By Lyle Fitzsimmons

Manny Pacquiao’s been a boxer for many years and a politician for few.

But the Filipino has nevertheless mastered the art of competitive diplomacy.

As he heads back to Las Vegas for a fight that ends a retirement that really never got under way, the now-37-year-old Pacquiao is the subject of typical conjecture about what big fights might be on his agenda now that he’s returned to the ring.

He starts the comeback with a scheduled 12-rounder against Jessie Vargas, however, and – in a training camp interview with BoxingScene.com -- he was steadfast when it came to making sure his answers never strayed too far from the business at hand Saturday night at the Thomas & Mack Center.

“I cannot afford to look past Jessie Vargas,” Pacquiao said. “He is young, strong and hungry. After (the fight), I will start discussing future options with Bob Arum and Freddie Roach. I want to give the fans a fight to remember. That is my motivation.”

The motivation to fight Vargas comes largely from the reality that Vargas is now in possession of the WBO welterweight title belt that Pacquiao held over a pair of reigns – one from 2009 to 2012 that was ended by Tim Bradley, and another from 2014 to 2015 cut short when he lost to Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Pacquiao won the WBO’s dubious international title with his rubber match defeat of Bradley in April and claimed afterward that he was through with the sport he’d toiled in as a professional since 1995. Few believed it, however, and their contentions were proven correct when the Top Rank apparatus officially announced their cash cow’s return in July.

He was initially mentioned as a possible opponent for Terence Crawford, an emerging Top Rank star who’s won titles at 135 and 140 pounds, but set his sights on Vargas and the WBO title that the 27-year-old has held since defeating Sadam Ali in March. Most, though, are looking past the Vargas match toward down-the-road possibilities with Crawford, Mayweather, Canelo Alvarez or others.

Pacquiao, though, stays stubborn when it comes to anything past the weekend.

“They are all outstanding fighters but, again, looking past Jessie Vargas is not a wise thing to do,” he said. “I saw what he did to Sadam Ali and to Timothy Bradley. This is the only fight on my mind.”

That said, he did discuss the short-lived retirement, the factors that led to its ending and what the Vargas fight will look like in the ring if things are going well for the older man.

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BoxingScene.com: I was there the night you beat Bradley in the third fight. I’m not sure anyone at the press conference believed you’d stay retired. Bob Arum said you could continue. Freddie said he hoped you would. And even Bradley said there was no reason for you to quit. When you walked away that night, how certain were you that you’d never fight again? And did their opinions – and your performance – make you think, “Wait, they’re right, I’ve still got more good fights in me?”

Manny Pacquiao: I was very certain I had retired that night. It wasn't until July that I started to really miss boxing. I had taken long breaks before -- after my last loss to Marquez and when I was rehabbing my shoulder after the Mayweather fight -- but I knew I was going to be coming back. In this instance I found myself really missing boxing even though it had only been two or three months. I was very sad. I found myself watching boxing on TV and I rarely do that. I began to think that I was really missing out, that I still had a few good fights left which I guess was because I had done so well against Tim Bradley in April. That's when I began thinking about continuing my boxing career. 

BoxingScene.com: That said, you certainly have nothing left to prove in the ring. You’ve earned money, won titles and are a Hall of Fame lock. With that as reality, given the risks and your other interests away from the ring, why come back? What was the driving reason that made you go from “I’m done” to “I’m not done”? Can you remember the moment your mind changed and what the factors were that changed it?

Pacquiao: My thinking was, and still is, I want to continue boxing for as long as I still love boxing and boxing still loves me. Boxing is my passion and it has helped me to give back to my people. The money I earn in the ring has helped me to build and donate over 1,000 houses, so far, to those who otherwise would have no shelter. I also want to prove that I am still one of the best pound-for-pound fighters. This is my chance to make history by becoming the first sitting senator to win a world title. When my career finally ends I do not want to look back and wonder if I missed any opportunities. No regrets. 

BoxingScene.com: Last, talk to me about Vargas. Clearly this is his big moment and he’s going to be super motivated for a chance to upset a star. When you look at him as an opponent, what do you see? Have you taken anything in particular from his fight against Bradley, or any of his others? When we watch the fight and see the first round or two, how will we know things are going as planned for you – what will it look like in the ring?

