Pacquiao camp not hard-pressed for KO win

LOS ANGELES – Despite the clamor for an elusive knockout win, the camp of Manny Pacquiao isn’t having any of it, saying that stopping WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas is not a priority.

Pacquiao’s strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune and chief trainer Freddie Roach were one in saying that a knockout result would just be an added incentive for the Filipino icon, who will challenge Vargas next week.

According to Fortune, the quality of opponents makes scoring knockouts more difficult for Pacquiao, whose last win via stoppage came in 2009 against Miguel Cotto.

“Knockouts are tough at this level,” Fortune told Philstar.com/The STAR on Thursday during Pacquiao’s morning jog at the Pan Pacific Park in this city (Friday in Manila).

“This is a world championship fight. All these fighters come in great shape and are prepared to go 12 rounds,” he added.

This, though, doesn’t mean Pacquiao will go easy on Vargas, whom Fortune said is not on Pacquiao’s level.

Roach, for his part, likewise isn’t guaranteeing a stoppage victory for his prized ward.

“If it [knockout] comes, it comes. He was never a big puncher at 147,” Roach said after supervising Pacquiao’s workout at the Wild Card Gym in the afternoon.

Pacquiao went six rounds with super lightweight contender Raymundo Beltran in a closed-door session, and afterwards intensely worked the mitts with Roach.

As usual, the session ended with Roach’s hands feeling numb.

“He's been punching hard in the mitts. That's for sure,” said Pacquiao’s longtime cornerman.

So don’t rule out the possibility of Pacquiao finally nailing his 39th knockout win on November 5 in Las Vegas (November 6 in Manila).

“Is Manny capable of it [knockout win]? Absolutely,” said Fortune.