Las Vegas: The two biggest Filipino boxing stars will be fighting on the same show in Las Vegas for the first time on Nov. 5.
Both are involved in title fights at the Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of UNLV in Las Vegas, reported USA Today.
The pay-per-view event will not be aired by either HBO or Showtime, but instead will be handled by the promoter of the event, Top Rank, Inc, the report said.
Manny Pacquiao, the first-term Filipino senator and former congressman from General Santos City, an eight-division champion, will come out of retirement to fight Jessie Vargas for Vargas’ WBO welterweight title in the main event, it was pointed out.
In the co-main event, Nonito Donaire, a four-division champion and current WBO super bantamweight champion, will make the second defense of his title against undefeated Las Vegan Jessie Magdaleno, fighting for a major title for the first time, said the news portal.
“(Pacquiao and Donaire) are the two biggest legends out of the Philippines and they’ve never fought on the same card,” Top Rank President Todd duBoef reportedly said. “And both are former fighters of the year. The quality of their performances are very high.”
A third title fight on the card will feature WBO featherweight champion Oscar Valdez (20-0, 18 KOs), making his first title defense against a yet-to-be-named opponent, the report pointed out.
Pacquiao, 37, is ending a short retirement to fight Vargas. It is his first fight since being elected to the Philippines Senate in May. A month earlier, Pacquiao (58-6-2, 38 KOs) won what he said then was his final fight, defeating Timothy Bradley by unanimous decision in their third meeting at the MGM Grand, reported USA Today.
Last month, Pacquiao confirmed that he would end his retirement to fight Vargas for the title he once owned, the report said.
