Jessie Vargas: I will defeat a good Manny Pacquiao

With Jessie Vargas biggest fight just around the corner, on Nov. 5 he’s brimming with confidence that he’ll prove his worth to boxing fans. In a conversation with RingTV Vargas says that he’s excited that Pacquiao looked great in his last outing against Timothy Bradley - that way when he beats him he’ll get the full credit he deserves.

“Manny Pacquiao’s best performance against Timothy Bradley in his three fights was in his last fight,” Vargas said. “It was only a few months ago and I’m happy he was able to give that performance. That way people can still see when I defeat Manny Pacquiao I will defeat a good Manny Pacquiao that is still performing at the highest level. That’s the Manny Pacquiao I want to beat.”

Vargas (27-1, 10 KOs) appears to be riding high after his knockout win over Sadam Ali for the vacant WBO title back in March. Moreover, he says he’s not at all phased by being in the ring with a sure-fire Hall of Famer who is the favorite to win. In fact, Vargas believes he has many advanatages over Pacquiao heading into this fight, and he anticipates using them all to get the win himself.

“Well, I’m going to use every advantage in this fight,” he said. “As an experienced fighter, you have to use every advantage that we have and we will. That’s one of them. That’s one of many we have, including the speed, the power, the height, the reach, the ring intelligence. I have to use every advantage. The great footwork.”

Should Vargas pull of an upset win in this fight, will that at all change how you view him as a fighter, or will you simply chalk it up to Pacquiao’s decline and workload outside of boxing?