How well does Vargas match up with Pacquiao?
— -- As far as the history of brief retirements in boxing is concerned, Manny Pacquiao barely gave himself enough time to fall out of shape.
Pacquiao (58-6-2), the Filipino legend who was recently elected to the senate in his native country, found enough time in his schedule to train for his return just a handful of months removed from his April retirement.
At 37, Pacquiao will challenge current 147-pound titlist Jessie Vargas (27-1, 10 KOs) on Saturday in a pay-per-view main event at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
Vargas, 27, enters the bout fresh off a ninth-round TKO over previously unbeaten Sadam Ali to capture the vacant title in March. Pacquiao rebounded from a 2015 loss to Floyd Mayweather when he impressively outpointed Timothy Bradley Jr. in April to close out their trilogy.
Here's a look at how the two fighters match up in 12 different categories:
Round 1: Power
When it comes to Pacquiao, the same adage has always been true: His speed is his power. Despite the fact that he hasn't recorded a knockout this decade, it's the shots you don't see coming that still remain the most dangerous. Even at 37, no one in boxing is better at landing punches from awkward angles than Pacquiao, which gives him the edge. The pair of knockdowns he recorded against Bradley in April confirms this, as did the six he added against Chris Algieri in 2014. Vargas, meanwhile, has turned his overhand right into a one-punch weapon seemingly out of nowhere, using it to stop Ali in March and badly hurt Bradley late in Round 12 in 2015. But he had never been known as a big puncher before this, with his stoppage of Ali having snapped a streak of 11 fights that went the distance, including the loss to Bradley.
Advantage: Pacquiao
Round 2: Experience
Vargas has held world titles in two divisions and has steadily increased his level of competition in recent years after a successful amateur career. But it's almost unfair to compare any active fighter to Pacquiao when it comes to experience. PacMan is the only boxer in history to win world titles in eight weight classes and has a r?sum? littered with current and future Hall of Famers. He has fought (and mostly defeated) every style imaginable while regularly seeking out difficult challenges along the way. It's unlikely we will ever see a fighter rise as dramatically in weight as Pacquiao did over a three-year span beginning in 2008, when he captured world titles from 130 to 154 pounds.
Advantage: Pacquiao
Round 3: Speed
It's almost absurd how Pacquaio has been able to retain (not to mention rely) on his explosive hand and foot speed at 37. He remains one of boxing's truly elite fighters and proved in his convincing victory over Bradley in April just how futile it was to suggest father time had caught up with him in his high-profile loss to Floyd Mayweather one year earlier. It's no secret he has slowed down and certainly isn't the same ball of unrelenting fire he was when he first arrived in the division. But his quickness is still top notch for the division, and he has avoided ever looking his age. If recent performances against a common opponent in Bradley are any indication, Pacquaio should hold a significant speed advantage against the flat-footed Vargas, who will need to rely on timing.
Advantage: Pacquiao
Round 4: Durability
There's a case to be made for Vargas in this category, considering he has never been stopped and has been dropped just once, when a body punch from Wale Omotoso briefly caused him to touch his knee to the canvas three years ago. His case only increases when you consider the fact that Pacquiao has been stopped three times, including being knocked cold by Marquez in one of the most vicious one-punch stoppages in boxing history. But Vargas' case becomes inconclusive when you look at the number of dangerous punchers he has faced compared to Pacquiao, who has never lacked for toughness or a great chin.
Advantage: Pacquiao
Round 5: Tenacity
There was a time in Pacquiao's career, before his legendary skill set completely matured under the guidance of Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach, when tenacity alone camouflaged his raw technique and predictable style. Simply keeping him off of you was half the battle. It remains essentially his calling card and the foundation for his success as even an aging Pacquiao still relies on multipunch combinations and explosive bursts in and out of his opponents' punching range. He holds a considerable edge in this regard on Vargas, who typically doesn't throw enough punches or attack the body as frequently as critics believe he should. This has led to him sweating out a handful of close decisions.
