Philippines, 03 Mar 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


PACQUIAO STARTS LIGHT TRAINING FOR VARGAS BOUT


PhilBoxing.com




Starting this week, Filipino fighting Senator Manny Pacquiao will be dividing his time between performing his job as a lawmaker and preparing for his comeback fight with American World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Jessie Vargas.

The newly-elected Senator and his promoter, Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, have just jointly confirmed the Pacquiao-Vargas showdown late last week during the American boxing impresario's visit in Manila.

The 12-round match is set November 5 at the Thomas and Mack Center in the gambling city of Las Vegas.

The date of the fight, the eight-division world champ's 66th, falls exactly during recess in Senate sessions, which start October 22 to November 6.

The initial training regimen, according to the Solon's business consultant Mike Koncz, will consist of light roadwork -- leisure running and jogging -- at the Roxas Blvd. strip, which is just a stone's throw away from the Senate building in Pasay City.

"It will just be for the purpose of doing away with rustiness and excess muscle Manny developed during the three-month interval following his last fight (against Timothy Bradley) last May," Koncz averred.

"We're still looking for a boxing gym near the Senate building where the Senator can start the gym phase of training maybe two weeks from now as training slowly shifts to high gear," Koncz, who flew back to the country with Arum, said.

"The idea is for Manny not to miss sessions, which he promised the Filipinos even before he was elected to the Senate. There is also the possibility of holding his preparations in his own gym in General Santos City during non-session days," he added.

It was after that Bradley fight when the ring icon, then an outgoing congressman, announced his self-imposed retirement in order, he said, to concentrate his time in serving his people more when elected to a higher post as member of the Upper Chamber.

"After all, sessions are held three times a week from Monday to Wednesday, so, he can fly to GenSan Wednesday evening and workout there Thursday to Saturday," Koncz explained.

Koncz said he sees no problem in the setup, adding Pacquiao has been successful in managing his time since entering the world of politics and even when he was still involved in showbiz.

"Nothing to worry about. Manny's always been very busy all his life and he always finds time to rest and do more things," he said.

"He can, for instance, sleep in his Senate office after his early morning roadwork then attend whatever committee meetings there are mid morning and the session in the afternoon. No problem really," Koncz said.

The lone press conference scheduled to announce the fight will be held September 8 at the Beverly Hotel in Los Angeles, according to Koncz.

Photo: The fighting senator discusses training plans with Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, business consultant Mike Koncz and wife Jinkee at his Senate office. Photo by Wendell Rupert Alinea / OSMP.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: Boxing—A Spectacle of Masses and Millennial Stages
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Tue, 03 Mar 2026
  • Golden Boy Promotions Vs Virgil Ortiz Jr going to arbitration?
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 03 Mar 2026
  • Boxlab Promotions Signs Undefeated Nicaraguan Knockout Artist Jordan “La Cobrita” Orozco
    , Tue, 03 Mar 2026
  • STACKED MARCH 14 UNDERCARD SHOWCASES GOLDEN BOY’S NEXT GENERATION OF CHAMPIONS 
    , Tue, 03 Mar 2026
  • The Perfect Boxing Prospect 12-0 Marco Romero
    , Tue, 03 Mar 2026
  • Quietly formidable boxers Kristian Prenga & Pyrce Taylor continue Their assault on the heavyweight division
    , Tue, 03 Mar 2026
  • “Prince” Albert Pagara Flies to Perth for WBC Australasia Title Fight
    By Carlos Costa, , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • Ryan Daye vows a dominant standout performance in WBC title Clash March 13 in Perth Thunderdome 53
    , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • Moncal, Mag-aso rule Legacy Run
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • Lavant Brownlee Earns Gold, Lorenzo Patricio Earns Silver at Strandja 2026 Boxing Tournament
    , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • Influencer Brooklyn Barwick Disputes hometown decision for NBA Americas Featherweight title
    , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • HALL OF FAMER WINKY WRIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN 2026 HALL OF FAME INDUCTION WEEKEND FESTIVITIES
    , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • Reyes Siblings New Champions in US chess tourney
    , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • Lorenzo Parra Delivers Stunning Second-Round Knockout at Sold-Out Manny Pacquiao Promotions Event at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y.
    , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Almacen Bros Score Knockout Wins in Exciting Brico Santig Show in Thailand Live on TrillerTV
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Lorenzo Patricio and Lavant Brownlee Advance to Gold Medal Round in Bulgaria
    , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • HALL OF FAMER TIMOTHY BRADLEY JR. TO RETURN TO CANASTOTA FOR 2026 HALL OF FAME INDUCTION WEEKEND
    , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Paras stops Abcede in 2nd round
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Undefeated Welterweight Ruben Aguilar Stops Luis Lopez in Eight Brutal Rounds in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’ at University of Texas in Arlington
    , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Patricio, Brownlee and Awinongya Enter Medal Rounds on Day Five of Strandja 2026 Boxing Tournament
    , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Matthew James Sugatan wins Flash-ADV 160 9-Ball Tournament at Pacman's Cue Club; pockets P30,000
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • IM Arca finishes in eight place in Pacquiao chess; NM Ilar pockets P100,000
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • DC Half Marathon on March 8 at Freedom Park
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Athletics Festival Season 4 on March 21-22
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Nuñez vs Navarrete: Knuckle Up for a Certified Banger
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 28 Feb 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.