MIKE TYSON has backed Manny Pacquiao against Errol Spence Jr as the Filipino legend’s movement ‘f***s everybody up’.
Pacquiao, who has won titles in EIGHT divisions, challenges for the WBC, IBF and Ring Magazine welterweight belts on August 21.
The 42-year-old, who is 11 years older, is the bookies underdog against unbeaten Spence, who has a size and youth advantage.
But heavyweight icon Tyson, who made a comeback last November, warned the southpaw great cannot be counted out to once again upset the odds.
He told ES News: “It’s going to be a good fight. You can’t rule out Pacquiao because he beat Thurman.
“I think Pacquiao, he beat Keith Thurman. Pac can move and s***, and that can mess you up, that’s what f***s everybody up, he’s all over the place.”
PacMan has not fought since July 2019, when he became the first man to ever beat Thurman, 32, and won the WBA belt in doing so.
But after such an extended period out amid the coronavirus pandemic, he was stripped of the title due to inactivity.
Cuban Yordenis Ugas, 35, was elevated from secondary ‘Regular’ champion to the full belt, leaving Pacquiao’s promotional team fuming with the WBA.
MP Promotions’ Sean Gibbons released an angry tirade via a press release slamming them.
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It read: “I can tell you what Manny didn’t receive – DUE PROCESS AND RESPECT.
“It took two years to get the world title belt he earned inside the ring by beating the undefeated Super Champion Keith Thurman. Hell, Manny only received that belt on Saturday.
“The WBA never inquired about Manny’s title defense plans. The WBA never warned us Manny’s Super Champion status could be in jeopardy.
“The WBA never informed us that Manny had been designated its Champion in Recess.
“We had to read the WBA’s press release on that on the internet.
“And speaking of Keith Thurman, the WBA had no concern about his lack of activity when he went over 22 months between title defenses (Danny Garcia on March 4, 2017, and Josesito Lopez on January 26, 2019). Recess is over.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
