Manny Pacquiao Opens as Sizable Underdog Against Errol Spence Jr.
Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images. Pictured: Errol Spence Jr.
Manny Pacquiao's return to the ring after a two-year layoff will be as a betting underdog in his upcoming fight against Errol Spence Jr.
The welterweights are set to meet in Las Vegas on Aug. 21 with Spence Jr. listed as a -450 favorite at BetMGM with Pacquiao coming back as a +300 underdog.
Pacquiao hasn't fought since a 2019 win over Keith Thurman, which will mark the longest layoff in between fights in his professional career. Spence Jr. defeated Danny Garcia in December.
Spence Jr. is the WBC and IBF welterweight champion and enters this fight with a perfect 27-0 professional record. Prior to his win over Garcia, he defeated Shawn Porter and previously undefeated fighters Mikey Garcia and Carlos Ocampo. He won the IBF title with a knockout win over Kell Brook in 2017.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao has won three in a row since his unanimous decision loss to Jeff Horn in 2017, including a unanimous decision win over Adrien Broner in 2019. He's 8-2 in his 10 fights since 2013 with the only other loss coming to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2015.
Pacquiao enters the fight at 42 years old, while Spence is still just 31. Spence is ranked as the No. 2 welterweight according to ESPN with Pacquiao third. Terence Crawford holds the top spot coming off a KO win over Brook in November.
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