Trick or Treat? Manny Pacquiao Returns in 10 Fights to Watch in November

What a month November promises to be.

No, not because of Halloween. Forget about Thanksgiving too. The main focus for the penultimate month of the year should be soaking up as much as possible of a packed boxing schedule.

If October was a dry month, prepare to get drunk on great fights in both the United States and Europe.

It starts with a bang on Bonfire Night, as Manny Pacquiao returns to action. Expect fireworks when he takes on Jessie Vargas on November 5.

That is the opening offering in a month that also includes an intriguing light heavyweight battle between Sergey Kovalev and Andre Ward and Vasyl Lomachenko's clash with Nicholas Walters.

Elsewhere, Matchroom Boxing takes their show on the road to Monte Carlo with a card that includes a debut for their latest signing, heavyweight Luis Ortiz.

There's also (fingers crossed) a rare sighting of Billy Joe Saunders scheduled to take place in Wales.

To paraphrase a saying from an old advert for Ferrero Rocher chocolates (without using the dreadful fake French accent): "Boxing promoters, with these fights in November, you are really spoiling us."

Bleacher Report highlights a few dates you need to keep free in your calendar.

Giovanni De Carolis vs. Tyron Zeuge

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Giovanni De Carolis retained his title thanks to a majority draw in July.

When: November 5

Where: MBS Arena, Brandenburg, Germany

After their first meeting finished in a majority draw back in July, super middleweights Giovanni De Carolis and Tyron Zeuge will go toe-to-toe again four months later.

De Carolis' WBA title will once again be on the line.

The Italian (24-6-1, 12 KOs) dethroned Vincent Feigenbutz in January but appears to be the weak link among the group of champions at 168 pounds.

Zeuge (18-0-1, 10 KOs) believes he would have been victorious in the first bout had he not been hampered by an injury.

"It was a pity that I injured myself in first fight, and I believe this cost me the world title. However, this time, I will prove that injury free I am the better boxer, and I will be crowned world champion in Potsdam," the German said in the press release from promoters Sauerland.

While it may not be the biggest fight in November, plenty of super middleweights will be keeping a keen eye on events at the MBS Arena.

Manny Pacquiao vs. Jessie Vargas

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Manny Pacquiao will be the challenger against WBO champion Jessie Vargas.

When: November 5

Where: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas

So much for retirement: Manny Pacquiao (58-6-2, 38 KOs) is back in action less than seven months after saying his glittering career had come to an end.

However, will splitting time between training and his role as a senator in the Philippines cause issues? And just how much does a man aged 37 and with 66 bouts in the bag have left in the tank?

We might have some answers to those questions once we've seen Pac-Man in action against welterweight Jessie Vargas (27-1, 10 KOs), the holder of the WBO title.

Pacquiao was last seen winning the third instalment of his rivalry with Timothy Bradley Jr. He hung up the gloves in the immediate aftermath, but the lure of boxing again has beckoned him back into the gym.

Is this a one-off return to the ring?

His promoter Bob Arum is unsure what the future holds. He told Mitch Abramson of The Ring magazine: "If Manny goes into this fight, dominates this fight, looks like the old Manny and wants to continue fighting, then there are certain opponents that will be considered."

Vargas, meanwhile, has hit the jackpot.

The Californian was previously in talks for a unification clash with IBF champion Kell Brook but instead ended up getting an offer from Pacquiao's team that was too good to refuse.

Nonito Donaire vs. Jessie Magdaleno

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Nonito Donaire has won four on the spin since losing to Nicholas Walters in 2014.

When: November 5

Where: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas

According to his next opponent, Nonito Donaire is past his prime.

Jessie Magdaleno (23-0, 17 KOs) told Robert Morales of the Long Beach Press-Telegram: "I think his best days are behind him. All of those big fights, they take a lot out of you and it’s part of boxing. You’ve got a young, hungry guy who just wants to take over the world, and that’s me."

The American has every right to be confident—he's unbeaten, boasts a 74 per cent KO ratio and, at 24, is nearly 10 years younger than Donaire.

However, since losing at featherweight to Nicholas Walters, The Filipino Flash (37-3, 24 KOs) has reeled off a four-fight winning streak on his return to the super bantamweight division.

