By Ryan Burton

When former 8-division champion Manny Pacquiao make it known that his retirement would be brief and that he would be returning to the ring, former 4-division champion Adrien Broner was the frontrunner to land the fight with WBC/WBO super lightweight champion Terence Crawford and WBO welterweight champion Jesse Vargas also in the running.

Broner's purse demands were deemed too high and it became a two horse race between Crawford and Vargas.

Pacquiao's adviser Michael Koncz quickly narrowed the choice down to only Vargas, saying that a fight against the Mexican-American had greater potential for an action packed fight and that they never seriously considered Crawford.

"I know Terence. Terence is my boy no matter what. I don't like to say anything negative about friends of mine but it is true what he is saying - Manny Pacquiao and myself will make for a great fight because we are going to clash. We are going to go in and look for a knockout. I know I am and I know he always does as well so it makes for a great fight. We are both willing to engage at any moment you know what I mean? Our volume of punches is very high. We are not very patient - we see a shot and we take it. We take the risk. That is the difference and it makes for a great fight," said Vargas.

The Las Vegas resident feels that he always was in a better position because he fights in the same division as Pacquiao and holds a title that the Filipino used to own.

"Not only that but I am a welterweight and I have the WBO welterweight title so that makes it more intriguing. The fans want to see it. There is a lot on the line. Terence is a great talent but he is a 140 pounder. I am sure once he moves into the welterweight division he will do well but he needs to establish himself there first. To me it is just common sense. What are the excuses going to be if say Manny Pacquiao wins? Oh he beat a junior welterweight. Crawford has a chance to win the fight as well and I don't take anything away from him but to me this is an even fight with both of us being welterweights and we know what to expect from each other," Vargas stated.

Even though they are friends, Vargas said that he would open to facing Crawford if it makes sense from a business perspective.  If there is demand for the fight he won't have any trouble facing the Nebraska native.

"He is a friend of mine but we all know that we are in this business and we will fight whoever is business smart. If it makes sense business wise we will make the fight no matter what. We are all open to fighting each other. At the end of the day it is a sport," Vargas told BoxingScene.com.

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