A speedster, Pacquiao opted to run for 10 rounds at University of Nevada, Las Vegas’ track oval early
morning to let off steam.
He then ate breakfast, dozed off, had lunch, rested, attended a Christian prayer service graced by Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronaldo “Bato” de la Rosa, before eating dinner and retiring to bed.
On Friday, Pacquiao will be confined at his suite at Wynn hotel, but will allowed to take a short walk in the company of Roach early Saturday, just to loosen up the muscles.
Dewey Cooper said he gave Vargas a break Thursday, but declined to reveal his plans for the last 24 hours.
Just like his trainer, Vargas is very confident of pulling off a shocker over Pacquiao. —Brought to you by: Café Puro