Boxing analyst Ed Tolentino on Pacquiao vs Spence: 'Once Manny solves the jab, half of the job is done'

Veteran boxing analyst Ed Tolentino believes that Manny Pacquiao is in for a tough yet very winnable bout when he takes on WBC and IBF world welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. on August 21 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, USA.

“I think the biggest enigma is Manny Pacquiao. Inactive since 2019, 42 years old pushing 43 come fight time. I do not know how far you can push your luck. But this is Pacquiao, nobody thought he was going to beat Keith Thurman and he was able to pull off that big win,” said Tolentino.

“Just because Manny is the underdog I do not think he agreed to fight Errol Spence if his plan to do his best imitation of Sleeping Beauty. He saw a weakness in Spence. He was right, he is kind of slow, but the problem with Spence is he has a heavy jab.”

The 31-year-old Spence, who holds a perfect record of 27-0 with 21 knockouts, is seen by oddsmakers as the favorite against the Filipino. But regardless of what the odds suggest, Tolentino is convinced that Pacquiao would emerge victorious should he show up in tip-top shape.

“Pacquiao has to fight in and out avoid prolonged exchanges. If he solves the jab, half of the job is done. I think he can outwork Spence in 12 rounds. I am picking Pacquiao for this fight.”

—JMB, GMA News