He claimed the vacant WBO crown last December by beating Cesar Juarez on points and then stopped Zsolt Bedak inside three rounds in his first defence in April.

Is Donaire done? Not judging by recent results, although Magdaleno will aim to prove otherwise.

Luis Ortiz vs. Malik Scott

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Luis Ortiz starts a new chapter of his career after signing with Matchroom Boxing.

When: November 12

Where: Salle des Etoiles, Monte Carlo, Monaco

Luis Ortiz's career is in need of a boost—and joining forces with promoter Eddie Hearn might just provide it.

Although he's 25-0 (22 KOs) as a pro, King Kong has found himself on the periphery of a division where, with the troubled Tyson Fury vacating the WBA and WBO titles, opportunities are suddenly out there.

The Cuban was the interim WBA champion at one time, but fights have been in short supply in 2016.

Although Ortiz dismantled veteran American Tony Thompson in March, Hearn's plan is to get some much-needed momentum behind the talented big man.

"The guys dealing with him are very smart, they appreciate and realise that people will only fight Luis Ortiz if there’s big money to fight Luis Ortiz, so we need to do a lot of work on his profile to make sure that when someone’s going to fight him, they’ll get paid well," the Matchroom boss told George Gigney of Boxing News.

The first step for Ortiz is to headline a bumper card in Monte Carlo.

He goes up against Malik Scott and is already pencilled in for another appearance, this time in Manchester, England, in December, per BoxRec.

That bill is due to be topped by Anthony Joshua, a fellow Matchroom fighter who could potentially face his new stable-mate at some stage in 2017.

Jason Sosa vs. Stephen Smith

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Stephen Smith (right) fell short in his bid to dethrone Jose Pedraza.

When: November 12

Where: Salle des Etoiles, Monte Carlo, Monaco

After a valiant but unsuccessful attempt to dethrone IBF champion Jose Pedraza earlier in the year, Stephen Smith now switches his focus to winning the WBA title.

Jason Sosa (19-1-4, 15 KOs) is the current holder, having climbed off the canvas in June to take the belt from previous holder Javier Fortuna.

Smith (24-2, 14 KOs) competed with Pedraza, yet he struggled to put a dent in the talented Puerto Rican.

Since then, he kept busy with a seventh-round stoppage of Daniel Brizuela in his home city of Liverpool, England, in May.

Swifty told Tim Hobbs of Sky Sports that he didn't expect another world-title shot to come so quickly: "Looking back at the Pedraza fight, I was in it all the way and I definitely belong at this level, but I remember sitting there afterwards hoping I wouldn't be sitting around for a long time to get another chance to prove it."

Sosa has four draws on his record, including one against Nicholas Walters in a 10-rounder at the end of 2015.

For Smith, though, it feels like a case of Monte Carlo or bust.

Danny Garcia vs. Samuel Vargas

When: November 12

Where: Liacouras Center, Philadelphia

Danny "Swift" Garcia has home advantage when he faces Samuel Vargas in a 10-round contest.

The Philadelphia native can expect plenty of support in his own back yard—but he has tested the patience of many boxing fans with his lack of activity, not to mention choice of opponents, in 2016.

Swift was last seen outpointing Robert Guerrero in January, a result that secured him the vacant WBC welterweight title.

Yet in a division overflowing with options, Garcia has stayed in the background. Bleacher Report's own Kevin McRae criticised the 28-year-old for choosing to take on Vargas (25-2-1, 13 KOs) next.

However, while his belt isn't on the line this time, Garcia (32-0, 18 KOs) will make the first defence of his crown against fellow American Keith Thurman next March.

Fighting Vargas offers nothing more than a chance to blow a few cobwebs away. Vargas won't offer anywhere near the same problems as Thurman will in 2017.

George Groves vs. Eduard Gutknecht

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George Groves (left) is closing in on a fourth crack at a world title.

When: November 18

Where: Wembley Arena, London

George Groves' quest for a fourth shot at a world title continues against Eduard Gutknecht (30-4-1, 13 KOs) on a rare Friday fight night in England.

Saint George (24-3, 18 KOs) has looked to have a bit of devil about him again since teaming up with trainer Shane McGuigan.

He showed both skill and stamina to see off fellow Englishman Martin Murray in June, triumphing comfortably on the scorecards to retain his WBA International belt.

