Philippines, 15 Mar 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


RELEVANCE PUMPED INTO PACQUIAO BOUT


PhilBoxing.com




SEN. Manny Pacquiao was scheduled to leave Wednesday night for Beverly Hills, California, to link up with WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas in a press conference scheduled on Friday. The affair can only be expected to help push sales for the Pacquiao-Vargas title bout scheduled in Las Vegas on Nov. 5.

Pacquiao said he hopes to return on Sunday to resume his work in the Senate and continue training for the Vargas assignment.

?I?m not underestimating Vargas, the reason I?m following my training schedule properly,? Pacquiao told the Manila Times.

* * *

Pacquiao, who started light training last week, said he runs in the morning before going to work in the Senate. He goes to do gym work in the afternoon.

His handlers said Pacquiao has started to regain speed and power, adding the preparations for Vargas would go full-blast upon the scheduled arrival of chief trainer Freddie Roach next month.

For the record, Top Rank Inc., after announcing Pacquiao would un-retire following a four-month furlough, had thought of pairing the newly minted Philippine senator against the unbeaten unified world light welterweight champion Terence Crawford of Omaha.

* * *

As his busy schedule in the Senate would not allow Pacquiao to sustain proper preparations for a major fight, a consensus was reached to have him fight Vargas instead.

The Nov. 5 championship was however initially regarded as irrelevant (for Pacquiao) in most boxing circles.

Vargas, in fact, yesterday continued to be an awful 10-1 underdog among book makers around Las Vegas.

* * *

Anyway, in a lively turn, international promoter Bob Arum announced that WBO superbantamweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. would be seeing action in the Nov. 5 card.

Of course, that bout cannot be regarded as mere added attraction, considering Donaire has been pitted against the sensational Mexican warrior Jessie Magdaleno, 23-0-0, 17 KOs.

The Donaire-Magdaleno title bout, with its significance, could only be expected to be drum-beat as a companion main event to the Pacquiao-Vargas title bout.

* * *

Anyway, Vargas himself has not been very pleased at the way his title defense against Pacquiao was being sneered at by pundits and plain fans.

Cried Vargas: ?The first time I touch him, Pacquiao is going to respect me.?

?My power, no doubt, will hold him off and make him think twice about merely coming in and imposing his will. Other than power, I have speed and ring intelligence, too. I can be the ring general with my jab and footwork,? Vargas explained.

Vargas said he considers Pacquiao as ?just another fighter.?


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Recah Trinidad.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Donaire's Yokohama Showdown: Can our Filipino Flash Outshine the Rising Sun? (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS)
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Wins Five of Eight Bouts on Day Six
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander surpasses Chamberlain's record of 127 consecutive NBA games with 20 points or more
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • World-Ranked Light Heavyweight Najee Lopez Stops Mexican Terminator Manuel Gallego in Eight Classic Rounds in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Weigh-in from Highland Boxing in Bangkok, Thailand; Dologuin in Action (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS)
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Oval rules 35th CityHeights slugfest
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Sims vs. Barboza and Dickens vs. Cacace Headline Doubleheader on DAZN
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Rubilen Amit sustains amazing run of victories at WPBA Pool in New York
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Weights Set in Anaheim: Barboza Jr. and Sims Jr. Ready for Welterweight War; Collazo Defends Titles
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Rising Young Star Yoenis Tellez Takes on Top Contender Brian Mendoza in New Co-Main Event of PBC Pay-per-View Event Available on Prime Video Saturday, March 28
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Five USA Boxers Qualify for Medal Rounds on Day Six of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Rubilen Amit off to hot start in her WPBA debut
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Pavel Sosulin stops Victor Nagbe to remain unbeaten at IBA Pro 15 in Saint Petersburg
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Nicaraguan Boxing Commission hold Annual Awards to 2025 winners
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • BARBOZA JR. VS. SIMS JR. FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Skye Nicolson Headlines Huge Matchroom Boxing Homecoming in Melbourne as New Kayo Sports TV Era Begins on April 29
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Five Boxers Advance on Day Five of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Canoy to fight Balidio on March 14 in Matanao
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Weights From ProBoxTV’s ‘Lopez vs. Gallegos’ at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Florida, Tomorrow Night at 8 pm EDT
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Jonny Mansour Takes on William King as One Half of a Double Main Event at Frontwave Arena’s SD Fight Night: Family Business on Saturday, April 18, 2026
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Rising Contender Jalen “Skywalker” Walker Signs with Wise Owl Boxing
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: Unsung Heroes and the Value of Service
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Thu, 12 Mar 2026
  • Ronald, eldest son of boxing legend Tommy Hearns, will be his guardian and conservator
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 12 Mar 2026
  • Remembering Gilberto Mendoza in the 10th Anniversary of His Passing
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 12 Mar 2026
  • Air Force, Elite teams in Best of the Best Karate tourney
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 12 Mar 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.