Jessie Vargas eyes Manny Pacquiao after impressive title defense

TAPEI – Following Manny Pacquiao's one-sided victory Saturday at Cotai Arena in Macau over Chris Algieri, promoter Bob Arum said the Filipino superstar has his eye on a world champion from Las Vegas as his next opponent.

That would be Floyd Mayweather Jr., but despite all of the recent optimism, the odds are still against that fight occurring.

But if the most prominent fighter from Las Vegas isn't willing to sign on the dotted line to fight Pacquiao, then another one is all but frothing at the mouth, begging for the opportunity. Jessie Vargas, who successfully defended his WBA junior welterweight title against Antonio DeMarco on Saturday in his first bout under the direction of new trainer Roy Jones Jr., is hopeful his performance was enough to land a match with Pacquiao next year.

Vargas appeared to punch with more power under Jones' direction and put on his most exciting fight in years. He took a wider stance than he'd had in the past and he was far more willing to let his hands go.

Of course, facing DeMarco is nothing like facing a seasoned power-puncher like Pacquiao, but it was a start after a couple of disappointing decisions.

"I was impressed," Jones said of Vargas. "You saw a lot of improvement. It was a start, and he's going to get even better, but we weren't together that long. But he punched a lot better and he looked in command in the ring."

Vargas grew up in Las Vegas as a fan of many of the top Mexican fighters of the last decade, particularly Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera. Pacquiao has victories over both of them and that made a young Vargas angry.

As a pro, Vargas is now 26-0 and is closing in on a fight with Pacquiao.

"Hey Manny Pacquiao, I'm the WBA champion and I hear you want to come down to 140 [pounds]," Vargas said. "Let's make it happen. If you want this title, [fine]. I can go up and take your title, as well. I still have a grudge, to be honest, ever since I was a kid and he beat Morales and Barrera. They were the older lions and Manny Pacquiao was a younger, more hungry fighter.

"But now it's me. Now it's Jessie Vargas who is hungry and looking for an opportunity. I look forward to getting it. I have a great team I believe in and I'm positive I can take it to the next level."

Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach, who also trains DeMarco, said he was not impressed by Vargas. DeMarco was fighting for his younger sister, Mariana Soto, who is battling cancer.

Roach said if DeMarco didn't have such issues, he'd have won the fight.

"If my guy was right, I think he would have won, but it is what it is," Roach said.

If a Mayweather fight doesn't materialize, Pacquiao plans to drop to 140. Roach likes a bout with unified 140-pound champion Danny Garcia.

Arum, though, said he's not sure if a Pacquiao-Garcia fight is makeable. Garcia is promoted by Golden Boy, but Al Haymon is his adviser and Haymon doesn't do business with Top Rank. So it's not clear if Garcia would be available to face Pacquiao.

But if he's not, and of course if Mayweather isn't interested, Vargas very much wants the fight.