5. Errol Spence – Chris Algieri winner
Errol Spence is being touted by many as the future of the welterweight division. The unbeaten southpaw is in the top 10 of all four governing bodies so a title shot in 2016 looks all but certain. Former 140lb champ Chris Algieri will hope a win over Spence will leapfrog him to a title fight later in the year. Both men would give Vargas a good fight. From the speed and punch variety of Spence, to the movement and toughness of Algieri. The chance of this fight happening is slim. Both Spence and Algieri are advised by Al Haymon, who does not do much business with Vargas’s promoter, Top Rank.
4. Danny Garcia
27-year-old Danny Garcia became a two-weight world champion early this year when he beat Robert Guerrero for the vacant WBC welterweight strap. Vargas has said in the past his desire to face the man from Philadelphia and with both men holding world titles, a unification fight would be appealing. Garcia used good foot movement against Guerrero and his power is well respected. Vargas is the taller of the two and his boxing ability is sometimes underestimated.
Garcia is one of Al Haymon’s top clients, so a potential Garcia-Vargas matchup looks to be put on the shelf for now.
3. Kell Brook
IBF welterweight king Kell Brook is facing his mandatory challenger Kevin Bizier on March 26th. Brook is expected to beat the Canadian and his handlers Matchroom are already looking to make a big fight for Brook in the summer. Many feel Brook is the number one welterweight in the world and a win over an in-form Vargas could help live up to that credential. After missing out on a domestic mega-fight with Amir Khan, a potential Vargas unification fight could ease the pain, especially if Vargas travels to the UK.
2. Manny Pacquiao – Tim Bradley winner
If Tim Bradley comes out of his third fight with Manny Pacquiao victorious, then a rematch with Vargas looks certain to happen later this year. The two met in June last year when Vargas thought he stopped Bradley late in the 12th round, only to be told the referee believed the 10 second warning was the final bell. The fight went to the scorecards giving Bradley the win. Bradley’s style gave Vargas a lot of problems in their fight so it would be interesting to see how Vargas would adapt in a second instalment. If Pacquiao wins it depends whether the great Filipino will want to continue fighting, after stating he will retire after April 9th to focus on politics.
1. Juan Manuel Marquez
Vargas’s promoter Bob Arum has said that a fight between Vargas and Mexican great Juan Manuel Marquez is a fight he’d love to see and he is not alone. Marquez has said that he wants to fight again this year and Vargas, world champion from Mexican heritage, looks like the perfect comeback opponent. Marquez is a skilful, big-punching counter-puncher who also processes an intelligent jab to set up his attacks. The fight could do big business in Los Angeles. Marquez’s last fight was held at ‘The Forum’ in LA against Mike Alvarado in May 2014.