Pacquiao: I will try to establish my will over his early in the fight. I will need to dictate the terms early. Freddie and I have three game plans for him. He is a young and strong champion. His height and reach are also factor that I will need to overcome. I do not want to give anything away but if you watch my fights against Oscar De La Hoya and Antonio Margarito you will see that my speed and footwork will be my key weapons in establishing my plan.

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This week’s title-fight schedule:

SATURDAY

WBA super middleweight title – Potsdam, Germany

Giovanni De Carolis (champion/No. 13 IWBR) vs. Tyron Zeuge (No. 6 WBA/No. 19 IWBR)

De Carolis (24-6-1, 12 KO): Second title defense; Drew with Zeuge in July (MD 12)

Zeuge (18-0-1, 10 KO): Second title fight (0-0-1); Second fight in Potsdam (1-0, 0 KO)

Fitzbitz says: The younger man earned the nod on one card when they fought four months ago, and it says here that he’ll do enough to earn another scorecard point or two this time. Zeuge by decision

WBO welterweight title – Las Vegas, Nevada

Jessie Vargas (champion/No. 8 IWBR) vs. Manny Pacquiao (No. 1 WBO/No. 1 IWBR)

Vargas (27-1, 10 KO): First title defense; Held IBO and WBA titles at 140 pounds

Pacquiao (58-6-2, 38 KO): Twenty-second title fight (16-3-2); Two prior reigns as WBO champion

Fitzbitz says: Vargas is a nice, strong fighter, but there’s a reason why he was selected as Pacquiao’s return bout – and it’s not because he was the stiffest challenge to be found. Pacquiao in 10

WBO junior featherweight title – Las Vegas, Nevada

Nonito Donaire (champion/No. 2 IWBR) vs. Jessie Magdaleno (No. 1 WBO/No. 26 IWBR)

Donaire (37-3, 24 KO): Second title defense; Sixth fight in Las Vegas (5-0, 3 KO)

Magdaleno (23-0, 17 KO): First title fight; First fight scheduled for 12 rounds

Fitzbitz says: Donaire hasn’t been the same fighter since he was taken down by Guillermo Rigondeaux in 2013, and the choice of a young, talented 24-year-old may be too much here. Magdaleno by decision

WBO featherweight title – Las Vegas, Nevada

Oscar Valdez (champion/No. 5 IWBR) vs. Hiroshige Osawa (No. 2 WBO/No. 53 IWBR)

Valdez (20-0, 18 KO): First title defense; Four straight wins by stoppage (14 total rounds)

Osawa (30-3-4, 19 KO): First title fight; First fight in the United States

Fitzbitz says: There’s hype surrounding Valdez for a reason, and this defense is little more than a showcase to lay more foundation for bigger future extravaganzas. Valdez in 6

Vacant WBO flyweight title – Las Vegas, Nevada

Zou Shiming (No. 2 WBO/No. 34 IWBR) vs. Prasitsak Phaprom (No. 3 WBO/No. 28 IWBR)

Shiming (8-1, 2 KO): Second title fight (0-1); Defeated Phaprom by decision (UD 12) in 2014

Phaprom (39-1-2, 24 KO): First title fight; Twelve straight stoppage wins since 2014 (57 total rounds)

Fitzbitz says: A defeat of Phaprom two years ago was a prelim to a failed title try. This time, defeating the same opponent will result in a champion reign. No chance it happens otherwise. Shiming by decision

Last week’s picks: None

2016 picks record: 71-20 (78.0 percent)

Overall picks record: 803-268 (74.9 percent)

NOTE: Fights previewed are only those involving a sanctioning body's full-fledged title-holder – no interim, diamond, silver, etc. Fights for WBA "world championships" are only included if no "super champion" exists in the weight class.

Lyle Fitzsimmons has covered professional boxing since 1995 and written a weekly column for Boxing Scene since 2008. He is a full voting member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Reach him at fitzbitz@msn.com or follow him on Twitter – @fitzbitz.