Errol Spence Jr. has a fight date with Danny Garcia on December 5 but already the welterweight champion has his eyes set on a dreamed slugfest with Manny Pacquiao, if possible anytime in 2021. The meeting will serve as a unification bout although Spence is aware that getting Pacquiao to box with him seemed a long shot.
If not for Conor McGregor, Pacquiao staking his WBA welterweight belt for the chance to snatch the WBC and IBF titles that Spence currently holds appeared an easy decision on his part. But the planned face off with The Notorious is seen as the bigger money-maker and something that the Filipino boxing icon will find hard to resist.
Spence knows time is running out on Pacquiao as the eight-division champion is turning 42 soon. That is why he understands that Pacman will likely prioritize the prizefight with McGregor and he will only get his shot after the Pacquiao vs. McGregor.
But if the ring showdown with Pacquiao gets lined up, Spence said he is all in.
"He's on his way out, so I'd love to have that fight ... He's an icon even outside the sport. Everybody knows who Manny Pacquiao is. That would be a great fight for me," Bad Left Hook reported the American fighter as saying.
The Pacquiao match not happening in 2021 could prod Spence to arrange instead a confrontation with Terence Crawford, who owns the WBA welterweight crown. Undeniably, it will be another big match for the two boxers but Spence cannot be blamed for wanting more the chance to face Pacquiao atop the ring.
The Filipino, after all, is the bigger star when compared with Crawford. Spence himself admitted that Pacquiao "is a living legend," after making his presence felt in the boxing world for over two decades.
Also, the American fighter said he gets it that Pacquiao will pick a fight with an MMA artist over a boxer. It's all about business and the 30-year-old made clear he understands that the Filipino will want to take advantage of his limited time in the spotlight.
Given the same situation and opportunities, Spence said he'd also take a big bite and one cannot blame Pacquiao for doing so.
"Manny Pacquiao earned that right. He's earned his right to make his money and fight whoever he wants to fight, because he fought whoever was lined up to fight him," DAZN reported Spence as saying.
Spence further revealed that aside from Pacquiao, another big bout on his mind is with the legendary Canelo Alvarez, which he added will be a mega-fight to be staged at the Dallas Cowboys' AT&T Stadium in Texas.
