FILE — Manny Pacquiao and coach Justin Fortune. Photos by Wendell Alinea/MP Promotions
MANILA, Philippines — At 42 with a lot of mileage, Manny Pacquiao’s best years are behind him.
But even so, his longtime strength and conditioning coach Justine Fortune believes Pacquiao is still too good of a fighter for two-belt champion Errol Spence.
“It’s a good fight. Spence is a hell of a fighter, but Pacquiao is on a different level,” Fortune told Ellie Seckbach of Esnews.
“Pacquiao is a different animal,” the Australian added.
Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs) opened as a significant underdog against the unbeaten Spence (27-0, 21 KOs) ahead of their welterweight world title fight on August 21 in Las Vegas.
But betting against Pacquiao doesn’t seem to be a good idea as far as Fortune is concerned.
“I don’t think he (Spence) is as strong as Pacquiao. He’s strong, but he’s not Manny-strong. And I’m sure as (expletive) he ain’t Manny-fast. Manny is [42] but he is still incredibly fast,” said Fortune, who has the Filipino boxing legend winning by stoppage.
Fortune also gives the power and speed advantage to Pacquiao and adds the difference between the two are the “volume of punches” and “ferocity” by the eight-division champion.
The bout, which Fortune thinks will be the biggest fight of the year, will mark Pacquiao’s return in the ring since July 2019 when he scored an impressive decision win over Keith Thurman.
Spence, 31, fought last December when he retained his WBC and IBF titles with a 12-round demolition of Danny Garcia in Texas.