Pacquiao-Spence welterweight fight announced for Aug. 21 in Las Vegas
Manny Pacquiao is headed back to the ring.
The veteran boxer announced Friday he will fight WBC and IBF welterweight titleholder Errol Spence Jr. on Aug. 21 in Las Vegas.
— Manny Pacquiao (@MannyPacquiao) May 21, 2021
The fight will air on PBC on Fox pay-per-view.
Though a venue has not been announced, the fight will likely take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, sources told Mike Coppinger of The Athletic. This would be Pacquiao's 16th fight at the arena.
Pacquiao, 42, had reportedly been in talks to fight WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford in June in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The apparent collapse of those talks eventually led "Pac-Man" and his camp to pivot to Spence.
Source: Manny Pacquiao signed the contract for an Aug. 21 welterweight title fight with Errol Spence Jr. in Las Vegas. Done deal. Massive fight, and at 42, the legend takes on the best 147-pounder in the world. PBC on FOX PPV. Pacquiao made the announcement with a promo poster
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) May 21, 2021
Spence, who confirmed the fight on Instagram, is already in the gym preparing, his trainer Derrick James told Lance Pugmire of The Athletic.
"It's outstanding," James said, according to Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News. "This is a superfight. Pacquiao is a boxing legend like Canelo (Alvarez), and Errol is on his way to that."
This will be Pacquiao's 72nd professional fight and first since beating Keith Thurman via split decision in 2019. A sitting senator in the Philippines, Pacquiao is considered one of the best boxers of all time and is the only fighter to win 12 major world titles at eight different weight classes.
Spence owns a career 27-0 record, with 21 victories via knockout. His most recent bout was a unanimous decision victory over Danny Garcia this past December.