PACQUIAO VS. VARGAS AND DONAIRE VS. MAGDALENO IN THE SAME CARD
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 31 Aug 2016
Top Rank boss Bob Arum made a big announcement involving the top two Filipino boxers. Senator Manny Pacquiao and Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire will be featured in as co-main events this coming November 5, 2016 at the Thomas and Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nevada.
If the card pushes through it will be one for the books. The WBO welterweight championship against world champion Jessie Vargas will highlight Pacquiao gunning for his 17th world title (including lineal, The Ring and IBO belts) in eight weight divisions.
On the other hand, Donaire will defend his 11th world title (including interim, lineal, The Ring and IBO belts) in five weight divisions, the WBO superbantamweight crown most probably against Jessie Magdaleno.
The matchup will promote the two great world champions from General Santos, Philippines against the two Jessie's from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, with both Americans living at the entertainment capital of the world. Magdaleno (23-0-0, 17 KO's) was also born in Las Vegas while Vargas (27-1-0, 10 KO's) in Los Angeles, California, both from Mexican parents.
Magdaleno is the number one WBO contender, undefeated and dangerous, has knocked out Filipino Rey Perez in the seventh round in his last bout. Magdaleno also won by unanimous decision over Raul Hirales, the same Mexican fighter who lost to Prince Albert Pagara by lopsided decision at the Waterfront Hotel, Cebu City.
Donaire has since collected four straight wins (over Brazilian William Prado, French Anthony Settoul, Mexican Cesar Juarez and Hungarian Zsolt Bedak) after losing his WBA (Super) featherweight title to Jamaican Nicholas Walters.
According to Arum, the Pacquiao and Donaire double-header will attract more Filipino fight fans to the Thomas and Mack Center which could accomodate more than 6,000 people. Charged at a very low 50 dollars, he expects our countrymen to pack the venue to personally witness the two former pound-for-pound contenders.
The addition of Donaire-Magdaleno WBO championship will toss in interest in the otherwise lackluster reception of the Paquiao-Vargas tussle. Pacquiao had won handily over Timothy Bradley, Jr. (116-110 thrice) who outpointed Vargas (115-112, 116-112, 117-111) in the controversial interim world title fight for the same WBO welterweight belt.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Nagoya Nightmare: Naoya Inoue Notches One-Sided Decision over Murodjon Akhmadaliev
Mon, 15 Sep 2025Inoue’s Philippine Connection: Which Pinoy Super Bantamweight Could Challenge “The Monster?”
By Carlos Costa, Mon, 15 Sep 2025Yoseline Perez Advances to the Finals at the World Boxing Championships Perez Set to Face Chinese Taipei’s Hsiao-Wen Huang for 54-Kilogram World Title
Mon, 15 Sep 2025Canelo Gets Outboxed, Loses Undisputed Title to Crawford
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 14 Sep 2025A Masterpiece of Boxing: Terence Crawford Dethrones Canelo Alvarez in Historic Showdown
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 14 Sep 2025LEWIS CROCKER IS CROWNED THE NEW IBF WORLD WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION
Sun, 14 Sep 2025Battle of Undefeated: Callum Walsh Vanquishes Fernando Vargas Jr.
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 14 Sep 2025Undercard Inferno: Mbilli and Martinez Deliver a Super Middleweight War Ending in a Thrilling Draw
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 14 Sep 2025Crawford to defy odds?
By Joaquin Henson, Sun, 14 Sep 2025Clash of Titans: The Final Predictions for Canelo Álvarez vs. Terence Crawford
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 14 Sep 2025Weigh-In Results: Naoya Inoue vs. Murodjon Akhmadaliev
Sun, 14 Sep 2025Inoue and Akhmadaliev Make Weight for Sunday's Battle, Watch it LIVE on Facebook!
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 14 Sep 2025IIEE North Cotabato and Metro Central are the Golden Champion on 3x3 Basketball and 3x3 Chess
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 14 Sep 2025Sydney Sy Tancontian is Female Awardee of Sports Hero of the Year
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 13 Sep 2025Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford: Size Matters
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 13 Sep 2025