On the festive night of November 5 at Thomas & Mack Center (Las Vegas), the legendary eight-world division superstar Manny Pacquiao defeats reigning welterweight titleholder Jessie Vargas in a 12-round split decision. Each judge scored 114-113, 118-109, and 118-109 all in favor of the renowned Filipino fighter.
It turned out that the veteran record-holder is too much of an opponent for the hungry 27-year old young blood. Manny Pacquiao outclassed Vargas in terms of agility and hand speed - the same way a master would spar with an enthusiastic novice.
During the post-fight interview, the press solicited some comments from the dethroned Vargas. Hence, the New Jersey News reports, "Fighting Manny Pacquiao is like playing a very fast game of chess." Jessie Vargas then added, "You have to be alert at all times. There are a lot of punches coming in. He was very fast and very sharp."
Curiously, Floyd Mayweather Jr. was invited by Manny Pacquiao to witness the fight. The appearance of the retired undefeated champion caused a stir among thousands of spectators in the stadium. The Filipino superstar then acknowledged Mayweather's presence with a knowing smirk at before Round 12.
It did not take long for boxing enthusiasts to cue the possibility of a rematch between the two legends. In a related interview, Los Angeles Times confirms that Mayweather was pleased with Pacquiao's performance - a highly positive forecast for a comment considering the undefeated champ's perfectionist standards.
The victorious Manny Pacquiao immediately heads home after the fight to recuperate in preparation for his regular work schedule as Philippine government's upper house representative. It is too early to discuss the upcoming Pacquiao-Mayweather 2.
To some extent, few would readily predict the outcome of Pacquiao-Vargas fight. There are several valid reservations regarding Pacquiao's odds, especially in line with realistic factors such as age and his full-time commitment to public service.
