SPENCE WANTS TO FIGHT PACQUIAO BUT MANNY'S CAMP HAS SECOND THOUGHTS
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 04 Aug 2019
IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. said he wants to face WBA welterweight king Manny Pacquiao than fighting Canelo Alvarez. The 29-year old Spence told EsNews that he is setting his sights on the legendary Pacquiao after hurdling Shawn Porter.
"Pacquiao is the biggest fight for me, period,? Spence explained. ?I feel like me fighting Pacquiao would make me a superstar, especially if I down Manny Pacquiao.?
Spence in previous interviews expressed his interest in facing Canelo Alvarez, the unified middleweight champion and the present PPV king. Oscar Dela Hoya, Canelo's promoter, also likes the fight to happen, saying he wants his Mexican prot?g? to engage with the best fighters and the toughest challenges available.
But the direction to where Spence is heading is to clean first the best weight category there is, the welterweight division, before moving up to the heavier division and face a bigger opponent in Canelo.
Spence in his latest victory came from a lopsided unanimous decision win over lightweight champ Mikey Garcia, and he will climb the ring with a distinct advantage over Porter.
But Porter is not an easy opponent with his triumphs over high caliber boxers such as Danny Garcia, Adrien Broner, Andre Berto, Adrian Granados, and Yordenis Ugas.
Several fans and scribes are demanding the winner of the fight between Spence and Porter to challenge Pacquiao next. The fight will unify three major belts, WBA, IBF, and WBC, whose fighters are all under the same promotion Premier Boxing Championship.
It was designed that the unified champion will clash with the WBO title holder and the no. 1 pound-for-pound fighter Terrence Crawford to once and for all determine the overall ruler of the 147-pound division.
Regarding his opinion on the coming Spence vs. Porter fight, Pacquiao kept the doors open for both fighters and informed reporters that he might come and witness the fight. "We'll see. I might go into the fight and watch the fight on September," Pacquiao said.
Both Spence and Porter are quality opponents for the eight division world champion, but his team sensed "danger" if the 40-year old veteran would fight with either Spence or Porter, as Philstar reported.
"If we beat Spence, what will we gain? And what will happen if he ends up beating Manny?? trainer Buboy Fernandez said.
The same sentiment goes with matchmaker Sean Gibbons who clarified that they have no plans of fighting both younger champions. "We are not planning to fight Shawn Porter or Errol Spence,? Gibbons said.
Fernandez and Gibbons are troubled with the thought of facing Spence or Porter as they both believe that the two welterweight titlists are "high-risk yet low-reward opponents" for Pacquiao. Most dangerous is Spence whose size and style they analyzed will trouble Pacquiao especially at his age.
"He is close to 41. What we need to do is protect him and his career,? Fernandez explained.
Pacquiao's handlers want Danny Garcia or Mickey Garcia as probable next opponents. Danny Garcia has announced he likes to challenge the winner of the Pacquiao vs. Thurman championship.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Undefeated Cuban Middleweight Pedro Veitia Scores Electrifying Stoppage of Previously Unbeaten Taiwo Afolabi
Fri, 19 Jun 2026Riyadh Season boxing events will stream free starting in November
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Fri, 19 Jun 2026Heavyweight Contender Gustavo "The Cuban Assassin" Trujillo Returns June 28 in Main Event of "Fist of Fury 11"
Fri, 19 Jun 2026DC Eagles routs Perfect, 5-1 in R5
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 19 Jun 2026PCCI Las Piñas Leaders to Visit Lipa for the June 20 JCI Rapid Chess Tournament
Fri, 19 Jun 2026Engr. Allan Anthony Alvarez eyes five squads in JCI Senate Lipa 3X3 Open Rapid Chess Tournament on June 20
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 19 Jun 2026PACHECO CLASHES WITH ALEEM ON STACKED LA CARD
Thu, 18 Jun 2026Rising Mexican Contender Neider Valdez Steps in to Face Pound-for-Pound Puerto Rican Champion Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo in WBA, WBO and Ring Magazine Minimumweight World Championship Fight
Thu, 18 Jun 2026Sumabong to defend WBO title against undefeated Taiwanese on July 11 in Bohol
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 17 Jun 2026Jordan Orozco Remains Perfect with Dominant Third-Round TKO of Fernando Diaz on MVP/Boxlab Card in Orlando
Wed, 17 Jun 2026Floyd Mayweather Jr could face charges of fraud in Las Vegas
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 17 Jun 2026EDDIE HEARN SIGNS DIVINE OMOJOR FOR MATCHROOM BOXING ON LONG-TERM DEAL AS NEWCASTLE TEENAGE CRUISERWEIGHT TURNS PRO
Wed, 17 Jun 2026DC Trail Ultra on July 26 in Calinan
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 17 Jun 2026Torre to grace Gov. Oaminal Chess Festival
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 17 Jun 2026Apolinar, Santisima to fight on June 19 in Japan
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 17 Jun 2026