By Chris Williams: After two years of inactivity, Manny Pacquiao will be merging from hibernation to challenge IBF/WBC welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr on August 21 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
This could be the final fight of the 42-year-old Pacquiao’s long 26-year professional career. It’s hard to imagine anyone fighting for as long as Pacquiao and being able to compete at a high level.
Unfortunately, most boxing fans believe the former eight-division world champion Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs) has bit off more than he can chew in taking on the 31-year-old Spence.
This has nothing to do with age, though, as Pacquiao that beat a shot and weight-drained Oscar De La Hoya to a pulp in 2008 would arguably be out of his depths against Spence.
Miracles do happen in boxing, as we saw in Pacquiao’s win over Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman in 2019, but this may be a step too far for the Filipino star.
Even with Pacquiao’s win over ‘One Time’ Thurman, he wasn’t facing him at his best. The Thurman was dominating the 147-lb division from 2012 to 2017 probably would have been too much for Pacquiao.
Pacquiao vs. Spence predictions for August 21:
“I was in camp with Manny for three weeks. He hired me as a sparring partner,” said Tim Tszyu to Mayweather Boxing Channel. “Manny has the speed, but Errol is on the rise right now. At the moment, he’s unstoppable. I say, Errol.”
“It’s a good fight. I got my money on Errol,” said former two-division world champion Badou Jack. “He’s too young, too fresh, but Pacquiao is still a legend.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he pulls it off, but I got my money on Errol. Manny isn’t as physical as Shawn Porter, though, so I don’t think it’s going to be the same type of fight that he gave Errol.”
“Just based on Manny’s last fight with Keith Thurman, age is nothing but a number,” said strength & conditioning coach Larry Wade.
“Manny looked like he was in his upper 20s again with the way he fought. I think Errol will run into a guy with a lot of movement and a lot of experience.
“Errol is still learning. I’m going to go with Manny on that because I feel his movement will give Errol problems. Errol is a good boxer, but his feet aren’t necessarily the best.
“So dealing with a guy with a lot of movement can cause him problems. So I’m going to go with Manny. It doesn’t mean Errol isn’t a great fighter because, of course, he is, but I’m going to go with Manny on that one.”
“I love Errol Spence like everyone else. I think he’s definitely one of the top two welterweights in the world because I’m torn between him and Terence Crawford,” said trainer Dewey Cooper.
Does Pacquiao have anything left?
“However, if you put up Manny Pacquiao’s performance against Keith Thurman against Errol Spence’s against Shawn Porter, that fight is a lot closer than I would think.
“Originally, I thought Spence medium to easy work. Now I think that’s a pick ’em fight because of Pacquiao’s foot speed and explosive punching power.
“If he can maintain the stamina and endurance as he did against Keith Thurman, Pacquiao has a really good chance of winning that fight. I can’t say that Pacquiao will win, but I can’t say that Spence will win either. So I’m calling it a 50-50 pick ’em fight.
“If someone had a gun to my head, I would lean towards the youth and the experience that Errol has gained in his last few fights, but Manny Pacquiao, it’s hard to bet against him.”
“I think Pacquiao should hang it up. I’m sorry to say that,” said Sharif Bogere. “Spence is young and hungry. Spence was tested against Shawn Porter. Shawn really tested him, and it’ll be too much for Pacquiao at this level,” said Bogere.
“I like Pacquiao. I’m a huge Manny Pacquiao fan, but I’m going to have to go with Errol Spence because of his youth, and he’s a lot younger and sharper than Pacquiao.
“I think Pacquiao is already on his way out already, he’s had his time, and I think Spence will win. I love Manny Pacquiao. He’s a great fighter, but now is Errol Spence’s time.”
“I think Errol will beat him. Pacquiao is done; he’s over-the-hill,” said Thomas Hill. “He’s old, and he needs to let it go. Errol Spence is the only one willing to fight everyone at 147.”
