Jessie Vargas knows a victory over Manny Pacquiao will change his career

Posted on October 28, 2016 by Robert Morales

Jessie Vargas/Photo courtesy of Top Rank Inc.

Jessie Vargas knows one thing – a victory over Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 5 would change his career and his life. He wants that.

“It would definitely put me on the worldwide stage, make me that boxing star that I have been looking forward to being,” said Vargas, who will defend his welterweight title against Pacquiao at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. “I have been waiting for this for a long time and I’m glad it’s here and I am going to take advantage of it. The only fighters to beat Manny Pacquiao have become legends themselves. So I plan to become one of the few to beat Manny Pacquiao and also become one of the legends.”

Vargas, 27, is 27-1 with 10 knockouts. Pacquiao, 37, is 58-6-2 with 38 knockouts.

The card will be available on Top Rank pay-per-view for $59.95.

Jessie Vargas’ trainer Dewey Cooper says he’s improving his fighter’s power

Posted on October 27, 2016 by Robert Morales

Jessie Vargas/Photo courtesy of Top Rank Inc.

Dewey Cooper isn’t the most well-known trainer in the world. But his passionate way of answering questions could help grow his popularity.

Cooper on Thursday was part of a conference call promoting the Nov. 5 welterweight title fight between champion Jessie Vargas and Manny Pacquiao (58-6-2, 38 KOs) at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas (on Top Rank pay-per-view, $59.95). Cooper trains Vargas, who has only 10 knockouts in 28 pro bouts. That’s a low knockout ratio of 36 percent.

But Cooper has been telling reporters that he is improving Vargas’ punching power through various techniques and exercises. He scoffs at the notion that a fighter either has power or he doesn’t, and that one can’t improve upon that power.

By the time Cooper was finished explaining to an inquiring reporter, he had left a lasting impression.

“He feels it,” Cooper said of Vargas’ newfound heavier punch. “He feels it in his knuckles, he feels it in his forearm when he hits, he feels it in his hip when he hits and it’s a natural thing, guys. For anyone in the world to say someone cannot improve on something is just ignorant. We can improve our reading speed, we can improve our running speed, we can improve our strength on a bench press, so why wouldn’t we be able to improve our punching power?

“Everything’s about technique and exercise on the right sports specific move that should make you improve. And that’s all we’ve done. It’s not rocket scientist. We’re just smart enough to know not to limit ourselves and our possibilities. We can do the improbable, we could do the impossible, and that’s exactly what’s going to happen on Nov. 5, guys.”

Vargas (27-1) has had one fight under Cooper. That was March 5 when Vargas stopped Sadam Ali in the ninth round to win the vacant title. Vargas decked Ali twice.

Bob Arum can envision Manny Pacquiao and Vasyl Lomachenko tangling

Posted on October 26, 2016 by Robert Morales

Manny Pacquiao/Photo courtesy of Top Rank Inc.

Manny Pacquiao is a small welterweight. Heck, he wouldn’t even be a big junior welterweight if he were still fighting in that division. It therefore wasn’t shocking to
hear his promoter – Bob Arum – talk about the possibility of Pacquiao at some point taking on super featherweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko.

Pacquiao (58-6-2, 38 KOs) on Nov. 5 will challenge Jessie Vargas for his welterweight belt at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas (on Top Rank pay-per-view, $59.95). Three weeks later – on Nov. 26 – Lomachenko will defend his title against tough Nicholas Walters at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas (on HBO).

At the moment, Pacquiao and Lomachenko (6-1, 4 KOs) are fighting at 147 and 130 pounds, respectively. But Lomachenko told yours truly prior to his most recent bout this past June that he could see himself moving up another weight class or two, meaning lightweight (135 pounds) and as high as junior welterweight (140).

“Yeah, 135 to 140,” Arum said. “Manny, he can fight at 135.”

He can still make that weight?

“That’s what he says, sure,” Arum said Wednesday afternoon at Pacquiao’s camp in Hollywood. “I saw him sparring with Ray Beltran yesterday and Beltran’s a lightweight
and Beltran towered over him. He was so much bigger.”

Manny Pacquiao to arrive at LAX on Saturday night, will finish his training camp for Jessie Vargas at Wild Card

Posted on October 22, 2016 by Robert Morales

Manny Pacquiao/Photo courtesy of Top Rank Inc.

Manny Pacquiao is scheduled to arrive at LAX at 7:30 p.m. Saturday from the Philippines to conclude his training for his Nov. 5 fight against Jessie Vargas. Pacquiao will train the last two weeks at Wild Card Boxing in Hollywood under the watchful eye of his longtime trainer Freddie Roach, who has been in the Philippines with Pacquiao.

Pacquiao (58-6-2, 38 KOs) will challenge Las Vegas’ Vargas (27-1, 10 KOs) for his welterweight title at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas (on Top Rank pay-per-view, $59.95).

Pacquiao has been training in the Philippines until now because of his senatorial duties there.

Pacquiao will be flying in on Philippine Airlines on flight 102. To check the status, go to this link: https://www.philippineairlines.com/en.

