Manny Pacquiao looking sharp for Vargas duel

By Eugene Nepangue
Fight News Asia

CHARLOTTE — Even at age 37, with riches beyond his wildest dreams, the fire in Manny Pacquiao’s belly is still burning.

Despite his hectic schedule as a newly-minted senator of the Philippines, Manny Pacquiao, who ended his brief retirement by challenging the WBO welterweight belt held by Jessie Vargas this November 5 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, in going on all cylinders in training camp.

According to multiple reports from PhilBoxing.com’s Eddie Alinea, the eight-division champ has been moving nicely atop the ring and throwing clean, crisp punches while giving his sparring mates a dose of fistic hell.

Pacquiao (58-6-2, 38 KOs) did have a bout with fatigue last week, thanks to extended Senate sessions, but he quickly got over it.

“We’re back on track, meaning everything that we prepared in the training program will proceed as scheduled,” Pacquiao’s celebrated trainer Freddie Roach told Alinea.

Vargas, meanwhile, is training just as hard in his hometown of Las Vegas. The defending cham, who is 10 years younger than the Filipino treasure, packs a record of 28-1 with 10 KOs.