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[av_heading heading=’Pacquiao not gunning for knockout win vs Vargas ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
By ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao will not be aiming for a knockout win when he faces World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion Jessie Vargas tomorrow at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao’s strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune and trainer Freddie Roach said that the Filipino boxer will just entertain the possibility of a knockout finish if the opportunity presents itself.
“Knockout win are tough at this level,” Fortune told the media. “This is a world championship fight. All these fighters come in great shape and are prepared to go 12 rounds.”
“If the opportunity for a knockout win comes, it comes. He was never a big puncher at 147,” said Roach. “But I believe Manny still can knockout an opponent. He’s been punching hard on the mitts.”
The last time the 37-year-old Pacquiao scored a knockout victory was in 2009 when he halted Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto in the 11th round. Since then, all his victories went the distance.
Pacquiao was able to score a knockdown against Juan Manuel Marquez in2012 but ended up losing the match via a knockout. He also floored Chris Algieri six times in 2014 but still ended up winning just by decision.
“Hindi naman sa naawa tayo sa mga nakakalaban kaya hindi nina-knockout, pag may opportunity naman na ma-knockout ‘yung kalaban gagawin natin,” said the eight-division world boxing champion.
Pacquiao has a 58-6-2, 38 KOs win-loss-draw ring record. However, he has lost three of his last seven fights: against Bradley, Mexican Marquez and retired boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Meanwhile, the Las Vegas-native Vargas, who captured the WBO welterweight title by beating Sadam Ali last March, boasts an impressive 27-1-0, 10 KOs win-loss-draw ring record./PN
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