Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach says he was not too worried when star pupil Manny Pacquiao announced his plans to fight Errol Spence. Roach understands Pacquiao is 42 years old and has not been in the ring for two years. He is also conscious of the impressive manner in which Spence dispatched prior credible opponents.
Roach explains he knew Pacquiao would fight again and was looking for the best opponent available. “I was hoping he would pick Mikey Garcia,” Roach admits. “I thought that was a better fight.”
Roach says he called his fighter as soon as he learned the identity of his August 21 opponent. “Congratulations, you are fighting a real fight,” he told the boxing legend.
The 31-year-old Errol Spence is undefeated in 27 professional fights. He has stopped 21 opponents before the scheduled end of a boxing match. Spence currently holds the IBF and WBC welterweight titles.
Freddie Roach feels the key for his fighter against Spence is to get off to a fast start. He says momentum will carry Pacquiao to victory if he can impress his power on Spence from the opening round. “We are going to start fast,” Roach promised before adding, “we are in shape to go 12 rounds.”
Manny Pacquiao is already boxing royalty. But a victory against an opponent of Spence´s caliber at this stage of his career would propel Pacquiao to a status that only a handful of men have achieved in the sport´s history.
Manny Pacquiao weighed 106 pounds when he entered the ring for his first professional fight at 26 years old. Errol Spence was five years old at the time. The improbable roads that led the two fighters to share the ring on August 21 will likely lead to a battle not many boxing fans will forget anytime soon.