Pacquiao Returns to Ring to Fight for WBO Welterweight Title

On Saturday, Senator Manny Pacquiao battles Jessie Vargas for the WBO welterweight title at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas as he takes a brief break from his political duties.

Pacquiao said he was going into retirement from boxing and focus on his political career. His announcement was made after his unanimous decision over Timothy Bradley in April.

Despite winning the election to the senate in the Philippines in May, Pacquiao, 37, decided on another challenge in the ring and found it against Vargas. The American pugilist is 10 years younger and enjoys a 4-inch advantage in reach and a 4 1/2 inch height advantage.

Senator Pacquiao (58-6-2), boxing’s only eight-division world champion, is contending to become a three-time WBO welterweight champion.

During the run-up to the bout, Pacquiao said that he feels he still has a lot to prove. “I am not done with boxing. I will continue to keep fighting as long as I love boxing and boxing still loves me. And I do not feel old.”

Furthermore, Manny is fighting for history. He was the first active congressman to win a world title. He wants to be the first senator to become world champion.

According to Pacquiao, it took discipline to manage his time efficiently and to balance his senatorial duties and his training camp. He ran every morning and did his strength and conditioning. He worked with Freddie Roach every evening at the gym after work. “Between the two ‘jobs’ I was averaging 14-hour workdays.”

Vargas on a Mission

Vargas is confident that whipping boxing legend Pacquiao would place him on another level. He would defend the title for the first time after winning it in March.

“It would definitely put me on the world-wide stage, make me that boxing star that I have been looking forward to being,” said Vargas (27-1).

The only fighters to defeat Manny Pacquiao have become legends themselves, he said. Vargas plans to become one of the few to beat Manny Pacquiao.

 

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