Senator Manny Pacquiao returns to the ring in November

Barring any last minute change of mind, Filipino Senator Manny Pacquiao will be heading to the ring come November, the boxing star’s manager announced.

[He was just elected to the Philippine Senate in May, 2016 hence the title “Senator”.]

Pacquiao will return to face World Boxing Organization [WBO] welterweight champion Jessie Vargas.

“Retirement doesn’t suit Manny right now,” Michael Koncz told the Los Angeles Times. 

“It is amazing what training and fighting does for him.”

In Manila, newly elected senator Pacquiao said details of any match would only be ironed out after he meets American promoter Bob Arum on August 9.

“Nothing is final yet,” he told AFP through a spokesman.

After Pacquiao defeated Timothy Bradley on April 9, he announced he was retiring from the sport to devote more time to his political career. 

However, he announced several weeks ago that he would fight again. 

The record eight-division world champion’s next fight will be on November 5, Arum said.

Arum is looking at holding the fight in Las Vegas or Dubai. 

He tweeted last week that he was talking to a group from the Middle East that wants to host Pacquiao (58-6-2).

American Vargas (27-1-0) said Friday he is in talks with Pacquiao’s camp to hold a fight on November 5 at the Thomas & Mack Center arena in Las Vegas.

Koncz told the Times that he would travel with Arum to Philippines next week to meet with Pacquiao and pick a site.

“That’s the essence of the meeting,” Koncz said. “Not choosing an opponent. That’s already done.”

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom’s anti-doping agency – UKAD has slammed doping-related offences charges on world boxing heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.

UKAD revealed it had suspended Fury on 24 June.

That was the day the Briton announced he was pulling out his rematch with Wladimir Klitschko because of injury.

The 27-year-old says he will sue UKAD over its claims he used a banned drug.

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