Pacquiao vs Spence is made and Manny will again try to beat the betting odds in their August 21 superfight – it should be a classic.
We now know the bout will likely go ahead after Paradigm Sports Management failed to get an injunction to stop it. Paradigm claimed Pacman was duty bound to face Mikey Garcia instead. Gotta love boxing politics.
Pacquiao is 42 years old, has won world titles in eight different weight classes and has nothing to prove. But still, the competitive fire burns bright.
After a proposed superfight with the other welterweight champion Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford fell through, PacMan moved on to Spence. The fight is made for Vegas and, with the court battle in the rear mirror, we are good to go.
It should be an absolute beauty as boxing properly emerges from the pandemic in the U.S. – boxing betting fans are in for once helluva summer. Here’s all we know right know after Pacquiao vs Spence was announced.
Pacquaio vs Spence Odds
Spence is a firm favorite, and that is unlikely to change before fight night. But the support is now coming for Manny.
Spence was -400 in the early going (bet $400 to win $100) with Pacquiao +275 (bet $100 to win $275). That has now changed though to -200 Spence (DraftKings) and +170 Pacquiao (with BetMGM)l.
Expect some fluctuation, but there could be good value in Spence eventually, thanks to the expected support from Manny bettors.
When is Pacquiao vs Spence?
The big fight will take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday August 21, 2021.
Ring walks for Pacquiao vs Spence will be between 2300 and 0000 ET (2000 and 2100 PT).
How can I watch Pacquiao vs Spence on TV?
Spence is tied promotionally to Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions while Manny is a free agent.
Haymon has a broadcast deal with FOX so the fight will be pay-per-view on that network with a cost of $49.99.
What’s at stake in Pacquiao vs Spence
Manny of course has already won world titles in eight weight classes – just unbelievable.
On August 21 he’ll challenge for the World Boxing Council (WBC) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) welterweight titles currently held by Spence.
The bout will take place of course at the 147lbs welterweight limit.
Manny Pacquiao record
What can you say about Manny Pacquiao – quite simply he is one of the very best to ever lace them up. He has fought 71 times as a professional, with 62 victories and just seven defeats along with two draws. He has 39 victories by KO.
From fighting for a few pennies as a kid in the Philippines to dominating the boxing world, the now 42-year-old from General Santos City has done it all.
His list of victims reads like a who’s who of boxing greatness – including among others:
- Marco Antonio Barrera
- Erik Morales
- Juan Manuel Marquez
- Oscar De La Hoya
- Miguel Cotto
- Ricky Hatton
- Antonio Margarito
- Shane Mosley
- Timothy Bradley Jr
- Keith Thurman
Pacquiao will give up some physical advantages to Spence (not just age) but it’s pretty much always been that way for Manny. He’s a physical freak – remember the savage beating he handed to the much bigger Margarito to win a world title at super-welterweight (154lbs).
Manny stands 5ft 5½ins tall (1.66m) and has a reach of 67ins (1.70m). By the time he gets into the ring on August 21 it will be just over two years since he last fought in a decision victory over Keith Thurman.
Errol Spence Jr record
If Manny is coming to the end of his epic career, Errol Spence Jr from should really be entering the prime of his.
The 31-year-old frm Desoto, Texas has a perfect professional record of 27 wins and no defeats from 27 fights. A total of 21 of those victories have come inside distance.
Spence ascended to the welterweight throne in 2017 when he knocked out Brit Kell Brook in Sheffield, England and he has held the IBF title ever since. He added the vacant WBC strap with a decision over Mikey Garcia in Arlington, Texas in 2019.
Truth be told, whatever Errol achieves from here on in will be gravy – he is quite simply lucky to still be around.
Spence was involved in a horrific automobile accident in Dallas in October 2019 when driving a Ferrari through the city. He was seriously injured but miraculously lived to fight another day in the professional boxing ring.
There were plenty of questions to be answered when he returned against Danny Garcia (again in Arlington) last December but he duly produced a confident points victory to prove that he still has what it takes.
Now on to Pacquiao, and hopefully in the future, that eagerly-awaited unification match with Crawford.
As we said, Errol has significant height and reach advantages over Pacquiao, He stands 5ft 9½ins (1.77m) tall and has a reach of 72ins (1.83m).
Pac/Spence picks from OddsCritic
We’re on a hot streak with our boxing betting picks and there are huge fights coming up. But it’s too early yet to give you our choice for this one. We need to see all the props as well as the basic money line.
We’ll provide free and expert picks during fight week from Vegas – don’t miss them.
Betting signup bonuses for Pacquiao vs Spence
Online bookmakers offer great promotional bonuses to have you sign up with them. Make the most of it.
Pac/Spence will be yet another fight where you will be bombarded with a ton of great bonuses. Our advice is to read our reviews and shop around for the best value. And don’t be afraid to take up multiple offers.
Pacquiao vs Spence quotes
Manny Pacquiao: “There were a lot of opportunities for me to pick an easier fight than this. But I picked Errol Spence Jr. because I want a real fight and a great fight for the fans. I’m a fighter and boxing is my passion.
“Errol Spence Jr. is aggressive, young and undefeated. He’s dedicated to his career. This is definitely not an easy opponent. This is the kind of opponent you can never underestimate.
“It’s been a long time since I fought a southpaw opponent. We had to change some of our strategy compared to previous fights and we’ll throw some different combinations.
“I don’t think Errol needs advice from Floyd Mayweather. I believe that Errol is a better fighter than Mayweather. Errol can teach Floyd how to fight toe-to-toe.
“I don’t want to be overconfident, because Errol is too good of an opponent. His determination and passion for the sport is always there. When I say I’m going to do something, it’s real and from the heart, it’s not to impress anybody.
Errol Spence Jr: “You can see that Manny is still an explosive fighter with great speed. We’ve been putting together a game plan and we’ve been working on implementing it. Come August 21, you’ll see it in the ring.
“Manny can lull you to sleep giving you compliments. But once the bell rings, he’s going to jump all over you.”
“My chin since the accident has been tested in sparring and in the Danny Garcia fight. I imagine Manny is going to try to come in and test it as well.
“Just because he’s 42-years-old I don’t think it’s going to hurt him in training. He’s not blowing up in weight between fights and he’s not distracted. That’s why he’s been the same Manny Pacquiao for decades. I’m looking forward to the same Pacquiao who fought Keith Thurman and before that.”