By Kenneth Friedman: Errol Spence Jr. has Manny Pacquiao on his target list for his next fight after he battles WBC welterweight champion Shawn Porter (30-2-1, 17 KOs) next month on September 28. Spence (25-0, 21 KOs) wants the honor of facing Pacquiao before he retires from the sport, and this may be his best shot at getting the fight.
Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs) doesn’t have an opponent yet for his next fight, and it’s not looking like Floyd Mayweather Jr. will return to the ring for a serious fight.
Errol ‘The Truth’ Spence and ‘Showtime’ Shawn Porter are headlining on September 28 on FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View at the Staples Center, in Los Angeles, California.
Spence: I’m looking for Pacquiao after Porter
“I’m looking for the Manny Pacquiao after this,” said Spence to TMZ. “I definitely want the Manny Pacquiao fight. He’s a Hall of Famer. And, he’s a legend. He’s fought the best fighters in my era, and in Pacquiao’s era. You never know when Pacquiao is going to retire. I definitely want to get that fight.
“I don’t want to see it. Floyd made enough money, let the young guys make some money,” said Spence about Pacquiao facing Floyd Mayweather Jr. next. “I would fight Mayweather if I was Pacquiao. I’d like to see him retire,” said Spence about Mayweather. “He’s undefeated. He has enough money,” said Spence.
Spence, 29, had better be ready for a furious Porter on September 28th, because he’s sounding like he’s going to fight tooth & nail to try and win. It could be a tougher fight than Spence imagines. Pacquiao has already let Spence down once in agreeing to fight him, and then choosing to face Keith Thurman. At this point, boxing fans can only predict what Pacquiao will do based on his past actions when it comes to Spence. For that reason, it’s possible that the 40-year-old Pacquiao will choose not to fight Spence.
Porter isn’t taking my belt says Spence
“He says he’s going to take the belt. It’s not going to happen,” said Spence about Shawn Porter. “It’s going home with me. I’m going to take his belt. It’s going to be a good fight. It’s going to be another belt, and it’s going to be blood & guts. I know he’s going to come to fight. He’s not going to stop until I knock him out. Be on the look out for that,” said Spence.
“It could happen. It could happen eventually,” said Spence when asked when he’ll fight WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford. “We could fight in 2020.”
The Spence-Crawford fight will likely depend on what direction Pacquiao goes in. If Pacquiao fights Spence in 2019 or early 2020, then Crawford could get his shot at the winner of the fight. Aside from that, the boxing public could wind up having to wait until 2021 or 2022 before they see Crawford and Spence mixing it up. It’s not just up to Spence. He’s got his adviser Al Haymon helping him make the right career moves.