Manny Pacquiao vs Jessie Vargas weigh-in live stream: Watch online
Manny Pacquiao will end his brief retirement on Saturday when he returns to the ring to challenge WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas. Live stream the pre-fight weigh-in right here.
The weigh-in for Manny Pacquiao-Jessie Vargas begins at 5:30 p.m. ET. Don’t expect anything dramatic or shocking, as Pacquiao always comes in well below the welterweight limit of 147 pounds. And Vargas, perhaps because of his significant underdog status, is supremely motivated for this fight and will likely be in peak condition.
Here’s a list of the significant, championship fights on Saturday’s Pacquiao-Vargas card:
- Jessie Vargas (27-1, 10 KOs) vs. Manny Pacquiao (58-6-2, 38 KOs) — for Vargas’ WBO welterweight title.
- Nonito Donaire (37-3, 24 KOs) vs. Jessie Magdaleno (23-0, 17 KOs) — for Donaire’s WBO super bantamweight title.
- Oscar Valdez (20-0, 18 KOs) vs. Hiroshige Osawa (30-3-4, 19 KOs) — for Valdez’s WBO featherweight title.
- Zou Shiming (8-1, 2 KOs) vs. Prasitsak Phaprom (39-1-2, 24 KOs) — for the vacant WBO flyweight title.
Other than Manny Pacquiao-Jessie Vargas, the Donaire-Magdaleno bout carries some legitimate intrigue. Donaire, who was once regarded as a pound-for-pound stalwart, is looking, at age 33, to make one more run at marquee fights. Magdaleno, a hard-hitting, talented young contender, is eyeing his first world title and truly significant victory.
Oscar Valdez is rapidly developing into one of the sport’s must-see fighters due to his combination of boxing skills and explosive punching power. Expect Valdez to deliver the night’s most decisive performance — likely via spectacular, early knockout.
As for Zou Shiming, it’s time to ultimately see whether the 35-year-old, three-time Olympic medalist can win a professional title. Shiming, of course, lost his first bid for a championship when he dropped a decision to then-IBF flyweight titlist Amnat Ruenroeng, so this is likely his last chance to score what would be heralded as a significant moment for boxing in China.
Ultimately, though, all eyes will be on Manny Pacquiao, which is unfortunate for Jessie Vargas. Make no mistake, Vargas in an excellent young fighter, but many are expecting Pacquiao to dominate and perhaps score his first stoppage since 2009. If Pacquiao can deliver, bigger fights loom — the question is whether he wants them.