By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

WHILE it remains to be seen if Filipino boxing legend Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao gets to fight newly crowned IBF and WBC welterweight titleholder Errol “The Truth” Spence, Jr. of the United States, still it is going to be worth the wait and watching.

That was the assertion made by one local fight analyst in the aftermath of Mr. Spence’s performance at the weekend against compatriot Shawn “Showtime” Porter in their unification fight for the International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Council welterweight titles at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday (Manila time).

Mr. Spence (26-0, 21 KO), the IBF champion, won by split decision over Mr. Porter to win the WBC belt that the latter held.

Former Olympian Spence struggled to dictate the fight against Mr. Porter but stayed the course, ground it out and held tough to win by split decision, 116-111, 116-111 and 112-115.

After the fight the idea of Spence fighting Pacquiao, which has been circling around for some time now, was once again brought to the fore.

Both fighters are seemingly open to exploring such path but nothing definite has been agreed upon.

Also, the name of former titleholder Danny “Swift” Garcia has been pushed to take on Mr. Spence next with the former even entering the ring and issuing a challenge to IBF and WBC champion after the fight on Sunday.

Nevertheless, if and when Mr. Spence, 29, becomes the opponent of 40-year-old Pacquiao (67-7-2), the World Boxing Association welterweight champ, in his planned early 2020 ring return, it would be an interesting fight that would challenge the Filipino greatly in this stage of his career, and, ditto, worth watching, said fight analyst Nissi Icasiano.

“On paper, Spence is too strong, skilled and young. In addition, he sports the length and size, which implies a bad night for a 40-year-old Manny Pacquiao if they fight next year. That’s why in my past interviews I didn’t advise the fighting senator to take on this challenge,” Mr. Icasiano said in an online interview.

“[But] If the Spence who showed up in the ring with Porter last weekend will be the one to duke it out with Pacquiao next year, he is in for a dogfight. He has flaws in his game that an ageing Pacquiao could capitalize on. Thanks to guys like Kell Brook and Shawn Porter, it proved that Spence, while a special fighter, has his own vulnerabilities in the ring,” he added.

Mr. Pacquiao last fought in July, beating by split decision American Keith Thurman to win the WBA title.

Who his next opponent will be is still being worked out, including a rematch with retired undefeated champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

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