MANNY PACQUIAO has been backed by one of his coaches to ‘obliterate’ Errol Spence Jr – amid claims he is ‘not the same guy’ after his car crash.
Spence cheated death in October 2019 when his Ferrari flipped following a horror high-speed collision.
Justin Fortune pictured on Manny Pacquiao’s right
Errol Spence Jr in his last fight with Danny GarciaCredit: Ryan Hafey
Amazingly, the WBC and IBF welterweight champion returned to the ring in December, beating Danny Garcia on points over 12 rounds.
Afterwards he called out Pacquiao, but the Filipino icon’s strength and conditioning trainer Justin Fortune thinks it was ill-advised.
Fortune told SunSport: “Spence is a great fighter and a good champion, but he’s not the same guy that he was before, not at all.
“We saw that when he fought Danny Garcia. Everyone raves about how hard Spence punches, well Danny Garcia came through 12 rounds.
“Danny Garcia also never pulled the trigger that night, or else Danny would probably have beaten him, I think.
“You put Spence in there with someone like Pacquiao now, Pacquiao obliterates him, even a 42-years-old.
“He’s still the No1 guy and he has been the champion for the last 18 years, that in itself is a phenomenal f***ing feat as an athlete in sport.”
Spence, 30, was hospitalised and suffered swelling and bruises to his face, but escaped any lasting injuries as a result of the near-miss.
Errol Spence Jr pictured after his horror crash
The boxer’s Ferrari flipped following the accident
He was hit with a DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) and claimed the accident gave him a new lease on life, to focus only on his boxing career.
After a near-flawless victory over Garcia, 32, on the cards, where he kept his unified crown, Spence set his sights on PacMan and Terence Crawford.
But Fortune – an ex-heavyweight contender who lost to Lennox Lewis in 1995 – is adamant the 27-0 Texan looked a shadow of himself.
And he advised the unbeaten American to ease his way back into the big time, believing his car crash ordeal will soon catch up on him physically.
Fortune said: “You’d want to give Spence two or three fights to get his s*** back together, that’s for sure.
“Manny’s too fast and too strong, he uses too many angles.
Errol Spence Jr pictured before his comeback fightCredit: Ryan Hafey
Manny Pacquiao is hoping to return in April or MayCredit: Sean Michael Ham
“We don’t know how Spence will pull through, his comeback fight with Danny Garcia wasn’t impressive, at all.
“I’m so glad he survived the crash, but that does a lot of damage to your head and body.
“He came out of a Lamborghini or whatever it was at 120mph, thank god he’s not dead, but the ligament damage, hand damage, it’s long-term, it doesn’t go away overnight.”
Pacquiao is yet to return since he beat Keith Thurman for the WBA title in July 2019.
His inactivity even saw him stripped of the belt, with Cuban Yordenis Ugas, 34, elevated to champion.
Pacquiao is targeting a comeback for April or May, before a swift turnaround to fight again in September.
It would allow him to make a run in the 2022 Philippine Presidential election, which concludes in May next year.
Manny Pacquiao with coach Justin Fortune
Manny Pacquiao with coaches Freddie Roach, left, Justin Fortune, middle and Buboy Fernandez
UFC superstar Conor McGregor, 32, was in line to face PacMan after his return to the octagon.
But following Dustin Poirier’s shock KO win at UFC 257 in January, the Irishman is instead focusing on the immediate rematch.
Talks then moved to 22-year-old lightweight sensation Ryan Garcia, but Fortune – who owns his own gym in California – revealed the discussions were short-lived.
He said: “It came up fast and left just as fast.
“Nothing on Ryan Garica, but this is Pacquiao, and Ryan Garcia’s had a handful of fights.
“Pacquiao obliterates the guy. It took some balls for Ryan to say, ‘Yeah, I’ll fight him’.
“Losing to Manny Pacquiao is no cross on your career, either.”
Ryan Garcia pictured with Manny PacquiaoCredit: Instagram @mannypacquiao
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
