Vargas eager to promote potential fight with Pacquiao

.      Jessie Vargas

There are no shortage of suitors for Manny Pacquiao, but

Mexican-American boxer Jessie Vargas thinks he has the

inside track when it comes to enticing the Filipino superstar

back into the ring.

“I am the WBO welterweight champion and he wants to return

to fight for this belt. So I am happy to give him a title shot,”

Vargas told AFP during the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame

function on Friday.

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.                                                                               

“The fight is still under negotiation and I can say that soon we

will announce it, although I do not want to advance because in

boxing everything can change every minute,” Vargas said.

Undefeated Terence Crawford has also been named as

potential opponent for Pacquiao, who is likely to return to the

ring later this year according to his promoter Bob Arum.

Arum tweeted Friday night that he is also talking to a group

that wants to stage Pacquiao’s next fight in the Middle East.

“Meeting on Sunday with people anxious to put on a @

MannyPacquiaoTR fight in the Middle East,” Arum wrote.

Vargas won the vacant WBO welterweight title with a ninth

round TKO of Sadam Ali in March.

“Manny has never faced someone like me. I’m at my best, I

have several advantages. I’m taller and faster than him. I’m

really smart fighter too,” Vargas said.

“I not only want to face him but I want to beat him. Juan

Manuel Marquez did it and I want to beat him too, mainly

because at his best he was someone who gave many

headaches to Mexico fighters,” he said.

Record eight division champion Pacquiao announced his

retirement from boxing in April after his unanimous decision

victory over Timothy Bradley.