Pacquiao picks Vargas for Nov. 5 return, says Koncz

MANILA, Philippines – It appears that WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas has won the Manny Pacquiao sweepstakes.

Pacquiao’s top adviser Mike Koncz told The Los Angeles Times’ Lance Pugmire that their camp has picked Vargas as the opponent for the Filipino icon’s comeback fight on November 5.

Koncz’s revelation came a few days after Top Rank Inc. chief Bob Arum said he will visit the Philippines sometime next week to finalize the details for Pacquiao’s return.

While it was expected that Pacquiao’s opponent will be determined during the meeting with Arum, Koncz said they will rather focus on the venue.

“That’s (finalizing the venue) the essence of the meeting,” Koncz told The Los Angeles Times. “Not choosing the opponent. That’s already been done.”

Although Arum has already booked the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas as the venue for Pacquiao’s ring return, Koncz said they are also exploring Dubai as an alternative.

Vargas ended up as the top choice for the Pacquiao camp over rising star Terence Crawford, the unified WBC and WBO super lightweight champion who recently impressed in his dominant victory over Viktor Postol.

Even Pacquiao’s longtime trainer Freddie Roach is wary of Crawford that he prefers his prized ward to stay away from the unbeaten American for now.

Koncz shares Roach’s sentiment.

“I don’t like Crawford’s style. I don’t believe it’s a style that suits Manny,” Koncz added.

So is Vargas (27-1, with 10 KOs) an easier path for Pacquiao, who looked good in defeating Timothy Bradley last April?

“In boxing, nothing is easy,” Koncz continued.

“If you train hard, remain focused, things can go your way,” Pacquiao’s adviser said of Vargas, whose lone defeat, interestingly, came against Bradley.