Pacquiao Defeated Vargas to Win WBO Belt

Manny Pacquiao claimed back the World Boxing Organization welterweight crown for a third time against Jessie Vargas but it was the presence of Floyd Mayweather Jr here at ringside which drew most attention as talks for a second meeting between the two stand-out fighters of this era look set for 2017.

Mayweather and 16,131 spectators at Thomas & Mack Center witnessed near vintage Pacquiao at times, even though the 37-year-old failed to put a full stop on the night with a knockout, an outcome the southpaw has not etched onto his record since 2009.

Yet Mayweather’s appearance at ringside stirred debate of a rematch between the two prize fighters who went head to head in May last year in the richest fight in history, which disappointed the masses, but earned the American $240 million and his opponent $120 million

Mayweather’s points victory in that first encounter set records on every level, grossing around $700 million.

Mayweather-Pacquiao remains “the biggest fight in the world” said Freddie Roach, the Filipino’s trainer, yesterday, and he is right, though Pacquiao’s veteran promoter Bob Arum was coy on whether talks have begun behind the scenes.

“As far as we’re concerned, Floyd is still retired and I respect that,” said Arum, having gone through five years of on-off negotiations to make the first contest. “Floyd had several things to say. He called and said he wanted to come to the fight.”

A second contest – despite the displeasing aesthetics of the first match which resulted in a boxing lesson from Mayweather, with the Filipino whirlwind unable to exact his attacks due to a shoulder injury in the fourth round - could prove to be a much better fight.

Whether they do exchange leather next year will depend on two things: Mayweather, 40 years old in February 2017, coming out of retirement with the Las Vegas-based fighter understood to be still training three times a week at his gym in Sin City.

Pacquiao, meanwhile, must free up enough time while completing his public duties as one of twenty-four senators in the Philippines.

Pacquiao’s performance did no harm to the prospects of Mayweather-Pacquiao No 2. He was as efficient as the time management which has been required by him to complete a full training camp and attend the senate, in which he sits on fifteen committees. Elusive at times, Pacquiao dropped Vargas, ten years his junior, before dominating the second half of the contest with efficiency, landing 101 of 212 power punches as he took his career record to 59 wins and six losses with this unanimous decision - 118-109, 118-109 115-113.