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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Boxing devider Mikey Garcia: Spence has the edge, but Pacquiao is a 'tough dude'

Mikey Garcia: Spence has the edge, but Pacquiao is a 'tough dude'

Published May 23, 2021 02:21 pm

Unified WBC and IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. (left) and WBA’s “champion in recess” Manny Pacquiao. (AFP)

Mikey Garcia was left with no choice after Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao decided to fight unified WBC and IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr.

As he stated in previous interviews, Garcia is most likely looking for the next available boxer on the radar.

And this is what the American welterweight reiterated during a candid interview with veteran boxing reporter Elie Seckbach posted on Youtube Sunday, May 23.

READ: Mikey Garcia: If not Manny, I’ll find someone else

Garcia, who was seen entertaining and taking selfies with fans in an undisclosed gathering, weighed in on the Pacquiao-Spence mega-bout set on August 21 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

READ: Manny Pacquiao wants 70,000-seater Allegiant Stadium for comeback fight vs Errol Spence

"I think Spence probably has the edge, y'know, the upper hand. But Pacquiao's a tough dude," said Garcia, who was one of the prospects to face the Filipino fighting senator.

"He's experienced, he's motivated so you can never count him out. He surprised me a lot when he fought Thurman so, I mean, I wouldn't be surprised ."

Despite the calm demeanor, Garcia's older brother and trainer, Robert, said Mikey "was obviously distraught about missing the opportunity to fight Pacquiao" as stated in an article by Lance Pugmire of The Athletic.

Pacquiao, in the same report, said "there was no proper or confirmed funder" as far as the negotiations with Garcia are concerned.

Garcia, 33, last saw action in February last year with a unanimous decision win over Pacquiao's former foe in Jessie Vargas to improve at 40-1 record on top of 30 knockouts.

His lone loss, ironically, came from Spence when the two clashed in March 2019.

The 42-year-old Pacquiao has not fought since scoring a split decision win over Thurman in July 2019 to climb at 62-7-2 record on top of 39 knockouts while Spence, 31, remained unbeaten in 27 matches with 21 KOs.

Related Tags

Mikey Garcia Errol Spence Jr. Errol Spence Manny Pacquiao
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