FILE PHOTOS — Manny Pacquiao and Errol Spence Jr. AFP
MANILA, Philippines—Former WWE champion Drew McIntyre is picking Manny Pacquiao to walk away with three new belts in the Filipino’s welterweight match against WBC and IBF champion Errol Spence this August.
In a virtual interview, McIntyre, a combat sports fan himself, believes Pacquiao will edge Spence in the title fight, saying he admires how the ring legend could still be at the top of the sport despite being in his 40s.
“I’m gonna have to say Pacquiao,” said the 36-year-old McIntyre. “He’s still going at such a high level like that and I watched him basically my entire life. It’s amazing how he still goes and he’s still able to fight at such a high level.”
Pacquiao, WBA’s champion in recess, will look to take Spence’s two belts and also the Ring Magazine title on August 21 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
This will be Pacquiao’s first fight since July 2019 when he defeated previously unbeaten Keith Thurman for the WBA Super title.
“He’s not just a celebrity across the world, well especially in the Philippines, because he’s like in a different level and I hope one day I can watch one of his fights live and get to meet him,” said McIntyre, who also threw his support to now undisputed super lightweight champion Josh Taylor in his unification bout against Jose Carlo Ramirez in May.
McIntyre also wants to visit the Philippines after he missed the WWE’s tour in the country in 2019.
The real life Andrew Galloway was in his second stint with the promotion starting in 2017 after he was initially cut in 2014, but wasn’t included in the card that performed at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Of course I got to be in the Philippines because I missed the tour in 2019 so I can’t wait to be with you all and ideally be the WWE champion,” said McIntyre.