By Miguel Rivera

WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas is very confident in his ability after knocking off unbeaten Olympian Sadam Ali in March to capture the vacant world title.

Vargas, 27-years-old, wants to avenge the defeats suffered by his Mexican idols Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales. For a brief period of time, Vargas was actually trained by Morales.

"A month before the biggest fight of my career so far. I feel good, really. I feel sure of myself, I feel very strong. We are working hard and that's been the difference. I feel quite sure what I'll do in this fight," Vargas told ESPN Deportes.

"I want to keep climbing, this is the fight I was expecting since I was a child. I will fight with a well-respected and well-known figure, one of the best in the world, and this is my chance. Once I beat Pacquiao I will be given a lot of respect and receive recognition to my career. There is a very small list of fighters who have become legends by beating Pacquiao. Morales and Marquez did.

"From what I saw in his last fight with Bradley, I think he was still at his best. I'm glad Manny is in good time in his career, because then no one will have any excuse. I want to beat the best Manny Pacquiao. I like challenges and I want to prove to people what I'm made of and that's why I'm happy with this fight."

Vargas believes that he's capable of getting a knockout victory. He hurt Tim Bradley very badly last year, but lost a twelve round decision. Vargas then showed off his growing power by knocking out Ali. 

"If given the opportunity, if I see an open window, I'll go for [the knockout] - that's the plan. I feel very good with the experience I have now, but I will not come in there with the mentality that I can only win by knockout. I'm coming in there with the mentality of winning every second, every minute of every round. But I will not miss. I have the strength to knock him out, so there shouldn't be any surprise [when it happens]."