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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Boxing devider Boxing great Evander Holyfield worried about Manny Pacquiao's age

Boxing great Evander Holyfield worried about Manny Pacquiao's age

Published Jun 28, 2021 03:59 pm

Boxing legend Evander Holyfield believes that age can be a deciding factor when Manny Pacquiao faces Error Spence Jr. on Aug. 21 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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

"It's gonna be a tough fight for both of them," Holyfield told ESNews. "But y'know, I know Pacquiao is gonna give his all but it's just when you get older -- I'm older -- I realized I don't recover as quick as how I used to be."

Pacquiao, named as "champion in recess" by the WBA, earlier stated that he will be needing more stamina against a younger opponent in Spence, 31, who remains unbeaten in 27 matches (21 KOs) since 2012.

Likewise, the 42-year-old fighting senator isn't afraid of ring rust as he tries to defy age once more since beating Keith Thurman in July 2019 to improve at 62-7-2 slate with 39 KOs.

READ: Keith Thurman favors Spence over Pacquiao: It's all about size, youth

The last time Pacquiao scored a huge knockout win was in July 2018 when he stunned Argentine foe Lucas Matthysse in the seventh round in the bout billed as "Fight of the Champions."

At that time, Pacquiao captured the regular WBA welterweight belt and sent Matthysse to retirement.

READ: Fortune: Pacquiao is the definition of a champion

While Holyfield did not pick a certain winner, the former cruiserweight and heavyweight star is somewhat worried about the aging Pacquiao, even citing himself as an example based on experience.

"I can still do what I do but it's just, what's gonna happen if it put me in this pressure... I can get in that spot, all of a sudden, if I stop and everything stop, I can't do it again," added the boxing Hall of Famer, who held a 44-10 record with 29 knockouts.

READ: Sean Gibbons: Pacquiao out to prove why he's 8-division world boxing champ

However, there is also a slight burden on Spence's part despite scoring a unanimous decision win over Danny Garcia in December last year, insisting that he's only at around 75 to 80 percent condition at that time since recovering from a car accident last October 2019.

At 100 percent though, the unbeaten American boxer, who holds the WBC and IBF welterweight belts, vowed to knock out the Filipino boxing legend and send him off to retirement.

Pacquiao, meanwhile, is facing another match outside of the ring as Paradigm Sports Management recently filed a lawsuit against him for breach of contract.

READ: Pacquiao: 'Contract breach lawsuit aimed at distracting me from Spence fight prep'

Related Tags

Evander Holyfield Errol Spence Jr. Errol Spence Manny Pacquiao
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