Advantage: Pacquiao
Round 6: Stamina
When was the last time you saw Pacquiao fading late in a fight or coasting his way to the finish line? Outside of a relatively tame performance late against Mayweather, in which he was either nursing a right-shoulder injury or simply unwilling to excessively gamble in the face of Floyd's frustrating mastery, no one outworks Pacquiao. He can still give you 12 hard rounds, even with nagging calf pain which has threatened to tame him at times in the second half of his career. Vargas has 10 years of youth on his side in this fight and has looked good late in his last two fights. But he has just as equal a track record of looking pedestrian in the final rounds, only to receive the benefit of the doubt from some generous judging more than once.
Advantage: Pacquiao
Round 7: Versatility
While there's a good argument to be made that Pacquiao is a more cautious and less explosive fighter in recent years as a result of his knockout loss to Marquez, the experience has helped his steady evolution into a more complete boxer. Pacquiao can box from the outside and rely on his speed just as well as he exchanges flurries on the inside. He can also hurt opponents with both hands and routinely lands punches from unforeseen angles. Vargas, meanwhile, has struggled with the label of being a basic, predictable fighter who uses his jab to set up his right hand. He doesn't throw enough combinations and typically marches forward in a straight line. Mayweather may have been able to brilliantly confuse Pacquiao and make him appear one-dimensional, but he remains a world of problems for just about everyone else.
Advantage: Pacquiao
Round 8: Defense
Although he has evolved into more of a counterpuncher in recent fights, Vargas remains very much a traditional boxer who stands behind his guard and looks to trade punches. With that has typically come a respectable level of defense. And it's not that Pacquiao is a reckless fighter by any means, especially at this stage of his career. But his aggressive style of darting forward does leaves him more vulnerable to big shots than the average fighter. Give Vargas the slight edge.
Advantage: Vargas
Round 9: Technique
Roach has done well over the years to help Pacquiao blend technique with his naturally raw and unorthodox style. But he's still a whirling dervish at heart and not the exact technical fighter as Vargas, who has a good jab and is an accurate puncher. The best example of Vargas' craft is the development of his dangerous overhand right, which he disguises nicely by dipping down and bending at the waist before firing straight down the middle. It's the one punch that gives him a chance against Pacquiao, and it relies upon perfect technique to surprise, which Bradley and Ali can equally attest to.
Advantage: Vargas
Round 10: Current form
Pacquiao may still be an elite fighter at 37 and one who is likely to reappear on most pound-for-pound lists should he defeat Vargas following a brief retirement. But he's still a good deal removed from being the same guy he was in career-defining victories against the likes of Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto. Those weren't just great performances and versions of himself, they were all-time great and borderline superhuman. In relation to their absolute primes, Vargas holds the advantage. At 27, he continues to improve and is in the midst of finding out his true potential. He's also fresh off the breakthrough performance of his career in his ninth-round TKO of Ali.
Advantage: Vargas
Round 11: Corners
This one is not even close. Roach is not only already a Hall of Famer and one of the most respected trainers in history, he plays as much of a fatherly role as he does friend to Pacquiao. Vargas, meanwhile, has had a revolving door in his corner in recent years. Current trainer Dewey Cooper, who made his debut with Vargas in March, is the fighter's fourth different trainer over his last six bouts and five overall in his career.
Advantage: Pacquiao
Round 12: Wild card
If there's one strategy that would make the most sense for Vargas to employ against Pacquiao, it's the blueprint laid down by Marquez. The Mexican veteran relied on a combination of perfect timing, good footwork and the toughness to dig deep and be willing to punch with Pacquiao in order to land big shots and offset his speed disadvantage. Vargas is by no means the same class of fighter as Marquez, who is rightfully destined for the Hall of Fame. But he has a similar style and has worked hard to develop a legitimate right hand. He also has one other thing going for him: size. Vargas is nearly five inches taller than Pacquiao and holds a four-inch reach advantage. Landing one big shot to hurt Pacquiao and alter the course of the fight is, in many ways, Vargas' only chance to win. But he's facing an opponent with the kind of fighting style that just might open the door for that one chance if Pacquiao darts in and the taller and longer Vargas can time his answer perfectly.
Advantage: Vargas