Fortune: Spence is a hell of a fighter but Pacquiao is on different level


Manny Pacquiao with strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune in this file photo. (Top Rank)

Justin Fortune, the strength and conditioning coach of Manny Pacquiao, is firm that the Filipino boxing legend will win against Errol Spence, the unified WBC and IBF welterweight champion.

"It's a good fight. Spence is a hell of a fighter but Pacquiao is on different level... Pacquiao's a different animal," said Fortune in an interview with veteran boxing writer Elie Seckbach.

"No, I don't think he's (Spence) as strong as Pacquiao. He's strong but he's not 'Manny strong and sure is f****** he ain't 'Manny fast.' And Manny's but still incredibly fast."

August 21 marks the mega-bout between Pacquiao and Spence to be held in Las Vegas but the final venue has yet to be announced.

Even before the deal was closed, Fortune, also a longtime trainer of Pacquiao, earlier said the fighting senator would "obliterate" the 31-year-old Spence.

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

The Australian trainer cited that Pacquiao, even at 42, possesses the volume and power of punches, ferocity, and speed.

Pacquiao, the only eight-division world boxing champion, has been inactive since scoring a split decision win over Keith Thurman in July 2019 to improve at 62-7-2 record on top of 39 knockouts.

Due to his inactivity, Pacquiao got stripped of his super WBA welterweight belt and was declared "champion in recess."

Spence, for his part, is unbeaten in 27 matches with 21 KOs with the latest coming from a unanimous decision win over Danny Garcia in December last year.