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Associated Press

Up until last week, Manny Pacquiao was concentrating on trying to get the death penalty restored in the Philippines.
Now he’s focusing on something not nearly as controversial – his return to the ring for a November 5 fight with Jesse Vargas.
“Working in the Senate is not easy while you’re training,” said Pacquiao, a freshman senator in the Philippines. “You manage your time and that’s what I did in training for this fight.”
Pacquiao won’t have to juggle two jobs for at least a few weeks, with the Senate now out of session. He arrived in Los Angeles over the weekend, eager to finish final preparations for yet another fight in a pro career that has stretched 21 years.

I can't wait for Nov 5 #TeamPacquiao #TeamLegend #PacVargas pic.twitter.com/r0OiX0cBsb
— Manny Pacquiao (@mannypacquiao) October 21, 2016

<![CDATA[// ><!]]>

What remains to be seen is how eager boxing fans are to see him against a relatively unknown boxer who isn’t given much of a chance to beat him.
“You can say what you want about Pacquiao and Vargas,” promoter Bob Arum said. “I think it’s competitive, other people don’t. That’s their opinion.”
Pacquiao joined Arum on a conference call Monday to discuss the latest reinvention of the fighter-turned-politician. The talk veered from boxing into politics, and to Pacquiao’s two biggest goals as a freshman senator – forming a boxing commission in the Philippines and restoring the death penalty eliminated in the country 30 years ago.
“I’m enjoying working hard in the Senate while performing my job as a boxer,” Pacquiao said. “I’m enjoying both.”
Pacquiao, who was dropped by Nike earlier this year after saying people in gay relationships were “worse than animals,” is an ally of new Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte, who has suggested recently that his country might be better off without its close alliance with the United States.
Back on the agenda: Manny Pacquiao says he would relish Floyd Mayweather Jnr rematch
Pacquiao seemed unconcerned that the comments might cost him some fans in the country where he has made millions of dollars.
“Everything is fine,” Pacquiao said. “He has clarified everything about the relationship between the US and the Philippines.”
Trainer Freddie Roach said everything is also fine with Pacquiao’s boxing career, which was on hold after a temporary retirement last year. He was impressive in April in dominating Timothy Bradley in their third fight, and Roach said he has spent weeks training in the Philippines for Vargas.
Senator Pacquiao takes retirement U-turn to go back in the ring in November
Most of those training sessions were at night, as Pacquiao fulfilled a campaign pledge to be in the Senate each day it was in session.
“This is the best I’ve seen Manny in a long time,” Roach said. “He’s been a lot more aggressive. The old Manny Pacquiao is coming out.”
Pacquiao’s star has faded some since he lost in boxing’s richest fight ever to Floyd Mayweather Jnr, and putting him in the ring with Vargas is a tough sell. Arum has added three title fights to the undercard and is going on his own in trying to sell it on pay-per-view.
As part of that sales job, Arum is holding out the possibility that Pacquiao will fight unbeaten Terrence Crawford next spring should he beat Vargas.

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Manny Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao takes a break from campaigning for the death penalty to continue his boxing career

Manny Pacquiao will fight Jessie Vargas on November 5. Photo: Reuters

Boxers Manny Pacquiao (L) and Timothy Bradley (R) pose during a press conference announcing their upcoming 12-round world welterweight championship at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, January 19, 2016. Manny Pacquiao said he is looking forward to swapping the boxing ring for the political arena as the countdown began towards his farewell fight with long-time American rival Timothey Bradley on April9, 2016. / AFP / Chris Farina

FILE - In this April 28, 2016, file photo, boxing star Manny Pacquiao addresses supporters as he campaigns for a seat in the Philippine Senate in San Pablo city, Laguna province, Philippines. Pacquiao was concentrating on trying to get the death penalty restored in the Philippines. Now he’s focusing on something not nearly as controversial _ his return to the ring for a Nov. 5 fight with Jesse Vargas. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez, File)

Manny Pacquiao, from the Philippines, left, and Floyd Mayweather Jr., trade blows during their welterweight title fight on Saturday, May 2, 2015 in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Sport

Boxing

The Filipino senator has been training at night in order to fulfil a campaign promise to attend senate every day
