LAS VEGAS—United States-based former Cebu basketball players Rey Yncierto, Stephen Padilla and Lito Tagsip had no doubts in picking Manny Pacquiao as the victor in the fight against Errol Spence Jr. this August.
Yncierto, the former playmaker for CCC Executive (UC Webmaster) and ex-PBA team Pepsi Cola, said that in spite of the controversies Pacquiao faces these days, he’ll still be able to drop Spence.
“Spence will go down by the 9th or 10th round. Pacquiao will have trouble if the fight goes the distance. Spence’s style fits Manny’s style. Plus, Manny trained early for this fight,” said Yncierto, now based in Oxnard, California.
The former shooting guard for the University of the Visayas, ex-MBA and ex-PBA player Padilla believes that Pacquiao will win the fight a round earlier.
“I predict Pacquiao will win by the 8th or 9th round. Manny is strong. He is well conditioned. He is a veteran fighter,” said Padilla, now based in Orlando, Florida.
“I believe it’s either a Round 8 TKO or a decision in favor of Pacquiao. This is going to be an awesome fight, and I plan to watch it live in Las Vegas,” said Tagsip, former forward for the University of Cebu now based in Houston, Texas.
Former USP Panthers point guard Edmund Abellanosa, based in Manassas, Virginia, shared his thoughts on how this fight will be tough for Pacquiao.
“I see it 50-50. Pacquiao is over 40 now, facing a much younger fighter. Plus, Pacquiao might be distracted with what’s going on regarding his issues with President Rodrigo Duterte,” said Abellanosa.
Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KO) vs. Spence (27-0, 21 KO) for the WBC and IBF Welterweight championship is presented by TGB Promotions. It will be held on Aug. 21 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and broadcasted at Fox PBC pay-per-view.