FILE– Manny Pacquiao and Errol Spence Jr pose for the media following their press conference at Fox Studios on July 11, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. Michael Owens/Getty Images/AFP
MANILA, Philippines—Two-belt champion Errol Spence has no regrets missing out on a megafight with Manny Pacquiao.
The two welterweight stars were supposed to clash on August 21, 2021 before Spence was forced to pull out less than two weeks before the fight due to a retinal tear in his left eye.
“I don’t regret it at all,” Spence said during a media workout recently.
“Everything happens for a reason. If I would’ve fought him, I probably would have been blind in my eye and lost my career. Everything happens for a reason. I just got to take the punches and roll with it.”
Spence was replaced by Yordenis Ugas, who went on to shock Pacquiao with a unanimous decision victory.
A month later, Pacquiao retired from boxing shortly after announcing his intention to run for president of the Philippines in the 2022 elections.
Pacquiao’s retirement paved the way for Spence and Ugas to come to terms in a unification bout on April 16 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Spence (27-0, 21 KOs), who holds the IBF and WBC belts, hasn’t fought since dominating Danny Garcia in December 2020.
“I’ve been looking forward [to this fight] since I dropped out of the Pacquiao fight,” said Spence.
“I knew I’d be looking at either Pacquiao or Ugas. It’s Ugas now.”