Arum bound for Manila to discuss Pacquiao fight; Vargas front-runner?

MANILA, Philippines – Top Rank Inc. chief Bob Arum said he is visiting the Philippines next week to sit down with Manny Pacquiao and talk about the Filipino icon’s comeback fight set this November.

Arum took to Twitter to announce his trip, where he is expected to iron out the details of Pacquiao’s planned bout on November 5, most especially the opponent.

Leaving for Manila next week to meet with @MannyPacquiaoTR to discuss plans for his November 5th bout.

— Bob Arum (@BobArum) August 1, 2016

WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas is now reportedly the front-runner to land a lucrative date with Pacquiao. Vargas, whose record is 27-1, with 10 KOs, recently confirmed with Agence France Press that negotiations are ongoing between his camp and Pacquiao’s.

“I am the WBO welterweight champion and he wants to return to fight for this belt. So I am happy to give him a title shot,” Vargas told AFP.

“The fight is still under negotiation and I can say that soon we will announce it, although I do not want to advance because in boxing everything can change every minute,” he added.

Interestingly, Vargas’ lone defeat came at the hands of Timothy Bradley, the same fighter Pacquiao dominated last April before announcing his retirement.

Unified WBC and WBO light welterweight champion and rising star Terence Crawford was originally tipped to get a crack at Pacquiao, but the tides changed after Freddie Roach recently disapproved of pitting Pacquiao against Crawford soon.

Pacquiao, for his part, was recently mum on the identity of his next opponent, saying he will still discuss it with Arum.

Arum already booked the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas for Pacquiao’s ring return.