HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA (July 26, 2021) — While the stock market continues to soar, the value on betting that eight-division champion and boxer laureate Senator Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao will upset undefeated unified WBC/IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. is plummeting. Three weeks into his U.S. training camp with world-famous Freddie Roach at the Hollywood, California-based Wild Card Boxing Club, insider information seems to have leaked out on Manny’s conditioning and training camp performance. The numbers don’t lie. Spence, 11 years younger and four inches taller than Manny, opened as a massive 4:1 favorite with BetMGM to retain his belts. Since last week, the money has been pouring in on amazin’ Manny, who is now only a 2:1 underdog.
And why not? Before the pandemic put mega fights on the shelf, Manny lit up the welterweight division in his last three fights, which took place during a 12-month period, from July 15, 2018 to July 20, 2019. He ran the table, knocking out WBA regular welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse, successfully defending that title with a unanimous decision blitzing of Adrien Broner, and scoring a first-round knockdown en route to an exciting split decision victory over then undefeated WBA welterweight “super” champion Keith Thurman to become, at age 40, the oldest man to win a welterweight title. Now, tan, rested, and ready to rumble, Manny is looking to break that age record, along with Spence’s grip on those world championship belts.
“Two years out of the ring allowed my body to rest. My energy stores are overflowing,” said Manny. “I am so grateful to God that I can still fight at this level against the best and to still have these opportunities at age 42. I am still amazed that I have won world titles in each decade, going back to the nineties. My fight with Errol Spence is not just a battle between the two best welterweights but between two of the best fighters. There is no “B side” in this fight. I have just as much to prove in this fight as Errol does. We are going to bring out the best in each other. It is the type of fight that makes boxing so great.”
“Working with Manny never gets old. In fact, it seems like Manny never gets old! And hearing that all the money is coming in on Manny reminds me of the song, The Best Is Yet To Come, because that has been the common thread throughout Manny’s boxing career,” said Freddie. “I am just so damn proud of Manny for picking Errol Spence for this fight. It’s a real fight and what a great example to set. You want respect? You want to establish a legacy? Look at what Manny and Spence will be doing on August 21. It’s the type of fight that returns boxing to the front page.”
Manny, (62-7-2, 39 KOs), who hails from Sarangani Province in the Philippines, is the one-time Boxing Writers Association of America Fighter of the Decade and three-time Fighter of the Year. He faces his biggest professional boxing challenge when he goes mano a mano with Spence (27-0, 21 KOs), from DeSoto, Texas. The Pacquiao-Spence world championship event, which headlines a FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View, Saturday, August 21 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, is promoted by TGB Promotions, MP Promotions and Man Down Promotions. The pay-per-view will begin at 9 p.m. RT / 6 p.m. PT. Remaining tickets can be purchased through t-mobilearena.com and axs.com.
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