Even in his Forties, eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao is motivated by testing himself at elite level and not bank balance boosting curiosities against YouTubers.
On August 21 in Las Vegas, the 42-year-old Pacquiao will seek to add more prestige to an already illustrious and logic-defying career when he meets WBC and IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence, in what could be the Filipino’s boxing swansong after so many nights of glory.
Prominent fight figure Sean Gibbons, President of Manny Pacquiao Promotions, says that his fighter remains determined to face the best in his twilight years, in contrast to old rival Floyd Mayweather who has chosen a different route altogether with a high-profile exhibition bout against 0-1 YouTuber Logan Paul scheduled for Miami Gardens on June 6.
“Many people believe Spence is the best welterweight in the world and one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, and Pacquiao has never shied away from fighting real fights,” Gibbons told ESPN.com.
“He’s not going to make a fool of himself fighting YouTubers or social media guys like Floyd Mayweather is, and he wants to continue his legacy. He’s always fought the best and he doesn’t want to change now.”
Mayweather defeated Pacquiao on points in May 2015 in a tactical bout that never caught fire. Yet a Pacquiao victory over the unbeaten Spence would add further credence to the claim that the Filipino had the greater career.