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Pacquiao out to end KO drought against Vargas

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<h2>A loss could mean the end for Pacman, says analyst</h2><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/sports/11/05/manny-pacquiao-vargas-2-afp-110416.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Boxers Manny Pacquiao, Philippines, and Jessie Vargas, USA, pose together during their official weigh-in at the Wynn Las Vegas hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 4, 2016. Pacquiao will challenge Vargas for the WBO Welterweight Title Saturday, November 5, 2016 at the Thomas &amp; Mack Center. John Gurzinski, AFP</div></figcaption></figure></div>Fans should expect an all-out brawl between Manny Pacquiao and WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas on Saturday in Las Vegas (Sunday, Manila time), one where the Filipino superstar should come out victorious, according to a long-time fight analyst.Boxing commentator Ed Tolentino believes Pacquiao could earn his first stoppage win in seven years against the younger Mexican-American, who was tailor made for the fleet-footed Filipino superstar. &quot;We will expect a knuckle fest. Hindi siya katulad ni Floyd Mayweather na suntok-layo kung lumaban,&quot; Tolentino said of Vargas in a recent interview with Karen Davila on DZMM&#x27;s Pasada Sais Trenta.&quot;Sumasabay po itong si Jessie Vargas, he&#x27;s ready to rumble against Manny Pacquiao.&quot;(Vargas is no Floyd Mayweather Jr. who hits and runs. Vargas fights toe-to-toe.)Tolentino said the fighting senator would be bent to go for a home run to prove that he remains a &quot;beast&quot; despite having his last knockout victory in 2009, when he stopped Miguel Cotto in 12 rounds.He added that Vargas was also handpicked to make Pacquiao &quot;look good.&quot;&quot;Pacquiao has not scored a knockout win since 2009, so may seven-year drought na. Many believe Vargas was chosen because medyo suspect ang punching power niya. Agresibo rin siya, iyan ang gusto ni Manny,&quot; said the analyst.&quot;I see Manny Pacquiao ending his knockout drought within eight rounds. Pakaingatan lang ni Manny Pacquiao yung kanan ni Jessie Vargas na may laman.&quot;(Many believe that Vargas was chosen because his punching power is suspect. he&#x27;s also aggressive and this could play within Pacquiao&#x27;s hands. Pacquiao, however, should be careful of Vargas&#x27;s potent right hand.) If Pacquiao wins by knockout, promoters will have an easier time selling his future fights. However, a defeat or even a mere decision win could force the Filipino sports icon to do some serious soul searching.&quot;Bebenta ang susunod na laban ni Manny Pacquiao [‘pag nanalo by knockout]… Mas madaling ibenta yung mas mabibigat na laban tulad nina Mayweather tulad ni Terence Crawford,&quot; said Tolentino.&quot;&#x27;Pag puntos lang ang pagkapanalo… lumalabas na walang pinagkaiba sa mga huling laban niya. Medyo nauumay na ang mga boxing fans sa mga decision wins ni Manny Pacquiao. If he loses by knockout &#x27;yan na ang period, ang pagtatapos ng karera ni Manny Pacquiao.&quot;(Pacquiao will be a big hit again if he knocks out Vargas. It will be easier to sell a possible fight against Mayweather or Terence Crawford. A decision win might frustrate his fans who are looking for a knockout. They are already getting tired of getting decisions. A loss via knockout means the end of Pacquiao&#x27;s career.)Tolentino said fans wanted to see the old fearsome Pacquiao, who pummeled and stopped the likes of Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Cotto.He said the fighting senator is expected to do just that.Tolentino admitted that it has become increasingly difficult for Pacquiao to score knockouts during the previous because of his age and the wear and tear he sustained in his lengthy boxing career.&quot;At the age of 37, after 66 fights, after several decades in boxing, Pacquiao is at a stage na one fight at a time na lang,&quot; said the analyst. &quot;He can bog down anytime.&quot;He, however, admitted that a loss will not affect Filipino hero&#x27;s legacy. &quot;Pacquiao will be remembered for Oscar De La Hoya. He will be remembered for Marco Antonio Barrera, the Erik Morales victory. He will not be remembered for this [Vargas fight], he will be remembered for the bigger fights.&quot;<div>BANTAMWEIGHT BATTLE</div>The card also features &quot;Filipino Flash&quot; Nonito Donaire Jr., who will defend his WBO super bantamweight crown against the unbeaten Jessie Magdaleno.If Donaire wins, he is expected to campaign once again in the featherweight division.In the Philippines, fans can watch the fight live, commercial-free and in high definition on November 6, 9 a.m. on SKY Sports Pay-Per-View. In the Middle East, the fight will be shown on November 6 at 4 a.m. in KSA and 5 a.m. in Dubai, live (with replays) via TFC.tv. It is also available via OSN, ELife and Mozaic TV powered by Ooredoo. In the US, it will be shown on November 5 live, distributed by Top Rank PPV.For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/" target="_blank">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.

Fans should expect an all-out brawl between Manny Pacquiao and WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas on Saturday in Las Vegas (Sunday, Manila time), one where the Filipino superstar should come out victorious, according to a long time fight analyst.

Fans should expect an all-out brawl between Manny Pacquiao and WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas on Saturday in Las Vegas (Sunday, Manila time), one where the Filipino superstar should come out victorious, according to a long time fight analyst.