Manny Pacquiao and a rematch with Floyd Mayweather is still impossible at this stage, but it looks like he has finally found an opponent for his next fight.
Pacquiao accepted a challenge from Errol Spence for a fight after the latter won with a unanimous decision against Mikey Garcia Saturday night at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, The Evening Standard reported.
Spence challenges Pacquiao
The undefeated Spence wasted no time in calling out the 40-year-old Pacquiao, whose next fight will be held in the United States probably in July, after soundly defeating Garcia to retain his International Boxing Federation welterweight belt.
During a post-fight interview, Spence invited Pacquiao into the ring and told the sport’s only eight-division world champion that it will be an honor for him to fight the boxing legend.
Pacquiao, an offensive artist, then accepted Spence’s challenge, saying that a fight with Spence will be good for the fans, AP noted. The Filipino icon, who flew to the US to scout for his next opponent, was at the ringside watching Spence execute his superior skills against Garcia.
The fight and venue
A Pacquiao-Spence showdown will be easy to make. Both belong to the same promoter, Premier Boxing Champions of Al Haymon, and any negotiation can start immediately. One of the issues to consider if talks will push through would be the date.
The fight should not happen during months when Pacquiao is busy doing his activities as a senator in the Philippines.
Should a Pacquiao-Spence fight happen, the Dallas Cowboys’ home stadium would be an ideal venue since the 29-year-old Spence, who will have a height advantage, lives in nearby DeSoto, Texas. The place also hosted Pacquiao’s victorious fights against Joshua Clottey of Ghana and Antonio Margarito in 2010.
Luring Mayweather
Pacquiao has been luring undefeated Floyd Mayweather for a rematch. He claimed his camp is currently negotiating with the American for a possible fight this year. Mayweather, who last saw action in December against a Japanese kickboxing phenomenon in an exhibition match in Japan, has not confirmed any negotiation with Pacquiao is taking place.
His camp earlier said Mayweather, who holds a 50-0 record, is no longer interested in returning to the ring despite tempting offers for a Pacquiao rematch, which will surely be another blockbuster. Mayweather earned a unanimous decision in their controversial 2015 encounter touted as boxing’s richest fight that shattered all per-per-view records.