Gutknecht—like Groves—knows what it is like to be the bridesmaid in a big fight. The German-based Kazakh has twice lost in world-title bouts, recently falling short against Juergen Braehmer at light heavyweight in March.

While his opponent is dropping back down to the 168-pound limit, the talented Groves cannot afford to take his eye off the ball.

"He is a bigger Martin Murray. It will be a hard fight, and George will need to be razor-sharp," McGuigan said, per SkySports.com.

Andre Ward vs. Sergey Kovalev

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 06: Sergey Kovalev (L) and Andre Ward (R) square up during the press conference for the Kovalev v Ward 'Pound for Pound' bout at Le Parker Meridien on September 6, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Imag

When: November 19

Where: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas

Has Andre Ward bitten off more than he can chew? Will the tough and uncompromising Sergey "Krusher" Kovalev come a cropper against a talented boxer?

The Russian Kovalev, who holds the IBF, WBA and WBO belts, hasn't yet had the chance to unify the division by facing WBC champion Adonis Stevenson, but fighting Ward is a wonderful backup plan.

Krusher (30-0-1, 26 KOs) looked less than convincing against Isaac Chilemba in July, although he was perhaps preoccupied by what lied ahead at the end of the year.

As for Ward (30-0, 15 KOs), a lack of activity is a concern.

The American has fought just three times in the last three years—and against inferior opposition too. Still, this is Andre Ward we're talking about.

The term "legacy fight" is thrown around too often these days, but here it sums up a clash between two fighters who've already achieved great things.

"I feel this [fight] is the best way to secure my position in boxing history and hopefully the Hall of Fame one day—to fight the best and beat the best," Ward said, according to Mark Crellin of SkySports.com.

Billy Joe Saunders vs. Artur Akavov

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Billy Joe Saunders is set to finally make the maiden defence of his world title.

When: November 26

Where: Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, Wales

Given it's Halloween, it seems only right the ghost of Billy Joe Saunders makes an appearance.

The WBO middleweight champion (23-0, 12 KOs) hasn't been spotted in a ring since taking the title from Andy Lee in December 2015.

His maiden defence was due to happen in April against Max Bursak. However, Saunders was forced to shelve that date after suffering a hand injury.

A planned appearance on the undercard to Saul Alvarez's fight with Liam Smith then failed to happen because the southpaw rejected the short list of opponents offered to him, per Dan Rafael of ESPN.com.

Now he's picked Artur Akavov, an American-based Russian with a decidedly weak CV, to be his next foe.

Even this fight is on attempt No. 2, as Saunders pulled out of an initial date in October due to injury.

Promoter Frank Warren has dangled the carrot of a unification clash with Gennady Golovkin early in 2017. He told John Dennen of Boxing News: "We’d like to see a unification of the titles, and [Golovkin] wants to participate, and we’re doing our best to deliver it, but as I keep telling him he needs to focus."

For Saunders, the focus right now should be on avoiding a shock loss against Akavov (16-1, 7 KOs) in Wales.

Vasyl Lomachenko vs. Nicholas Walters

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Vasyl Lomachenko (left) puts his WBO belt on the line against Nicholas Walters.

When: November 26

Where: Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Las Vegas

What a way to round out November.

Vasyl Lomachenko (6-1, 4 KOs) is always a pleasure to watch. The Ukrainian has won world titles in two divisions in just seven professional bouts.

He claimed the WBO strap at super featherweight with a fifth-round KO of Roman Martinez in June. The left-right combination that caused the early finish was a microcosm of his talent.

Now Hi-Tech (that nickname has to be the worst thing about Lomachenko, by the way) gets to test his skills against Nicholas Walters (26-0-1, 21 KOs).

The fight was set to happen earlier in the year, but the Jamaican pulled out of negotiations because of issues over money, according to Michael Rosenthal of The Ring.

Now that a deal has been struck, Walters doesn't believe the bout will make it through to the final bell.

"(He) is great, he knows what he is doing in the ring. But I always look for a knockout against whomever I fight. If I can do it quick, I will," Axe Man told Ricardo Archibald of El Siglo (h/t Uli Martinez of Boxing News).

However long it lasts, the fight should be fascinating to watch.