While the stock market continues to soar, the value on betting that eight-division champion and boxer laureate Senator Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao will upset undefeated unified WBC/IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. is plummeting. Three weeks into his U.S. training camp with world-famous Freddie Roach at the Hollywood, California-based Wild Card Boxing Club, insider information seems to have leaked out on Manny’s conditioning and training camp performance. The numbers don’t lie. Spence, 11 years younger and four inches taller than Manny, opened as a massive 4:1 favorite with BetMGM to retain his belts. Since last week, the money has been pouring in on amazin’ Manny, who is now only a 2:1 underdog.
And why not? Before the pandemic put mega fights on the shelf, Manny lit up the welterweight division in his last three fights, which took place during a 12-month period, from July 15, 2018 to July 20, 2019. He ran the table, knocking out WBA regular welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse, successfully defending that title with a unanimous decision blitzing of Adrien Broner, and scoring a first-round knockdown en route to an exciting split decision victory over then undefeated WBA welterweight “super” champion Keith Thurman to become, at age 40, the oldest man to win a welterweight title. Now, tan, rested, and ready to rumble, Manny is looking to break that age record, along with Spence’s grip on those world championship belts.
“Two years out of the ring allowed my body to rest. My energy stores are overflowing,” said Manny. “I am so grateful to God that I can still fight at this level against the best and to still have these opportunities at age 42. I am still amazed that I have won world titles in each decade, going back to the nineties. My fight with Errol Spence is not just a battle between the two best welterweights but between two of the best fighters. There is no “B side” in this fight. I have just as much to prove in this fight as Errol does. We are going to bring out the best in each other. It is the type of fight that makes boxing so great.”
I was able to speak to legendary trainer Freddie Roach about how camp is going with Manny and how confident they feel going into the fight.
RL: Manny said the 2 years off was good for him, how did he look when he came into camp?
FR: Manny was sending me videos of him training the entire time he was off. Videos of him working out and playing basketball, he shot has gotten better by the way. When he got to the gym he was in good shape and recently he has been kicking his sparring partners’ ass. When he was hitting me even with the protector I had one I was still pissing blood the next night.
RL: Spence has a lot of physical advantages how do you combat that?
FR: I thought Spence looked good, not great in his tuneup fight with Danny Garcia. I think he is still suffering from some effects from his accident. We are going to have to fight a smart tactical fight to win.
RL: What do you think about Manny taking on these challenges at the age of 42?
FR: We only want to take on the best. No tuneup fights, no stiffs and I think you have seen that Manny. He is fighting the best welterweight in the world at 42, no YouTubers or anything like that.
RL: Manny is considered the underdog in the fight mainly because of his age but what makes you think you guys will win?
FR: When I saw how Manny came into camp, I was very confident. Spence is an excellent fighter, but Manny has seen it all and I do think there are things we can take advantage of as long as we stick to the game plan. I think we are going to surprise a lot of people.
RL: Win or lose how long do you think Manny will continue to fight for?
FR: Manny hasn’t told me but I think he will run for President of the Philipines, once he wins I think he will have one more big retirement fight as the President of the Philipines.
Manny, (62-7-2, 39 KOs), who hails from Sarangani Province in the Philippines, is the one-time Boxing Writers Association of America Fighter of the Decade and three-time Fighter of the Year. He faces his biggest professional boxing challenge when he goes mano a mano with Spence (27-0, 21 KOs), from DeSoto, Texas. The Pacquiao-Spence world championship event, which headlines a FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View, Saturday, August 21 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, is promoted by TGB Promotions, MP Promotions and Man Down Promotions. The pay-per-view will begin at 9 p.m. RT / 6 p.m. PT. The remaining tickets can be purchased through t-mobilearena.com and axs.com.