By Chris Williams: Floyd Mayweather Jr warns Errol Spence Jr that the 42-year-old Manny Pacquiao is still highly “dangerous” and someone he needs to take seriously in their PPV fight on FOX on August 21st.
Spence (27-0, 21 KOs) will be defending his IBF & WBC welterweight straps against the upset-minded former eight-division world champion Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs), who is coming into the match well-rested from a two-year layoff.
Pacquiao’s confidence is through the roof right now from his 12 round split decision victory over Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman in July 2019.
Manny dominated the previously unbeaten Thurman (29-1, 22 KOs), snatching his WBA welterweight title from him, leaving him bitter and second-guessing his tactics.
“He is very dangerous still,” said Mayweather in giving Spence a warning about the 42-year-old Pacquiao.
We don’t know how dangerous Pacquiao is, given that he hasn’t knocked anyone out since his 12th round stoppage win over Miguel Cotto in November 2009.
That was a fight in which the referee Kenny Bayless pulled the trigger somewhat prematurely because Cotto was still fighting back. You can’t call that a knockout in a true sense because there was too much controversy over the stoppage.
The last time that Pacquiao knocked anyone out without controversy was his second-round stoppage of Ricky Hatton in May 2009. Hatton had taken off a lot of weight during training camp, and he was rumored to have been knocked out by one of his sparring partners.
Mayweather has got to feel a little conflicted about Spence taking on Pacquiao because if he destroys the Filpino star, it’ll take away some of the shine from his win over Manny in 2015.
Floyd made it very boring in fighting in a safety-first manner in his ‘Fight of the Century’ against Pacquiao.
The fight was so boring that many boxing fans were furious at having paid $100 per household to watch Mayweather play it safe rather than going for the knockout.
Obviously, it makes Mayweather look bad if Spence knocks out Pacquiao in an exciting fight.
“Anything can happen, and Pacquiao has had a long rest too,” said Teofimo Lopez to the media about the Spence vs. Pacquiao fight. “I like both guys in that fight, and may the best man win, really.
“Manny has so much experience; he can get through anything,” Teofimo said when asked how Pacquiao can get past Errol’s jabs. “As long as they have the right plan, whatever they do, they’ll have that. They’ll be able to do all that.
“Sure,” Teofimo said when asked if Pacquiao has the power against Spence. When asked if Pacquiao is ‘the harder puncher,’ Teofimo nodded his head.
“However, Errol Spence, you can’t take anything away from Errol Spence. He’s still young, he’s in his prime, and he knows how to place body shots. He’s very strong at that; he’s like a body snatcher.”