Jessie Vargas: “You’re in the ring to take care of business and I believe that I have what it takes to beat Manny Pacquiao”

The long awaited fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao is once again gaining steam, and while talks have started for a 2015 fight, most still feel that the fight will never happen and there are some boxers in the sport that are hoping just for that so they can have their own opportunity to face one the mega stars of boxing. In part 2 of my “On The Ropes” boxing radio interview with Jessie Vargas, I get his thoughts on how a fight between himself and Manny Pacquiao would play out. Vargas also shared his views on Mayweather-Pacquiao and what direction he will go in if that fight is made. Additionally, Jessie speaks on what he has learned from the different trainers he’s worked with and talks about when fans can see him back in the ring. Here is what Jessie Vargas had to say.

Jenna J: If you did get a chance to fight Manny Pacquiao, what kind of fight do you believe that would be?

Jessie Vargas: It would be a great fight. I believe it would be a war, a very competitive match up that the fans would really enjoy. I know it because I don’t back down and he’s a puncher and I’m a puncher. I would elevate my game being in front of a fighter like Manny Pacquiao, it would make me perform that much better.

I have a lot of respect for Manny Pacquiao but once you’re in the ring, you’re in there to take care of business and I believe that I have what it takes to beat him, I truly believe so. I would like the opportunity, that way I could show the fans who Jessie Vargas really is. All I need is that opportunity.

I believe I’m in the position that Julio Cesar Chavez was when he fought ‘Azabache’ Martinez and no one believed in him and he came out with the victory and he knocked him out. Also when Sugar Ray Leonard fought Wilfred Benitez and no one believed in Sugar Ray and that’s when a star was born. I truly believe that I’m in that position and it’s all about rising to the occasion. I hope we get this opportunity but whatever comes, we’ll be ready for.

Jenna J: What do you think you will need to do to be able to defeat Manny Pacquiao?

Jessie Vargas: First of all it would be a great fight because I wouldn’t back down and Manny Pacquiao doesn’t back down either and we would just go at it. It would be a chess match but at an extremely fast pace. I would pick his weak spots, I’d look at his most recent fights and see what his weaknesses are as well as what he is strong in.

Roy Jones Jr. is working on a gameplan for Manny Pacquiao just in case we do get the opportunity. He’s already working on it and I believe that he’ll come up with a great gameplan. If you leave it up to Roy Jones Jr, you’re leaving it up to one of the greatest fighters up there. Having him in a corner, he’s coming up with a gameplan and I’ll be sure to execute it if the fight happens. We have high hopes for it and we hope it does happen.

Jenna J: One thing that can keep that fight from happening is a potential fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather. Do you think that fight will happen? If it does happen, how do you think that fight plays out?

Jessie Vargas: We’ve been waiting for that fight for years but it hasn’t happened, we don’t know if it will happen. Who knows, if you put Jessie Vargas in the mix, I might break those talks, you never know.

I don’t know how that fight would play out, you would have two great fighters in the ring and it would be a chess match. I can’t really say. One is a very aggressive fighter and the other one is a counter puncher. It’s a fight that the fans can’t really choose a side, all they can do is just sit back and enjoy the fight.

Jenna J: If you don’t get a Manny Pacquiao fight, a fight that could present itself is you versus Danny Garcia. How much would you be looking forward to having that particular fight?

Jessie Vargas: I would love that fight, I think that it’s a great match up. I think we have a lot of great fights that could be made, that being one of them. He’s an undefeated fighter, I’m an undefeated fighter, I think it would be a great fight and I would love for it to happen. Now Golden Boy and Top Rank are working together so it’s a fight that could possibly happen in the near future.

We just have to wait and see; right now we don’t have any fight scheduled so everything is open. We just have to wait and see, I know my promoter Bob Arum and my manager are working on something now. I believe that fight definitely could happen.

Jenna J: Most fighters say they learn a little bit from every trainer that they work with. You’ve with Roger Mayweather and Roberto Alcazar in the past, what have you learned from both of them that you have implemented in your game?

Jessie Vargas: Yeah I’m thankful to be in the position that I’m at where I can learn from these great trainers. For one reason or another we’re not together now but I was able to learn from them and maybe that’s why I’m so versatile, maybe that’s why I can switch up a style from one round to the next in an instant. I can brawl on the inside, I can box, I can counter punch, and maybe that may be why.

I thank them for everything that they showed me, they’re great trainers and I’m thankful to have learned what they showed me but now I’m with Roy Jones Jr. who’s one of the greatest and I’m happy to be in this position. I hope that I can finish my career with Roy, he has a lot of knowledge and I’m looking forward to a long future together.

Jenna J: When are you realistically expecting yourself to be back in the ring?

Jessie Vargas: I’m not sure, I haven’t spoken to my manager or my promoter at this moment. I’ve just been enjoying the most recent victory and enjoying my time off. Just off the top of my head, I’d say maybe some time in April. As soon as I get the call, we’ll see what options are out there.