Aminado si eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao na kailangan niya ang impresibong panalo upang masungkit ang posibilidad ng rematch sa nagretiro nang si dating pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Hahamunin ni Pacquiao si WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas sa Sabado (Linggo sa Manila) sa Las Vegas, Nevada at nangako naman ang Mexican American na patutulugin ang Pinoy boxer tulad ng ginawa ng kababayang si Juan Manuel Marquez noong Disyembre 8, 2012.
“I cannot afford to look past Jessie Vargas,” sabi ni Pacquiao sa BoxingScene.com. “He is young, strong and hungry.
After (the fight), I will start discussing future options with Bob Arum and Freddie Roach. I want to give the fans a fight to remember. That is my motivation.”
'Pikon daw?' UAAP fan na nag-dirty finger, agaw-eksena sa San Juan Arena!
Tatangkain ni Pacquiao na maging WBO 147 lbs. champion sa ikatlong pagkakataon matapos niya itong matamo noong 2009 hanggang 2012 at noong 2014 hanggang 2015.
Ngayon pa lamang, nasa isip nang marami na mananalo si Pacquiao kaya magkaka-rematch ito kay Mayweather at inialok naman ng kanyang trainer ang laban kay WBO light middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez na isa ring Mexican.
Gusto rin siyang kasahan ni IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook ng United Kingdom na natalo kamakailan via 5th round TKO kay unified middleweight titlist Gennady Golovkin ng Kazakhstan.
“They are all outstanding fighters but, again, looking past Jessie Vargas is not a wise thing to do,” paliwanag ni Pacquiao. “I saw what he did to Sadam Ali and to Timothy Bradley. This is the only fight on my mind.”
Naniniwala rin si Pacquiao na mapatutunayan niya sa laban kay Vargas na makatutulong siya sa kanyang mga kababayan at isa pa rin siyang pound-for-pound fighter.
“My thinking was, and still is, I want to continue boxing for as long as I still love boxing and boxing still loves me. Boxing is my passion and it has helped me to give back to my people. The money I earn in the ring has helped me to build and donate over 1,000 houses, so far, to those who otherwise would have no shelter,” ani Pacquiao.
“I also want to prove that I am still one of the best pound-for-pound fighters. This is my chance to make history by becoming the first sitting senator to win a world title.”
“When my career finally ends I do not want to look back and wonder if I missed any opportunities. No regrets.”
(Gilbert Espeña)
