FILE — Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao (R) slams a right to the face of US boxer Keith Thurman during their WBA super world welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on July 20, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by John Gurzinski / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines—Former world champion Robert Guerrero has one simple piece of advice for Manny Pacquiao in his upcoming fight against Errol Spence Jr.
Guerrero, speaking with ES News, said that Pacquiao should do what he has done for so long—which made him one of boxing’s greatest ever—and that is to use that blinding speed.
“I think it’s going to be great man, two legends going at it,” said Guerrero. “It’s going to be a great fight. You can never count Pacquiao out. Filipinos at 40-years-old are like 20. Pacquiao just needs to be Pacquiao man, use those fast hands.”
Pacquiao, 42, will be making his ring return after nearly two years as he challenges Spence for the IBF and WBC welterweight championships.
Guerrero, who won titles in four weight classes, was once a sparring partner of Pacquiao in the mid-2000s when the two were still at featherweight.
The now welterweight contender also fought Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2013 for the WBC’s 147-pound strap.
At 5-foot-9, Guerrero is more than three inches taller than Pacquiao but he doesn’t see size playing out in the Spence match that too well.
Guerrero recalled how Pacquiao, listed at 5-foot-5.5, knocked down 5-foot-8 Keith Thurman in their 2019 bout for the WBA Super World welterweight title.
“Everybody was Keith’s a big guy but you saw Thurman on his a** so you can never count Manny out,” said Guerrero as Pacquiao will now face the 5-foot-10 Spence.
“He’s still got those fast hands and the last thing to go is your punching power but from the look of Manny his speed hasn’t diminished at all.”