Spence vows to KO Pacquiao, send legend into retirement

Errol Spence hopes to do to Manny Pacquiao what many others have failed to achieve in the last few years.

Claiming he’s gotten stronger and better, Spence promises to end Pacquiao’s legendary ring career when they clash on Saturday, August 21 (Sunday, August 22, Philippine time) in a three-title unification in Las Vegas, Nevada.

And to accomplish his goal, Spence said he’s whipping himself into the best possible shape.

“I meant to get as strong as I can to knock out Manny Pacquiao and send him off to retirement,” Spence told Barbershop Conversations.

“I’m expecting the same Manny Pacquiao we see every time, and he’ll come to fight. I’ll be a lot stronger than (in) my previous fight (with Danny Garcia).”

According to Spence, Pacquiao, boxing’s lone eight-division world champion, shouldn’t look at the Garcia fight as a gauge of his capacity because he was just “80% or 75%.” 

“I wasn’t right for Danny and I wasn’t right at all,” he said.

Though Spence posted a clear unanimous decision over Garcia last December 5, the Texan, who was then fighting for the first time after surviving a car crash, was unable to post a stoppage.

Against Pacquiao, however, Spence is ready to unleash the power that has knocked out 21 of his 27 victims thus far.

“Now, I’m sharp as heck. I feel strong,” said Spence, baring that he’s already down to 158 pounds, just 11 pounds off the limit, with training camp yet to go full blast on June 21.

Spence also beat Shawn Porter by split decision on October 28, 2019, and Mikey Garcia by lopsided unanimous decision on March 16 of the same year.

Highly confident, Spence said once he’s through with Pacquiao, who stands to be reinstated as World Boxing Association “super” welterweight champion soon, he’ll be targeting World Boxing Organization champion Terence Crawford next.

Spence also revealed that his pay-per-view fight with Pacquiao will be subject to VADA (Voluntary Anti-Doping Association) rules and has no rematch clause.

It’s either success or bust for Spence. – Rappler.com