Errol Spence Jr. believes he can force Manny Pacquiao to retirement after their mega-bout in Las Vegas, Nevada on Aug. 21.
"I think he'll definitely retire," Spence told Showtime's Brian Custer during the Jermell Charlo-Brian Castano junior middleweight unification match over the weekend. "I think he'll definitely retire after this fight."
READ: Pacquiao: Same intensity, different style vs southpaw Spence
From the get-go, Spence, the unified WBC and IBF titleholder, has set sights on knocking out the eight-division world boxing champion as soon as their match was formally announced.
Though Spence said it will be quite a challenge for him, the 31-year-old American boxer is confident of his capability to send the Filipino boxing champion down the canvas.
READ: Pacquiao puts premium on discipline, conditioning ahead of Spence mega-bout
And should he win, Spence said it's proof of his legacy not only in the welterweight division but also in boxing history.
" will show everybody why I am one of the best fighters in the world," said Spence, who holds an unbeaten record of 27-0 on top of 21 knockouts.
READ: Pacquiao: Spence is one of the biggest challenges in my career
"And it will show everybody why I am the best 147-pounder in my division."
Meanwhile, Pacquiao, who is in his second week of training in the United States, gets a little bit of beating from the Justin Fortune's conditioning stick at coach Freddie Roach's Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, California.
(TWT EMBED: https://twitter.com/MannyPacquiao/status/1417429977172041732)
READ: Manny Pacquiao: I'll be needing more stamina vs Errol Spence
In a video posted on social media, Pacquiao can be seen enduring the pain from Fortune's stick padding on his arms and abdominal area.
Conditioning sticks are usually used for combat sports conditioning, especially in muay thai, not only to increase the pain threshold of a fighter but also gives them extra sturdiness on their limbs.
READ: Fortune: Pacquiao is the definition of a champion
Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs), who has not fought since beating Keith Thurman in July 2019, and Spence, who defeated Danny Garcia last December, will dispute the WBC and IBF belts as well as the vacant The Ring title.