By Steve Kim
As of a few days ago, promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport was attempting to finalize two big title fights for the fall. The first would see Kell Brook defend his IBF welterweight title in a unification showdown with WBO welterweight champion Kell Brook. The second would see British middleweight champion Chris Eubank Jr. take a serious step up in class by fighting IBO/WBA/IBO/IBF middleweight champion Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin.
In shocking turn of events, both of those proposed contests imploded - as Hearn was unable to get Brook or Eubank to agree to the terms of their respective fights.
Maybe even more shocking was Friday announcement that a deal was finalized for Brook to move up in weight by 13-pounds to face Golovkin.
Now that Brook and Golovkin are situated for the fall, where do these recent events leave Vargas?
There are rumors that he could now be in the mix to face eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao in the fall.
When asked about this possibility Arum stated - "I'm not going to comment till everything is done, whatever we're doing."
Pacquiao announced his retirement in April after winning his trilogy fight with Timothy Bradley, and then secured a senatorial seat in the Philippines during the May elections.
Pacquiao is now pondering the possibility of returning to the ring, with Top Rank reserving a tentative date of October 15th at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
So is Senator Pacquiao even available to fight in October?
"Well, we're working on the schedule. We're working on the votes and everything. He's not going to be able to train much here in the United States. But with that being said, he can train in Manila while he's sitting in the Senate," said Arum.
Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com