Oscar Valdez, Jessie Magdaleno tell fans why they should buy Nov. 5 card that includes Pacquiao-Vargas in main event

Posted on October 21, 2016 by Robert Morales

Jessie Magdaleno

Jessie Magdaleno/Photo courtesy of Top Rank Inc.

The heck with the naysayers. According to Oscar Valdez and Jessie Magdaleno, there are plenty of reasons why fans should buy their Nov. 5 pay-per-view card that will be headlined by Manny Pacquiao challenging Jessie Vargas for his welterweight title at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Indeed, there is not as much buzz for this Pacquiao fight as usual. Valdez and Magdaleno are in title fights on the undercard, and when asked why fans should fork over the $59.95 for the Top Rank-produced feed, they let everyone know why this is a worthwhile purchase.

“Why shouldn’t they?” Magdaleno said Thursday during a workout at Jackrabbit Boxing Club in Long Beach. “They’ve got great, young talent that’s in that ring. They’ve got myself, they’ve got Jessie Vargas, they’ve got Oscar Valdez – two-time Olympian who is now a world champion. They’ve got great upcoming historical guys who are going to make history in the boxing world, and who are going to put on great shows as the years go on.

“… We are the future of boxing and we are action-packed guys who want to put on great shows as great Mexican guys. We want to live to that legend. And that’s what we’re doing. That’s why people should continue buying this pay per view card.”

Magdaleno (23-0, 17 KOs), of Las Vegas, will challenge Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire (37-3, 24 KOs) for his super bantamweight title.

Mexico’s Valdez (20-0, 18 KOs) will make the first defense of his featherweight world title when he squares off with Hiroshige Osawa (30-3-4, 19 KOs) of Japan. Valdez put his own colorful spin on why this is a solid purchase.

“First of all, you’ve got Jessie Magadaleno,” Valdez said. “Hungry lion, as they say, fighting Nonito Donaire, which, Nonito is still a tough, tough fighter. He’s one of the top fighters out there, so that;s going to be a great, great fight. Me, as a fan, I would love to see that fight. In my case, I’m fighting the WBO ranked No. 1 – Osawa. A lot of people don’t know this guy because he mainly did his career in Japan. But he’s still a tough fighter. I don’t take him lightly at all and I never will take a fighter lightly.

“In my case, I’m going to give it my best. … And then, finally, you’ve got this fighter, Pacquiao, fighting Jessie Vargas. Jessie Vargas is not easy. He could beat Pacquiao. Anyone that knows boxing knows that Jessie Vargas could beat Pacquiao. Pacquiao’s still Pacquiao. I still think Pacquiao is going to put up a good fight, he always puts up a good fight. And I think that’s why everyone should buy this fight.”

There is a fourth world-title fight on this card. It will match Zou Shiming (8-1, 2 KOs) of China against Prasitsak Papoem (39-1-2, 24 KOs) of Thailand for a vacant flyweight title.

Trainer Manuel Robles believes Oscar Valdez can become an all-time great

Posted on October 20, 2016 by Robert Morales

Oscar Valdez/Photo courtesy of Top Rank Inc.

Oscar Valdez on Nov. 5 will make the first defense of his featherweight world title when he takes on Hiroshige Osawa (30-3-4, 19 KOs) of Japan underneath the welterweight title fight between champion Jessie Vargas and Manny Pacquiao at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas (on Top Rank pay-per-view, $59.95).

Valdez’s trainer, Manuel Robles, on Thursday spoke as if boxing fans are on the cusp of witnessing another fighter who soon will be considered among boxing’s elite.

“I’ve trained champions like Reggie Johnson, Martin Castillo, Israel Vasquez, Mike Anchondo and now Oscar,” Robles said during a media workout at Jackrabbit Boxing Club in Long Beach. “All of those champions have similarities in how they are focused and how hard they want it. Oscar has all of that. I think he will become one of the greatest champions of all time.”

Valdez’s desire to be all he can be is what will get him there, Robles said.

“Oscar is a world champion for these reasons – dedication, determination, will to win, wants to be the best ever,” Robles said.

Valdez (20-0, 18 KOs) of Mexico, won his title with a second-round stoppage of Matias Rueda of Argentina in July at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Tickets for Vasyl Lomachenko-Nicholas Walters go on sale Wednesday

Posted on October 17, 2016 by Robert Morales

Vasyl Lomachenko

Vasyl Lomachenko/Photo courtesy of Top Rank Inc.

If ever there was a case to use the term “potential Fight of the Year candidate,” it would be regarding the Nov. 26 super featherweight title fight between champion Vasyl Lomachenko and Nicholas Walters at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas (on HBO).

Lomachenko, who won gold medals for Ukraine in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games, will be making the first defense of the title he won with a fifth-round knockout of Roman “Rocky” Martinez in June at Madison Square Garden. Lomachenko (6-1, 4 KOs) also has held a world title in the featherweight division.

Walters, of Jamaica, is a former featherweight champion who once stopped Nonito Donaire in the sixth round of a title fight in October 2014. Walters is a vicious fighter with a record of 26-0-1 and 21 knockouts.

