LOS ANGELES • Manny Pacquiao insists he is not looking past his upcoming world title bout with Jessie Vargas, but his promoter Bob Arum is confident the Filipino boxer will win that and take on Kazakh bruiser Gennady Golovkin next.

Pacquiao returns to the ring to face World Boxing Organisation welterweight champion Vargas on Nov 5, three months after ending his four-month "retirement".

But the eight-division world champion said he has not thought about his plans after the fight, as he juggles the demands of the sport and duties as a Philippine senator.

"Right now my focus is on this fight. Then I go back and do my job, then I could think about 2017," Pacquiao told reporters on Tuesday.

Asked if the 37-year-old expected to fight again, he said: "I don't know yet. One fight at a time. I cannot say yes right now."

Arum believes the Filipino icon will remain in demand if he produces a convincing win over Vargas.

"If Manny comes in and dominates this fight and looks like the old Manny and wants to continue fighting, there will be certain opponents that will be considered," said the veteran promoter. "If he decides that it's too much juggling two careers then he shouldn't continue.

"Manny may look so good in this fight (against Vargas) that we may be looking for Golovkin next."

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE