Manny Pacquiao gives the thumbs-up sign after beating Timothy Bradley in their third fight last April. (Photo : Getty Images / Ethan Miller)
It appears that Top Rank promoter Bob Arum and Manny Pacquiao's manager Michael Koncz have not seen eye-to-eye regarding Pacquiao's next opponent, scheduled for November. Reports came out recently that Jessie Vargas was chosen to be the eight-division champion's opponent, but Arum refuted those.
Arum stated via his official Twitter account that "nothing is official" in reference to the Pac-man's next fight until he meets personally with Pacquiao next week in the Philippines. The Top Rank boss did not take Vargas out of the running, but simply said nothing is final yet, which means undefeated Terrence Crawford could still be a possibility. Arum previously said that he is meeting Pacquiao to determine if he wants to face Vargas or Crawford, according to BoxingNews24.
Koncz meanwhile, told the Los Angeles Times that the fighting Philippine senator has already chosen his opponent in WBO welterweight champion Vargas, and that they are flying to the Philippines not to choose an opponent, but to select the fight venue (either Las Vegas or Dubai, UAE). "That's the essence of the meeting. Not choosing an opponent. That's already been done," said Pacquiao's manager. He also noted that the decision was Pacquiao's.
Arum contested Koncz's claims by categorically stating that one of the things to talk about in the meeting with Pacquiao is his opponent. He said that Koncz might believe that Vargas is the right opponent for November, but that the final say would be Pacquiao's.
Crawford and Vargas have very different fighting styles and it would seemingly depend on what Pacquiao is looking for at this stage of his career. If he wants more chance at a vicious knockout, it could come much easier with the flat-footed Vargas rather than the very mobile Crawford. If he wants to chase a runner around the ring and prove that he can handle a mobile counterpuncher even at age 37, Crawford would be the better choice.
Pacquiao previously retired in April after his victory over Timothy Bradley in their third fight. He also was victorious a month later, this time in the Philippine Senate, where he was elected. Here are some highlights of his last fight.
