ERROL SPENCE HAS TO FIGHT UNBEATEN PONOMAREV IN FINAL WORLD TITLE ELIMINATOR; FORGET SHOT AT PACQUIAO
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 20 Apr 2016
Spence.
Unbeaten Errol Spence (20-0, 17 KO?s) can forget about a fight with eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao for the time being as the IBF has ordered him to face undefeated Konstantin Ponomarev (30-0, 13KOs) in a final world title eliminator with the winner becoming mandatory challenger to welterweight world champion Kell Brook (36-0, 26KOs) of Britain.
Boxing Scene reported that Spence who demolished former WBO junior welterweight champion Chris Algieri in five rounds at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York last Saturday immediately called out Brook.
Trained by veteran coach Abel Sanchez, Ponomarev handed Brad Solomon his first career defeat two weeks ago in the opening fight of the Pacquiao-Bradley III non-televised undercard from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Ponomarev will be a very big underdog in the contest.
The IBF ordered both sides to negotiate but Boxing Scene says ?don't be surprised if the fight heads to a purse bid. Spence is managed by Al Haymon and fights under the Premier Boxing Champions banner. Ponomarev is promoted by Top Rank. Haymon and Top Rank are currently involved in a multi-million dollar legal battle.?
Meantime, Pacquiao?s Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach has ripped into Spence after he had challenged Pacquiao following his impressive 5th round stoppage of Chris Algieri.
While commending Spence for being ?a good fighter. I met him in the Olympic training center. He was one of the best fighters on the (2012) team. He looked good against (Chris) Algieri the other night but he can't carry Manny Pacquiao's bags."
Roach conceded, "Manny's getting older, he's retired now and Errol's up and coming. He might have a little youth on Manny, Manny has a lot of experience and he has to just get in line. fight a real fight first and then you can show me something. Fight Kell Brook and show me something."
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