Coming into this weekend’s WBO welterweight title fight in Las Vegas, champion Jessie Vargas could be forgiven for having a slight chip on his shoulder.

After all, he is the defending champion this weekend but not much is being mentioned about him. All the talk surrounds his more renowned rival and worldwide star Manny Pacquiao.

But Vargas is no slouch. A two-weight world champion who’s only defeat in his pro career thus far has come to Tim Bradley.

He is a capable operator who is also a vastly improved world champion.

There was some speculation that those within the Pacquiao camp were concerned about their man’s training schedule not been a full-time one on boxing ahead of this fight.

Given the fact he also had to keep up a full-time Senatorial political job up while somehow training for a world title fight.

Perhaps this has also lit a further fire under Vargas, if he even needed any more motivation at all that is.

Maybe he’s thinking to himself who does Pacquiao think he is not taking him totally serious and working full-time around training for a genuine world title fight?

In the run up to the fight while speaking to the folks at Top Rank YouTube, Vargas said:

“I’m 27 years old. I’m in my prime. I have all it takes to beat Manny Pacquiao. I’m going to whoop Manny Pacquiao’s a**. November 5th – you don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m going to shut your mouth.”

No one can deny that Vargas is not up for the fight. Judging by those remarks at least.

The bookmakers have ever so slightly come in on their odds on Vargas this week too. I’ve noticed his odds have slightly shortened and he is not such an underdog as he was when the bout was initially announced.

Maybe the bookies are thinking to themselves that Pacquiao’s two jobs could have a detrimental effect on the Filipino icon on Saturday night?

Time will tell.

For the full pre-fight documentary video on Pacquiao vs Vargas check it out right here via the folks at Top Rank YouTube (hat tip and credit):