LAS VEGAS (AP) – Bilis at lakas ng katawan ang sinasabing bentahe ni Jessie Vargas laban kay boxing icon Manny Pacquiao.

Ngunit, para kay Dewey Cooper, tanyag na trainer ng WBO welterweight champion, ang mataas na IQ sa laban ang magdadala sa Mexican fighter sa tugatog ng tagumpay.

Tangan ang 27-1 karta, idedepensa ni Vargas ang titulong dalawang beses nahawakan ni Pacquaio sa Nobyembre 5 sa Thomas and Mack Center sa Las Vegas.

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“We’re not underestimating what Pacquiao can do,” pahayag ni Cooper.

“He’s already put that body of work up. But that’s in his mind. We’re talking about something that’s in [Vargas’] soul instead of something that’s in Pacquiao’s mind. If it’s in your mind, you know you can do it, because you’ve done it before. I know I can drink water because I do it every day. It’s in my mind. But what if this were a 100-pound glass, could he pick it up and drink from it? Probably not.”

Bukod kay Cooper, dumaan din si Vargas sa pagsasanay kina Roger Mayweather, Israel Salas, Roy Jones Jr. at Erik Morales.

“There’s a difference. Jessie has it in his soul to do it. Manny has it in his mind. I keep trying to tell guys, there’s a big [expletive] difference between something that’s in your head and being willing to die for it, man. Big difference.”

Sa edad na 37-anyos, halos kinain na ang buong atensiyon ni Pacquiao ng trabaho bilang Senador ng Pilipinas.

At para kay Cooper, kabilang ito sa tinitignan nilang weakness ni Pacman.

Iginiit naman ni Pacquiao na nauunawaan niya ang katayuan ni Vargas at ang mga pahayag ng kanyang kampo ay natural lamang para sa isang kampeon.

“I understand how he feels right now, because I’ve been there in that situation,” sambit ni Pacquiao.

“But sometimes, we think too much and [don’t consider] our skills.”