Manny Pacquiao will take on WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas of the US when he returns to the ring on Nov. 5, according to the Philippine boxer’s adviser, Michael Koncz.
“Retirement doesn’t suit Manny right now,” Koncz told the Los Angeles Times of the former eight-division world champion. “Boxing is in his blood. When he trains, it’s like a pressure-release valve. You can see a dramatic difference in his mood ... he’s happy. It’s amazing what training and fighting does for him.”
Pacquiao (58-6-2) had announced his retirement after defeating Timothy Bradley in April and was elected to the Philippine Senate in May.
Photo: AFP
His promoter, Bob Arum, last month announced that he would fight again in November.
Arum earlier this week tweeted that he would travel to the Philippines for a meeting on Aug. 10 to discuss the 37-year-old’s return.
Koncz, who will also attend the meeting, said the trio were not discussing a potential opponent, but whether to stage the bout in Los Angeles or Dubai.
“That’s the essence of the meeting,” he added. “Not choosing the opponent. That’s already been done.”
Pacquiao’s unanimous decision win over Bradley was his first fight in nearly a year after his tame loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. He had said he was bringing the curtain down on his career to concentrate on politics and his family.
The 27-year-old Vargas (27-1) beat fellow American Sadam Ali in March to claim the WBO welterweight crown and has won 10 of his bouts via a knockout or stoppage, with his only defeat coming via a points loss to Bradley in June last year.
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