Robert Brizel Breaks Down Spence vs. Pacquiao
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Welterweight worlds will collide on August 21, 2021, when Errol Spence Jr. will face Manny Pacquiao, in a battle of 147 pounds world welterweight champions. Spence, the World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation World Welterweight champion, will face World Boxing Association Super World Welterweight champion Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao. The WBA belt will not be at stake in Pacquiao’s super challenge, her first ring appearance since dethroning WBA World Welterweight champion Keith Thurman on July 20, 2019. Pacquiao’s appearance, his first in two years, will decide the final unification challenger for Terence “Bud” Crawford, the current reigning WBO World Welterweight champion.
The Freddie Roach trained southpaw Pacquiao, 62-7-2 with 39 knockouts, General Santos City, Philippines, will face the most dangerous opponent of his career after Floyd Mayweather Jr. in Spence, 27-0 with 21 knockouts, DeSoto, Texas. Spence, who was seriously injured on October 10, 2019, when he crashed Ferrari in Dallas, Texas, and was charged with drunk driving, recovered and last defended his titles on December 20, 2020, with a unanimous 12 round decision over former world champion Danny Garcia.
With Crawford out of the unification picture for the moment, Spence faces his most dangerous opponent, and is unlikely to take chances if he can outpoint Pacquiao and move onto a unification bout with Crawford. Spence is not as quick on his feet as Pacquiao. However, Spence has superior hand speed and a superior work rate which should keep Pacquiao at bay in terms of the punch count. Spence could get knocked down, but short of a stoppage, Spence should win by 12 round decision on the cards at least eight rounds to four. Spence will have to be prepared for Pacquiao, who could change his game plan midstream and keep Spence guessing. Pacquiao is a confusing opponent. The long payoff could be a blessing or a burden, depending on which version of Pacquiao shows up. Mutual respect is a major key in predicting this bout, as both combatants will have tremendous respect for one another, and both will box cautiously for all 12 rounds. Pacquiao versus Spence is not a power punch bombs away situation circumstance. Pacquiao versus Spence is a technical bout, and Spence is the master technician. Pacquiao has superior experience, but the layoff will leave him slightly behind on his timing and ability to control the tempo of the bout. Pacquiao has ring generalship, but Spence has matured as a fighter and can outwork virtually any opponent today, including Floyd. After losing by knockout to Juan Manuel Marquez, Pacquiao will not throw caution to the wind against Spence, insuring a hard fought decision will result after 12 highly technically fought rounds. Either fighter could get careless, resulting in a knockdown, but given their styles, it is unlikely to occur.
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