Pacquiao vs Vargas: 5 keys to victory for Manny Pacquiao

1) Hold the center of the ring

Because he’s at a size disadvantage against Jessie Vargas, Manny Pacquiao will need to avoid getting trapped along the ropes or in the corners. Naturally, Pacquiao will do some circling and retreating to evade Vargas, but holding the center of the ring will give him more offensive options.

Pacquiao is generally able to dictate ring geography by backing opponents up with aggressive combination punching and by changing his angles — as opposed to merely standing his ground. Pacquiao forces opponents to react to him, which enables him to maneuver opponents into vulnerable positions.

Jessie Vargas will inevitably have moments of hesitation, and that’s when Manny Pacquiao can pounce. And by doing so with authoritative combinations, Pacquiao can both score and force Vargs to retreat, resulting in Pacquiao creating space behind him that he can utilize should Vargas clamp down and start to fight back with abandon.

The importance of feints and angles has already been discussed, but it bears repeating here. Pacquiao obviously knows how to clinch, but he’ll want to avoid excessive wrestling with Vargas. So, if Pacquiao does find himself on his back foot, a well-timed feint, followed by a lateral shift to disrupt Vargas’ advance, should allow him to circle out of danger and reclaim the vital position of aggressor.

In many respects, Manny Pacquiao just needs to be Manny Pacquiao. He may be fighting a young, emerging champion, but Pacquiao’s experience and skills should prove overwhelming. And yet, imposing such advantages always seems clear on paper; what cannot be accounted for is how much Pacquiao has left, and what he’s willing to sacrifice, for his career’s final act.