Pacquiao vs. Vargas Results: Scorecard, Stats, Top Highlights and Comments

A sense of normalcy sweeps the boxing realm once again after Manny Pacquiao returned from a break to rip the WBO welterweight title away from Jessie Vargas Saturday. 

With Floyd Mayweather Jr. looking on, Pacquiao put on an impressive show of speed for a man 37 years old and with political responsibilities elsewhere, scoring a 114-113, 118-109 and 118-109 unanimous decision.

ESPN Boxing provided the official scorecards:

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The official scorecards for Manny Pacquiao-Jessie Vargas. https://t.co/ErJx5xn2NU pic.twitter.com/K22s4rGGD6

— ESPN Boxing (@ESPNBoxing) November 6, 2016"

The 114-113 number rests as an outlier for a reason—this one wasn't even close. The 27-year-old Vargas looked like a deer in headlights from the onset once Pacquiao demonstrated his speed and heavy hands.

Metrics say it all. According to CompuBox punch statistics, via ESPN.com's Dan Rafael, Pacquiao was efficient in landing 147 of his 409 punches (36 percent), while Vargas spammed, hitting 104 of his 562 (19 percent). 

In other words, the fight went about as expected. Vargas stood in strong and sought the knockout, landing respectable straight shots here and there, though this defensive weakness isn't anything new for Pacquiao.

Pacquiao merely showed off a great chin when he was hit and punished the young former champion for his aggression.

The dominance started early and didn't cease by a large degree. After a feeling-out period in the first round, Pacquiao scored a knockdown. In the third, he already started headhunting for an early finish, as Yahoo Sports' Kevin Iole described:

To his credit, Vargas evened out and cane forward throughout the middle rounds. He took a beating but wouldn't hit the mat again on accord of a punch. He went down twice late, though the referee ruled them as slips.

Pacquiao altered his approach about halfway through the bout, utilizing his right hand more to set up combinations. 

Vargas, having seemingly adapted to the approach the challenger took over the first half of the fight, couldn't keep pace, as Rappler Sports illustrated:

Call it the experience gap between the two. According to CompuBox, the change had Pacquiao hit 15 of his 24 punches in the seventh round and then dominate the eighth as Rappler mentioned above.

Vargas never sought out brutal combinations, perhaps for fear of a counter, but a straight wasn't going to finish Pacquiao. The heavy-handed approach created a few exciting moments but otherwise had him gassed as the fight wound down.

The disparity between the two with Vargas unable to end the bout early wasn't hard to see:

This continued through the final bell, with Pacquiao still landing shots and Vargas slipping to the mat under the duress of the assault.

Immediately after the title exchange, fans knew what would pop up—rumors or wishes for a Pacquiao-Mayweather rematch. 

Many seemed to land on both sides of the fence. Arash Markazi of ESPN.com, for instance, said it isn't worth the time if Pacquiao couldn't finish an inferior opponent such as Vargas:

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As it is no one wants to see Mayweather-Pacquiao II but you can put the rumors to bed for good if Pacquiao can't even finish Jessie Vargas.

— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) November 6, 2016"

Neither Pacquiao nor Mayweather had much to say on the topic. The latter had a simple observation after taking in the fight at ringside, as captured by Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times:

Pacquiao didn't offer much on the subject either, even if he had been smiling and nodding at Mayweather in the crowd before and after the fight, even standing with the strap in the corner and looking down at him.

Rafael captured the Filipino's post-fight thoughts about what comes next and the smooth avoidance of claiming he wants a rematch:

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I'm gonna go back home to the Philippines and back to work in the senate, and then I'll talk to [Top Rank promoter] Bob [Arum] about my next fight. I don't know who the fight will be. Whoever the people want me to fight. I am not picking an opponent. Whoever my promoter gives me, I will fight. Anybody at 147. [Junior welterweight champion Terence] Crawford at 140? Not a problem.

"

With Mayweather yet to give a true indication he wants to return to the sport, the story shouldn't involve him much. It does because he showed up, but the bigger lesson pertains to what a healthy Pacquiao can still do to top-tier competition a decade younger than him when he's healthy.

Saturday's win means Pacquiao can put on a show and encourage strong buyrates regardless of his next opponent. He's still a force worth watching, especially because he might be the top fighter in his weight class.

Back from injury and a so-called retirement, Pacquiao seems like an ageless wonder who is far from hanging up the gloves for good.

Follow Chris Roling (@Chris_Roling) on Twitter.