Manny Pacquiao, reacts after knocking down Keith Thurman in the first round during a welterweight title fight Saturday, July 20, 2019, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Manny Pacquiao has been tagged the underdog in his upcoming bout against Errol Spence Jr. in August.
Don’t tell that to undisputed lightweight world champion Teofimo Lopez, who is in awe of the Filipino ring icon. Or former world champion Robert Guerrero, who thinks it would be foolish to count Pacquiao out in the bout scheduled in Las Vegas.
Lopez—who holds the World Boxing Council Franchise, World Boxing Association Super, International Boxing Federation, World Boxing Organization and Ring Magazine belts—said he is amazed at how the 42-year-old Pacquiao picked such a dangerous foe in Spence, a two-belt welterweight champion.
“That just shows the amount of a true champion he really is,” said Lopez in an interview with ES News.
“Manny Pacquiao was already a legend 10 fights ago, man. Manny, you’re not human, but that’s all to God’s blessings.”
Guerrero, on the other hand, said Spence’s advantage in size and reach will be negated by Pacquiao’s rare mix of speed and power. Guerrero isn’t also the least concerned about the eight-division champ’s age.
“He’s still got those fast hands and the last thing to go is your punching power,” said Guerrero. “Filipinos at 40 years old are like 20, man.”