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:
THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 17 JUNE 2026: Bam Stops Vargas in 6; Wins by Michel Soro, Wilkens Mathieu, Elif Nur Turhan, Nataly Delgado and Abraham Perez
By Eric Armit, Tue, 16 Jun 2026Undefeated world champion Ataev faces experienced Venezuelan puncher Uzcátegui at IBA PRO 19
Tue, 16 Jun 2026Full Fight Card Set for MF Pro’s “Pugilist Revolution” June 19 at Thunder Studios in Long Beach
Tue, 16 Jun 2026Campbell son of Ricky Hatton confirms ring return
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Tue, 16 Jun 2026Deaño to fight for ABF super feather title
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 16 Jun 2026Former champ Andy Ruiz could return against Huggie Fury in 2026
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Tue, 16 Jun 2026Mexican legend Jackie Nava inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Mon, 15 Jun 2026Ronnie Alvarez Dominates Filip Stankovic, Scores Seventh-Round TKO at Desert Diamond Arena
Sun, 14 Jun 2026THE CROWNING OF BAM: Rodriguez Overcomes Early Storm to Detonate Vargas in Six, Eyes Inoue Super-Fight
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 14 Jun 2026New York Knicks win the NBA Championship with historic comeback
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sun, 14 Jun 2026Panamanian superstar Nataly Delgado wins 115lb female WBA world championship in Orlando, Florida
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sun, 14 Jun 2026IBA Bare Knuckle to make historic United States debut in Miami
Sun, 14 Jun 2026Laurente remains undefeated, TKOs Aguan in Gensan
By Lito delos Reyes, Sun, 14 Jun 2026Foundation stone laid for the first-ever IBA arena in Dushanbe
Sun, 14 Jun 2026Jerick Faeldonia Wins One Chess Movement Tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 14 Jun 2026