Manny Pacquiao challenges Jessie Vargas for world title while Jamie Conlan and Paddy Barnes are in action
Pacquiao turns 38 next month but this fight could be one step too far
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Your support makes all the difference.Like a Swiss Army knife or a box-to-box midfielder, Manny Pacquiao has successfully combined all manner of assets through his 21 year professional boxing career, but has he run out of juggling ability?
The legendary Filipino fighter takes on WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas on Saturday night in Las Vegas, yet whispers are growing ever louder regarding his dual-roles as both a boxer and a politician.
On the surface, things look good for Manny. He’s tight with controversial Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, plus he defeated Timothy Bradley for the second time in April.
But everything must come to an end, and the icon who turns 38 next month could be fighting one bout too far against the young and determined Vargas.
The champion has lost just once in 28 fights, and in his lone defeat to Timothy Bradley the 27-year-old impressed in the latter stages of the contest, stunning Bradley in the last round with a huge onslaught.
Vargas is not typically known as a power-puncher, but the late Bradley-beatdown and his subsequent title winning stoppage of the previously undefeated Sadam Ali in March reflects a degree of dynamism in his fists.
Despite the significant height, reach and youth advantage Vargas will enjoy in the fight, Pacquiao is a significant betting favourite at 2/11, with his opponent a 5/1 underdog.
Those who believe in a changing of the guard may be tempted by the odds available for a Vargas stoppage win.
Pacquiao has slowed towards the latter stages of recent fights, and Vargas dropped and stopped Ali in rounds eight and nine of their fight.
Odds of around 25/1 are available for Vargas to finish Pacquiao between rounds 7 and 12, while Manny, who hasn’t stopped anybody since Miguel Cotto in 2009, is 4/6 to win on points.
Three further WBO world titles will be fought for on the undercard in Vegas, including fellow Filipino Nonito Donaire defending his super bantamweight crown against undefeated American Jessie Magdaleno.
Donaire was once regarded as one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters, but has looked past his best ever since a 2013 defeat to Guillermo Rigondeaux.
The 33-year-old is still a 1/2 favourite over Magdaleno however, who is stepping up in competition drastically.
He will hope to perform better than his brother did in his world title opportunity against Britain’s Terry Flanagan last October.
Diego was stopped in two rounds. It’s 28/1 that it happens again to his sibling.
Elsewhere, Oscar Valdez defends his featherweight world title for the first time against Japan’s Hiroshige Osawa, while Chinese amateur sensation Zou Shiming finally fights for a world belt against Prasitsak Phaprom.
Shiming defeated the Thai fighter on points in late 2014, and will hope to do so again.
Fellow Olympic gold medalist Robson Conceicao makes his professional debut in the second match of the night against Clay Burns.
Rio stars in action
Belfast’s Jamie Conlan warms up for an impending WBO world title eliminator on Saturday night against 20-year-old Hungarian David Koos.
The undefeated Conlan will fight in front of his home fans at the Titanic Exhibition Centre, and the 30-year-old has established a reputation as a very exciting boxer.
Conlan’s recent wars with Junior Granados and Anthony Nelson were both epic clashes, with the 17-0 star coming through difficult situations in both bouts.
Weaknesses have been shown in his defensive arsenal, but Conlan’s heart and toughness often compound his technical shortcomings, and he should have no issues with Koos who has lost twice on British soil before, including against Prince Patel last year.
Koos drew his last bout with a 19-year-old debutant, and should have little to offer Conlan who has bigger things on the horizon.
Two-time Olympic bronze medallist and twitter superstar Paddy Barnes makes his professional debut on the undercard against Bulgarian journeyman Stefan Slavchev.
It’s a disappointing opponent for the heralded amateur, who at 29-years-old and fighting at flyweight needs to be moved through the paid ranks quickly.
The best fight on offer in Belfast is an intriguing light welterweight bout between 11-1 Philip Sutcliffe Jnr and Welshman Chris Jenkins.
Sutcliffe Jnr narrowly lost to Anthony Yigit away from home in May, while Jenkins is coming off two very close, but ultimately unsuccessful British title fights against Tyrone Nurse.
Expect an intriguing battle displaying a variety of styles. Jenkins is a cagey fighter who prefers to use his boxing skills rather than trade, while his opponent carries a power advantage.
A range of Irish prospects complete the card, including heavyweights Con Sheehan and Sean Turner, plus cruiserweight Gary Sweeney.
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