Jessie Vargas sees Timothy Bradley as a stepping stone to aM anny Pacquiao fight (Photo : REUTERS/Tyrone Siu )
Jessie Vargas hopes a win over Timothy Bradley on Saturday at the StubHub Center will lead him to a Manny Pacquiao fight.
Pacquiao is looking for a marque opponent before a rematch with Floyd Mayweather and Vargas (26-0, 9 KO) will try to convince him that he is the right man for the job.
The 26-year-old Vargas is the WBA regular super lighweight champion, but he's still looking for a signature win.
Vargas was previously trained by future Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr., but turned to another future Hall of Fame-bound ex-fighter Erik Morales to take over as trainer
Vargas won a clear cut unanimous decision over Antonio DeMarco with all three judges scoring the bout 116-112.
Meanwhile, Bradley feels that a win over Vargas not only give him a fifth world title but will also land him in the Hall of Fame.
The fight is for the interim WBO welterweight title.
The 31-year-old Bradley also wants to make sure that when calls it quits he would have enough money for a lavish lifestyle for him, his manager wife Monica and their five kids.
However, he wants those accomplished within two years when his Top Rank contract expires.
Since Bradley (31-1-1, 12 KO) scored his widely-criticized decision victory over Manny Pacquiao in 2012, he seemed to have been going for a knock out in succeeding fights.
In his next fight after beating Pacquiao, Bradley took massive punishment in trading with Ruslan Provodnikov. Afterward, he experienced prolonged concussion symptoms.
Bradley has since beaten Juan Manuel Marquez, lost a rematch to Pacquiao and drawn with Diego Chaves.
Vargas is about four inches taller and utilizes the jab consistently. Bradley could stay outside and outsmart Vargas but with his tendency to brawl he is expected to force his way inside and go for a knock out.
