Report: Manny Pacquiao to fight Jessie Vargas

It looks like Manny Pacquiao’s next opponent has finally been decided.

According to the LA Times’ Lance Pugmire, Pacquiao will be facing Jessie Vargas in his next fight. The two sides reportedly will meet next week to discuss a fight location, with Las Vegas and Dubai both in play.

Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, has mentioned in recent interviews that Pacquiao could fight in October or November, but it looks like this one will be Nov. 5.

In addition to Vargas, Adrien Broner and Bud Crawford were considered for the fight. But Arum said Broner wanted too much money, while Pacquiao’s trainer said Crawford was too dangerous to fight now.

Pacquiao (58-6-2, 38 KOs) last fought and beat Timothy Bradley in April and said that he was going to retire. Perhaps the retirement announcement was just a strategy to help Pacquiao’s chances of securing a senate seat in the Philippines, which he later did.

Vargas is 27-1 with his lone defeat coming to Bradley in 2015.