SPORTS SHORTS 177: AFTER ERROL SPENCE WHAT'S NEXT FOR MANNY PACQUIAO?
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 22 Jul 2021
Eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao challenging WBC and IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. on August 21 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas packs the boxing world with enthusiasm.
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The 42-year-old senator could be retiring in an exciting way on August 21. But if the underdog Pacquiao can pull off an upset against Spence will he seek a bigger showdown?
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Fans would want Terence Crawford, the WBO welterweight champion, to face the winner of the Pacquiao-Spence super fight. Pacquiao revealed to Nick Giongco of The Daily Tribune that his first choice as foe is undefeated “Bud” Crawford.
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He said he told Crawford's promoter Bob Arum he wants $40 million. The future Hall of Famer said he will fight anybody. "You know me, I don’t back away from any challenge. Bring ‘em on!”
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During the times of the coronavirus pandemic raising $40 million for a purse is real hard to realize but currently the economy is gradually recovering in the United States and a full capacity live gate is now possible.
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Arum wants to fill a stadium like the newly created Allegiant in Las Vegas, home stadium for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Rebels college football team.
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Between Spence or Pacquiao as Crawford's opponent to obtain full capacity and increase PPV sales, Arum was made to choose. "Obviously, Manny because there’s more money in a Manny fight,” said Arum when asked which of the two fights is more feasible for Crawford to battle.
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Crawford, 33, is ranked No. 2 in the welterweight division by The Ring, while the Filipino legend Pacquiao, 42, who turned pro when Crawford was 7 years old, is ranked No. 3. Spence is at No. 1 and his fight with Pacquiao will determine The Ring welterweight champion.
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Crawford held world championships in three weight classes, including the present WBO welterweight title since 2018. Previously he held the WBO and The Ring lightweight titles from 2014 to 2015 and the unified WBA (Super), WBC, IBF, WBO, and The Ring light welterweight titles from 2015 to 2017.
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Crawford started boxing at the age of seven and went on to fight 70 amateur bouts before turning professional. As an amateur, he defeated the likes of Danny and Mikey Garcia and went on to win three tournaments, including the 2007 U.S Pan American Games Box-Offs.
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Despite being ranked as the number one American amateur boxer at lightweight, Crawford of Omaha, Nebraska was not able to make it to the 2008 Beijing Olympic boxing team because he was defeated by Sadam Ali of Brooklyn, New York.
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Other probable Pacquiao opponents like Connor McGregor, Ryan Garcia, and Mikey Garcia have disappeared from the media hype. McGregor lost to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 on Saturday in Las Vegas. The official result was a TKO defeat at the end of the first round due to a doctor's stoppage.
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McGregor's lower left leg snapped as he stepped backward after throwing a punch at the end of the opening round during his MMA trilogy with Poirier. McGregor also lost to Poirier during their second encounter in UFC 257 by second round TKO.
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Ryan Garcia withdraws from July 9 fight with Javier Fortuna to "manage health and well-being". He previously showed interest in fighting Pacquiao but it just fizzled out. Former four-division champion Mikey Garcia and ex-titlist Regis Prograis are in advanced talks for a fall clash at 140 pounds, as told to ESPN.
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Deputy Speaker and Cagayan de Oro City Representative Rufus Rodriguez called for a "ceasefire" on the attacks against Senator Manny Pacquiao related to issues within the administration party PDP-Laban. Rodriguez said this would allow Pacquiao to have peace of mind as he trains for his fight against Errol Spence.
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“I am calling for a ceasefire on attacks against our boxing icon to allow him to focus single-mindedly on his training. He has to prepare well for his fight. There should be nothing to distract and bother him,” the lawmaker said. "Let us all support him because he brings pride and honor to our country."
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"I think he'll definitely retire after this fight," Spence told Showtime's Brian Custer last weekend referring to Pacquiao. The 31-year-old unified champion was evasive, however, when asked if he expected to knockout Pacquiao. "I don't know, we'll see. You have to tune in," replied Spence.
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However, the Texas-born American world champion acknowledged how important this bout is if he wants his career to surge to greater heights with a convincing victory over a legendary fighter as Pacquiao.
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"[A win over Pacquiao] will show everybody why I am one of the best fighters in the world," said Spence.
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Liam Happe of DAZN referring to Manny Pacquiao: "And, let's face it, after a huge showdown with Spence, will anything else realistically offer a better swan song?"
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Perhaps there is still one bigger fight he should take when "Pac-Man" could upset Spence. It will be in the political arena in the coming 2022 national elections. The lawmaker is a shoo-in for reelection as a Senator. But if he decides to fight in the presidential derby, he is going to face the biggest fight in his career, his political calling.
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Giannis and Thanasis Antetokounmpo became NBA champions with the Milwaukee Bucks, now same as younger brother Kostas and making them the first trio of brothers to win a league title. Kostas was with the Los Angeles Lakers team that won last year’s NBA championship.
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“Obviously at the dinner table it was awkward a little bit because he had the ring before me,” Giannis said during an interview. “But now me and Thanasis have ours.”
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Margielyn Didal is bringing her talents to Tokyo as she aims to win a golden trio after dominating the 2018 Asian Games and 2019 SEA Games street events. Didal, ranked No. 13 in the world, has made headlines in the world skateboarding scene as she received this year’s Asia Skater of the Year award.
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She was also included in the prestigious awards lists of several publications such as the 2018 TIME Magazine’s most influential teens and the 2019 Forbes 30 under 30.
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Though she was able to win over competitors from great skateboarding countries like Japan during the Asian Games, Didal is preparing new techniques to be at par with the world's top skaters like Brazil’s Pamela Rosa and Japanese Aori Nishimura.
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The 22-year-old Didal spent most of her time training in home city Cebu during the pandemic, and she was also able to build a skate park that time.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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