Pacquiao: Vargas will be cautious

LOS ANGELES – Manny Pacquiao and Bob Arum are not on the same page as to what Jessie Vargas would do inside the ring of the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Nov. 5.

At the Wild Card Gym Thursday, following a closed-door sparring session for Pacquiao, Arum put himself in the shoes of Vargas, the WBO welterweight champion.

“I think he has chosen to go for the knockout. He will try to knock Manny out. He knows that the only way to win is to go for a knockout,” said the promoter.

Arum had gone to the extent of guaranteeing a knockout – one way or another. While he said Manny has the edge, he’s not sure who will be left standing in this fight.

“I don’t know. Manny is the better fighter but remember, the other guy is 10 years younger,” said Arum, “the other guy” being Vargas, at 27 being 10 years younger.

What Arum is sure of is that Vargas would go into the fight thinking that the only way for him to win and keep the title is to knock Pacquiao out.

It’s like a boxer entering the final round behind on all scorecards.

Arum said Vargas will go for the knockout but will make himself vulnerable for one against a heavy-handed fighter like Pacquiao.

“Vargas is not a defensive fighter. He will attack Manny and that will make him vulnerable to a knockout. This fight is ending with a knockout,” said Arum.

As he spoke to reporters, Pacquiao was still in the ring shadow-boxing, punching the air and throwing flurries against an imaginary opponent.

“Vargas is a tremendous puncher and he’s fearless. In other words he’s gonna go after Manny and he’s gonna come trying to get a knockout,” said Arum.

Pacquiao ended his training session and headed to the dressing room. Inside, he granted an exclusive interview for the Los Angeles Times, and was out after 30 minutes.

Pacquiao was told of Arum’s thoughts on the fight, and that Vargas would charge in to go for the knockout.

“Papasukin ako? (Coming at me?),” said Pacquiao, who’s actually hungry for his first knockout win since 2009 when he stopped Miguel Cotto inside 12 rounds.

But he welcomed the idea.

“Maganda ‘yan. Magkakaroon ng matinding bakbakan (That’s good. It will be a slugfest). Para masaya (It will be fun),” he said.

Pacquiao said he’d seen Vargas’ previous fights, and he’s gotten to know the boxer, whose only defeat in 28 fights came against Timothy Bradley.

“I don’t think papasok siya (he’d charge in). Mag-aabang siya (He will wait),” said Pacquiao.

Arum was looking the other way when he guaranteed a knockout.

“If people are looking for a fight that will end in a knockout it’s this fight. I guarantee a knockout,” said the chief of Top Rank Promotions.

Arum was asked which round?

“I’m not a genius,” he said.