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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Boxing devider Donaire on Pacquiao-Spence: You can't underestimate guys like Manny

Donaire on Pacquiao-Spence: You can't underestimate guys like Manny

Published May 28, 2021 02:44 pm

Manny Pacquiao (AFP)

Filipino four-division world boxing champion Nonito Donaire believes that Manny Pacquiao is still a force to reckon with against unified WBC and IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr.

Donaire didn't pick a favorite or a possible winner for the mega-bout but emphasized that he's looking forward to a "competitive fight" between the two welterweight stars.

"A champion will always be a champion. Regardless if you don't show it that day, they might show it the next. And he (Pacquiao) might show it with his opponent (Spence)," Donaire told Fight Hub TV on Friday at the presser sideline ahead of his fight with WBC bantamweight titleholder Nordine Oubaali.

"So you just can't underestimate guys like that, like Manny. He still has the power, he still has the knowledge for it. But that's the thing about boxing, you never know until it's done."

READ: Former Pacquiao foes favor Spence

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.

The 42-year-old Filipino fighting senator got stripped of his super WBA welterweight belt and was declared "champion in recess" due to his inactivity.

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

The unbeaten Spence, for his part, has won 27 of his matches with 21 KOs with the most recent coming from a unanimous decision victory over Danny Garcia in December last year.

"I know that Manny has the capability and Errol, he has his own ups and downs. Y'know being in an accident that affect him... He (Spence) is one of the young guys who are one of the best fighters right now against a guy who's been there, who's done it, and I believe that he (Pacquiao) still it," added the 38-year-old Donaire.

Meanwhile, Donaire, who holds a 40-6 slate with 26 KOs, is shooting for his third bantamweight title win against the undefeated Oubaali (17-0, 12 KOs) at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California on Saturday (Sunday, Manila time).

READ: Donaire banks on power over Oubaali's technicality

Related Tags

Nonito Donaire Errol Spence Jr. Errol Spence Manny Pacquiao
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