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Agence France-Presse

Manny Pacquiao announced his retirement seven months ago but after serving his first stint as a rookie senator, the fire was rekindled and the stage set for a return to boxing.
Pacquiao is hoping to reclaim the WBO welterweight title for the third time. But juggling two jobs, including his new gig as a full-time politician in the Philippine Senate, has cut into his training camp.
Pacquiao, who turns 38 next month, is going up against the younger WBO champ Jessie Vargas, who has a height, reach and weight advantage.
Pacquiao tipped the scales at 144.8 pounds (65.7 kilograms) in front of a crowd of about 900 at Friday’s weigh-in at the Encore Theater inside the Wynn hotel and casino. Vargas (27-1, 10 knockouts) weighed in at 146.5 pounds.
“I know I am the challenger going in and I have to fight that way,” Pacquiao said Friday. “It is not enough to do well, I have to take the title away from him.”

Pacquiao arrived first stripping off his black and gold track suit and stepping on the scale wearing grey boxer shorts and trademark white socks.
“It want to make history. It would mean a lot for me to win this fight,” he said.
Pacquiao won the WBO title for the first time in 2010 when he beat Miguel Cotto. He lost it two years later to Timothy Bradley, then got it back by winning the rematch with Bradley in 2014. He then lost it to Floyd Mayweather last year.
Pacquiao (58-6-2 with 38 KOs) still has a lot left and a seven-month hiatus can hardly be considered a retirement. But he’s not getting any younger and hasn’t had a knockout victory since 2009.
No fighter can go on forever. It remains to be seen if his part-time training routine and the wear of 66 professional fights finally brings Pacman to a halt against Vargas, who is 10 years younger, five inches (13 centimetres) taller and has a four-inch reach advantage.

Pacquiao said he was retiring following his April 9 two-knockdown victory over Bradley in their third fight.
Pacquiao looked impressive in stopping Bradley, showing that he has recovered from a shoulder injury which hampered him in his fight against Mayweather in May 2015.
Now it remains to be seen what Vargas’ youth and size advantage means against the highly skilled and more experienced Pacquiao.
Vargas is making his first title defence after winning the vacant WBO crown by beating Sadam Ali.
“Manny Pacquiao has had a great career,” said Vargas, who is from Las Vegas but says he is fighting for Mexican pride. “Everybody that beats him becomes a legend and I look forward to becoming a legend.”

Not many of the fans inside the Encore Theater on Friday were giving Vargas much of a chance.
“Manny will win because he favors this type of boxing style,” said Alex Picarra, of Henderson, Nevada. “Vargas is a good fighter but he is also a brawler and that plays into Manny’s style.”
Picarra, who works for an air conditioning company, said Vargas is out of his league.
“Manny’s still got it,” he said. “I watched Vargas fight Bradley and Bradley dominated him. If Bradley can dominate him, then what is Manny going to do?”
Mikael Osorito, of Daly City, California, is an example of the Manny mania of Filipino expats.
The 41-year-old airport worker flew to Las Vegas just so he could attend the weigh-in.
Osorito will fly home Saturday morning and enjoy the fight on a big screen TV with about 30 friends and family.
“I come to all of Manny’s weigh-ins,” said Osorito, who paid $100 just to watch the weigh-in prior to the Mayweather mega fight in 2015.
“Manny has more explosive power. He is not afraid in the ring. It’s do or die.”


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Boxers Manny Pacquiao and Jessie Vargas pose together during their official weigh-in. AFP

Shiming Zou left, of China, and Prasitak Papoem, of Thailand, pose during a weigh-in, Friday, Nov. 4, 2016, in Las Vegas. The two are scheduled to compete in a flyweight title bout Saturday in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

LAS VEGAS, NV - NOVEMBER 04: Manny Pacquiao poses during his official weigh- in at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas on November 4, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pacquiao will challenge WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas for his title on November 5 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

LAS VEGAS, NV - NOVEMBER 04: Manny Pacquiao (L) and WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas face off during their official weigh-in at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas on November 4, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Vargas will defend his title against Manny Pacquiao on November 5 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Age not an issue for Manny Pacquiao as he prepares to battle Jessie Vargas – 10 years his junior

Boxer Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines works out in advance of his WBO welterweight bout against Jessie Vargas, in Los Angeles, California, U.S., October 26, 2016. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Boxer Jessie Vargas signs an autograph as he makes his "Grand Arrival" to the Wynn hotel-casino on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016, in Las Vegas. Vargas is scheduled to fight Manny Pacquiao on Saturday night at the Thomas & Mack Center. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)

Boxer Manny Pacquiao is interviewed during his "Grand Arrival" to the Wynn hotel-casino on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016, in Las Vegas. Pacquiao is scheduled to fight Jessie Vargas on Saturday night at the Thomas & Mack Center. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)

Boxer Manny Pacquiao makes his "Grand Arrival" to the Wynn hotel-casino on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016, in Las Vegas. Pacquiao is scheduled to fight Jessie Vargas on Saturday night at the Thomas & Mack Center. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)

It’s on: Manny Pacquiao confirms fight with World Boxing Organisation welterweight champion Jessie Vargas

Manny Pacquiao (right) and Timothy Bradley facing off during their WBO international welterweight title bout at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas in April 2016. Photo: AFP

In this picture taken on July 13, 2016, Philippine boxing icon Manny Pacquiao gestures during a media interview at his residence in General Santos City, on the southern island of Mindanao. Pacquiao has declared he still has the passion for the sport and may come out of retirement, although there are no plans for a fight this year. / AFP PHOTO / Aquiles ZONIO

epa05453105 Filipino boxing champion, Senator and playing coach Emmanuel Manny 'Pacman' Pacquiao (R) in action against RJ Jazul (L) of the Alaska Aces, during the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) basketball match between the Alaska Aces and Mahindra Enforcers in Quezon City, northeast of Manila, Philippines, 03 August 2016. Pacquiao returned to his team Mahindra Enforcers, formerly KIA Sorento after the team activated him from the injured list. Pacquiao who recently came out of boxing retirement is set to meet Top Rank CEO Bob Arum to discuss his comeback fight scheduled sometime in November, according to reports. Pacquiao met Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on 01 August and recently has filed three bills in the Senate seeking the return of the death penalty on heinous crimes, which includes illegal drug-related activities in support of Duterte's campaign against crime and drugs. EPA/MARK R. CRISTINO

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Manny Pacquiao says the upcoming fight with Jessie Vargas will decide the remainder of his career. Photo: Reuters

Boxer Manny Pacquiao of The Philippines works out in advance of his WBO welterweight bout against Jessie Vargas, in Los Angeles, California, U.S., October 26, 2016. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Timothy Bradley, left, connects with Jessie Vargas during a welterweight boxing match for the interim WBO title, Saturday, June 27, 2015, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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Manny Pacquiao is in good shape ahead of his bout with American Jessie Vargas according to trainer Freddie Roach. Photo: Reuters

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Filipino star says he’s ready to go despite seven-month ‘retirement’


I’m coming to get my title back, Manny Pacquiao warns Jessie Vargas

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Filipino star says he’s ready to go despite seven-month ‘retirement’

Filipino star says he’s ready to go despite seven-month ‘retirement’