Vargas could be Arum’s backup plan for Pacquiao
Being a boxing promoter is a lot like being a college athletic director. When something falls through in terms of scheduling, there better be a backup plan.
In Bob Arum’s case, he already is formulating Plan B with Manny Pacquiao.
Everyone knows what Plan A is for the Hall of Fame promoter and chairman of Top Rank — a fight next spring with Floyd Mayweather Jr.
But attempts to make this happen in the past five years have been exercises in futility. And while Arum seems more confident than ever that he can get Mayweather in the ring with Pacquiao, he still must be ready to go in a different direction for his No. 1 client.
Enter Jessie Vargas.
The undefeated World Boxing Association junior welterweight champion from Las Vegas kept himself in play for a 2015 date with Pacquiao after a convincing 12-round unanimous decision over Antonio DeMarco on Nov. 22 in Macau fighting on the undercard of the Pacquiao-Chris Algieri main event.
Afterward, Vargas (26-0, nine knockouts) called out Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs), who had just administered a savage beating to Algieri to retain his World Boxing Organization welterweight belt.
So how does Arum sell a Pacquiao-Vargas pay per view?
“Vargas has become a fan-friendly fighter,” Arum said. “He has shown the ability to take a punch and to throw a punch. He deserves to be on the short list for a fight with Manny.
“That said, I’d like to see him on HBO again so people will become more familiar with Jessie before we put him on a pay-per-view with Manny. But we’ll see. Right now, I’m focusing on trying to get this fight with Mayweather done. I will leave no stone unturned to make the Mayweather fight.”
Vargas’ manager, Cameron Dunkin, said it’s about opportunity.
“It’s like when I managed Tim Bradley, I went to Bob and said, ‘Just give him a chance against Manny,’ ” Dunkin said. “It’s the same thing with Jessie. All he needs is a chance.
“Anyone who saw the (DeMarco) fight saw that Jessie comes to fight, that he’s got a ton of guts, and he’s a great kid who is a warrior.”
Dunkin said Vargas is willing to fight Pacquiao at any weight.
“It can be 147. It can be 140. It can be in the middle,” Dunkin said. “Jessie doesn’t care. He just wants a chance to fight Manny. One thing I do know is that Jessie won’t run from Manny for 12 rounds like Chris Algieri did.”
■ NEW CHARLO OPPONENT — Jermall Charlo has a new opponent for his Dec. 13 fight at the MGM Grand Garden, as the junior middleweight from Houston will meet Italian Lenny Bottai in a 12-round International Boxing Federation title elimination bout.
Charlo (19-0, 15 KOs) was to fight Demetrius Andrade on the undercard of the Amir Khan-Devon Alexander welterweight main event, but Andrade could not come to terms financially, so Bottai (22-2, nine KOs) was selected.
■ JACK ON TEXAS CARD — Super middleweight Badou Jack will fight on the undercard of the Dec. 12 WBA junior middleweight title fight between Erislandy Lara and Ishe Smith on a Showtime-televised card in San Antonio.
Jack (17-1-1, 11 KOs) will face an opponent to be determined in a 10-round bout.
Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.