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.
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