Tickets go on sale Wednesday at 10 a.m. for this Top Rank Inc. card. They are priced at $50, $75, $100, $150 and $200 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster by calling 800-745-3000 or by going to www.ticketmaster.com. Another avenue is going to www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com/.

Promoter Bob Arum uses ticket sales for Manny Pacquiao-Jessie Vargas to take another shot at Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump

Posted on October 17, 2016 by Robert Morales

Donald Trump second debate (Saul Loeb / Associated Press)

Donald Trump speaks to Hillary Clinton during a debate/Photo by Associated Press

Bob Arum has not hid his disdain for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, so it’s not surprising the veteran promoter is using ticket sales for the upcoming Manny Pacquiao-Jessie Vargas welterweight title fight Nov. 5 at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas as a platform to further make those feelings known.

“Our ticket sales are great with Las Vegas fighters on this card in significant world championship fights,” said Arum, who is promoting Pacquiao-Vargas. “Fans in Las Vegas can still buy their tickets online or by phone. And to Mr. Trump’s chagrin, the only drug-testing taking place at Thomas & Mack, between now and Nov. 5, will be the ones given by the Nevada State Athletic Commission to the fighters on the Pacquiao-Vargas card.”

That was a shot at Trump calling for drug-testing for himself and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton ahead of their next debate, which will take place Wednesday at Thomas & Mack.

Ticket prices for Pacquiao-Vargas are $50, $100, $300, $500, $700 and $1,000. They can be purchased at the Thomas & Mack Center box office, which is currently closed and won’t reopen until Thursday because of the debate. Tickets also can be purchased by calling 732-739-3267 or 866-388-3267. Another avenue is www.unlvtickets.com.

Pacquiao-Vargas will be televised by Top Rank pay-per-view for $59.95. Three other world-title fights will fill the undercard, led by Nonito Donaire of the Philippines defending his super bantamweight belt against Jessie Magdaleno of Las Vegas.

Also, Oscar Valdez of Mexico will defend his featherweight belt against Hiroshige Osawa of Japan. And Zou Shiming of China and Prasitsak Papoem of Thailand will square off for a vacant flyweight title.

Prospect Andy Vences will prepare for Nov. 4 fight by sparring with featherweight champ Oscar Valdez

Posted on October 6, 2016 by Robert Morales

Andy Vences

Andy Vences/Photo courtesy of Top Rank Inc.

Andy Vences of San Jose is finally going to get a fight that could help propel him toward his goal of winning a world title.

Vences (16-0, 10 KOs) on Nov. 4 will take on another undefeated fighter – Casey Ramos (23-0, 6 KOs) – in the super featherweight main event from Treasure Island in Las Vegas (on UniMas).

“It’s the biggest fight of my career and is a great opportunity for me to show my talent,” Vences said. “I know a win on Nov. 4 will open a lot of doors for me.”

Vences is in the Los Angeles area this week to spar with featherweight world champion Oscar Valdez of Mexico. Valdez is preparing to defend his title for the first time when he takes on Hiroshige Osawa of Japan on the undercard of the Nov. 5 welterweight title fight between Jessie Vargas and Manny Pacquiao at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas (on Top Rank pay-per-view).

Sparring with Valdez is an inspiration to Vences.

“I know this fight against Ramos is very important and I need to have a great camp and great sparring, and Valdez and his team have allowed us to come down and work with the champ,” said Vences, 25. “He (Valdez) has what I want – a championship. My fight is a big step toward that goal.”

Ramos, 27, is from Austin, Texas.

General admission tickets for this Top Rank Inc. card are $50 and are on sale at the Treasure Island box office. They can also be purchased by calling 800-392-1999 or 702-894-7722.

Art Hovhannisyan wants to put on show Friday in main event at Belasco Theater

Posted on October 5, 2016 by Robert Morales

Art Hovhannisyan addresses reporters at this week’s media workout in Los Angeles/Photo courtesy of Golden Boy Promotions

If Art Hovhannisyan of Glendale stays true to his credo, fans could be in for a good time when he takes on Diego Magdaleno in the junior welterweight main event Friday at Belasco Theater in Los Angeles (on Estrella TV).

“I started my boxing career when I was 12, and was inspired by my favorite boxer, Mike Tyson,” Hovhannisyan said. “I’m the type of fighter that loves to put on a show in the ring.”

Hovhannisyan could have his hands full with Magdaleno, a southpaw out of Las Vegas who is 29-2 with 12 knockouts.

“… I have watched him fight a few times,” Hovhannisyan said. “I know what I have to do in the ring to earn the victory.”

Magdaleno is the older brother of Jessie Magdaleno, who Nov. 5 will challenge Nonito Donaire for his super bantamweight title on the undercard of the Jessie Vargas-Manny Pacquiao welterweight title fight at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas (on Top Rank pay-per-view, $59.95.

Inside Boxing

The sweet science blog from the Los Angeles News Group

Tag Archives: Top Rank Inc.