MANILA – Filipino ring icon Sen. Manny Pacquiao has what it takes to pull off a stunner against undefeated American boxer Errol Spence Jr. in their World welterweight title clash on August 21 (August 22 in the Philippines) in Las Vegas, Nevada.
According to MP Promotions’ Sean Gibbons, the eight-division world boxing champion has a better speed and punching power to counter the height and reach advantage of Spence.
“Manny has quicker feet and punching power. He simply needs to time Spence’s signature jab, and once Manny figures out the jab, he will start to break down Errol Spence,” Gibbons said in an interview with ABS-CBN’s Dyan Castillejo.
“Senator is taking on arguably the pound for pound number one or two welterweight in the world. And these are the types of fights the senator always fought. And the senator’s not an old 42, he is a very young guy, always staying in shape,” he added.
It did not take long for the Filipino boxer to accept the match against Spence, who previously challenged him for a world championship showdown.
“Many people believe Spence is the best welterweight in the world and one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, and Pacquiao has never shied away from fighting real fights,” Gibbons pointed out.
With his 62-7-2 win-loss-draw ring record, the senator will make a ring return after a split decision win over Keith Thurman in July 2019 and captured the World Boxing Association’s (WBA) super world welterweight strap.
The 42-year-old boxer, however, was declared as a “champion in recess” in January after almost two years of inactivity. The WBA named Yordenis Ugas its welterweight champion instead.
Spence, the current WBC, and IBF world welterweight champion has a 27-0-0 slate, including 21 stoppage wins./PN
