Manny Pacquiao To Face Errol Spence In August PPV
After months of speculation and waiting, it looks like future Hall of Famer, Manny Pacquiao is back and as expected, it will be a blockbuster showdown in the Welterweight division. That’s when he says he’ll meet IBF/WBC World Champ, Errol Spence, this August.
Pacquiao made the fight seemingly official by posting on social media Friday afternoon with a picture of he and Spence with the date of August 21st. Take a look,
— Manny Pacquiao (@MannyPacquiao) May 21, 2021
Pacquiao is the WBA’s “Champion in recess” at 147 lbs., is 62-7-2 and he defeated Adrian Broner on PPV by decision in the first fight of his Premier Boxing Champions deal in January of 2019. He then took the WBA World Welterweight title off Keith Thurman with a stirring 12 round performance in July of that year, but has not fought since.
He’s obviously been one of the top non-Heayvweight draws in boxing over the past decade with humungous bouts against Floyd Mayweather, Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton and Oscar De La Hoya among others.
There had been speculation that the 42 year old Pacquiao would fight unbeaten WBO World Champ, Terence Crawford, at some point this Summer. However, the biggest hangup was the Top Rank Boxing, Crawford’s promoter currently, could not work out a deal for that proposed fight to be held with fans in the Middle East.
But bigger, as we have reported repeatedly over the last year from two different sources within Premier Boxing Champions and with understanding of Pacquiao’s original deal with them over two years ago: Pacquiao had signed a two fight promotional deal with PBC and at least one more fight, is their option.
That now aligns with Pacquiao’s announcement including that the Spence fight will be a PBC show on Fox Sports PPV.
The Athletic’s Mike Coppinger reported later on Friday that the bout will likely be in Las Vegas,
Sources: The likely venue for #PacquiaoSpence is the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Would be the senator’s 16th (16!!) fight at the venue https://t.co/PuWdogngqn
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) May 21, 2021
Not only is that a popular venue for Pacquiao, it will also be needed as Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas houses the Raiders of the NFL will be playing a preseason game that weekend with the L.A. Rams.
As for the 27-0, 21 KOs Spence, he was last in action in December on a PBC/Fox Sports PPV, when he decisioned Danny Garcia at AT&T Stadium to retain his two titles. It was his return to the ring after a horrific, rollover one car crash in October of 2019, where he was ejected from his vehicle, but escaped serious injury or death.
Spence was out of action for 14 months after having beaten Shawn Porter in Los Angeles in September of 2019. This was due to the car accident several weeks later and the Covid 19 pandemic before getting back in the ring with Garcia.
It had been long believed that when Pacquiao beat Thurman and then Spence had beaten Porter that PBC was angling for those two to meet in 2020. And now, it will happen a year later.
A veteran broadcaster of over 25 years, T.J. has been a fight fan longer than that! He’s the host of the “Big Fight Weekend” podcast and will go “toe to toe” with anyone who thinks that Marvin Hagler beat Sugar Ray Leonard or that Tyson, Lennox Lewis or Deontay Wilder could have beaten Ali!
