How much does Manny Pacquiao have left?

Sub Lead31-Oct-16by John J. Raspanti

By Allan Cerf

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Background: November 5 at the Thomas & Mack Arena, Las Vegas, and on Top Rank PPV for $59.99 it’s Senator Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao ending a brief retirement and taking on Jesse “The New Generation” Vargas.

In 2009 Manny Pacquiao remained the fastest fighter I’d ever seen. More amazing still was the speed with which he acquired English and seemed determined to better the lot of a people who adored him. 2009 was also the last year Pacquiao scored a knockout. In 2009 I had no gray hair. Where did 7 years go?

Jessie Vargas is the “step-up” in Pacquiao’s unfortunate, in my view, decision to continue his ring career in between bouts of being a Senator. Vargas’s most memorable fight was a loss to Tim Bradley - an entertaining affair punctuated by a huge shot which had Bradley nearly gone until the referee, in a move as old as pugilism itself, “heard the bell” a number of seconds before it rang.

Scorecards: (Speed, Power, Defense, Reach, Age, Stamina, Experience)

Manny Pacquiao: A, B+ B, C+ C, B+ A (Average of all) B

Jessie Vargas B- C, B- A- B+ B, B (Average of all) B

Reality Check: Haters note - This is in fact, a far better than average fight - most of Pacquiao’s are. The notable exception, his “concession-speech” affair vs. Mayweather, will unfortunately partly define his career - and fair enough, character. Young at 84, Svengali, Bob Arum/Top Rank, missed a huge opportunity to bolster the sport by charging something far more reasonable. Maybe the Pacquiao brand is still strong enough to garner a shed-load of buys. We’ll see. Unfortunately, the bout is not sixty bucks better than average - the PPV cost.

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Vargas is game as they come and while no Homicide Hank, showed he can pop when he separated Bradley from his senses - only to have the referee - himself as old as Methuselah, ‘accidentally’ lose time.

Jesse says he’s tired of being disrespected. All limited fighters fighting mega-talents say that. I expect a super-motivated for KO Pacquiao to take some significant shots before really laying into the younger man with vast speed and power advantages, around rounds 7-8. A fight with a lot of entertaining exchanges (just not 60 bucks’ worth) will end with a clear-cut decision for Pacquiao.

If Pacquiao was fighting Terence Crawford, I believe he’d lose badly - though as his timing returns

(meaning he fights on) he’ll be almost even money versus Crawford - at least in my solitary view.

Personal: None needed for Manny P. Suffice to say the amiable Vargas really is a Jekyll and Hyde Boxing/Family life monster. He’s not flashy or in trouble. He just does boxing. He just hangs out with family. Okay? Word - A nice, normal guy.

Prediction: 2009 is a distant echo and if Senator Pacquiao fights on, the undisputed, undefeated Father Time will cold cock him. I’m afraid this career will end badly. That’s my further prediction. Pacquiao will still have enough left to defeat Vargas by a (wide) decision Saturday night.