EIGHT-DIVISION world champion and Senator Manny Pacquiao wants to prove he can still win the World Boxing Organization world welterweight title currently held by Jessie Vargas and at the same time serve the people as an elected senator.
At the official news conference hosted by Top Rank Promoter Bob Arum at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles, Pacquiao said: “This is my first fight since I was elected as senator and it’s an honor for me to challenge the champion in the 147-lb weight division. I respect him because he’s the champion, he is the belt holder of 147. It’s a big chance again for me to get the belt again and to prove I can still manage serving the people and being a boxer.”
For his part Vargas said: “I know I’m the underdog in this fight, but what’s changed? Let’s be honest. The media has had me as the underdog so many times, but I came out victorious in all of them and on one occasion struggled but I found a way. I fight to the end. I am a two-division world champion for a reason. On Nov. 5, I plan to show that I’m the best in the division and any other titleholder that wants to challenge me, I want them to know that I am the real deal.”
Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum announced that Top Rank would be handling the pay-per-view distribution for the fight rather than a premium network.
“Today is a historic moment because today we will take back boxing for the promotion, for then fighters. Years ago in the 70s and the 80s, Top Rank and other promoters distributed their own events on closed circuit and later pay per view,” said Arum.
“In the last 15, 20 years those events were distributed on premium networks at a charge to the fighters and promoters of 7.5 percent of the gross revenue. Well that’s all changing now starting this event on November 5,” Arum added.
Arum added that Top Rank Pay Per View will be distributing its own event. “We have the capability in our staff to do that. After all we’ve been creating the commercials, the posters, all the other elements into the promotion for many years. We will be distributing the event ourselves and we want to say that if the other promoters would like us to distribute their events, we are available for a helluva lot less than 7.5 % distribution fee,” Arum said.
He assured fight fans that they are going to see “a great production and you’re going to see an announcing team that will astound you.”